Indiana Candy won the Distaff, and William Pereyra captured his fifth Estrellas victory of 2026
- Turf Diario
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The brilliant bay mare definitively solidified her status as the undisputed number one among turf distaffers, guided by a jockey who enjoyed a truly monumental performance throughout the championship series
There are unique moments in racing where a thoroughbred’s pristine physical health and supreme confidence blend so perfectly that their potential seems completely limitless. The spectacular ascent of Indiana Candy (Señor Candy) has officially transcended the realm of a one-hit wonder, transforming instead into a brilliant, undeniable reality at the summit of the female turf mile and intermediate divisions. Following her recent breakthrough triumph in the Gran Premio Copa Diamante (G1), the exceptional chestnut daughter of Señor Candy proved this Saturday afternoon that her status as a top-flight Grade 1 winner fits her flawlessly, dictating terms at will from gate to wire to dominate the Gran Premio Estrellas Distaff (G1) over 1,800 meters on the San Isidro turf.
Guided with the unwavering confidence and clinical precision that defines elite rider William Pereyra, the Juan Saldivia trainee broke sharply, assumed the vanguard with minimal resistance, and masterfully controlled the tactical tempo from that point forward. Upon entering the grueling San Isidro straightaway, right when the heavy closing threats were expected to launch their bids, the Haras La Esperanza homebred found another gear. She drew clear with enviable fluidness, comfortably neutralizing a late rally from Samba do Brazil (Springdom), who was forced to settle for the runner-up spot in an exact, carbon-copy replication of the Copa Diamante exacta.
The definitive flip side of the coin was provided by the highly anticipated return of multi-generational champion Charm (Strategos). Sent off as the heavy post-time favorite, the Triple Alliance homebred completely failed to find an extra gear when asked in the lane, only managing to salvage a dull third-place finish. The performance closely mirrored her uncharacteristic fourth-place effort in Palermo's Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (G1), suggesting that the brilliant mare may currently be battling the effects of a taxing campaign, looking a far cry from the ruthless consistency of her historic horse-of-the-year championship form.
The afternoon, however, belonged to jockey William Pereyra, who capped off a truly historic performance at the 2026 Carreras de las Estrellas festival. The victory marked Pereyra's fifth individual stakes score of the weekend and his third Grade 1 trophy under the Fundación Equina Argentina umbrella across Friday and Saturday, having previously captured the Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (G1) aboard Unica Forma (Full Mast) and successfully defending the Estrellas Sprint (G1) crown in the irons of Le Cornette (Emmanuel).
Indiana Candy ran, dominated, and conquered. Her sovereign rule over the turf routing division remains rock-solid, and her name is now permanently engraved in the history books as the definitive queen of the 2026 Estrellas Distaff.
