Lautaro Balmaceda will be the jockey for Colifato Novo in the Southern Halo

The champion has been confirmed to run this coming Sunday at San Isidro, where the Córdoba native will replace the injured Iván Monasterolo

Excellent news arrived with the confirmation of the return of Colifato Novo, the 2024 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and one of the most popular horses in the country. The son of Lenovo will compete next Sunday at the Hipódromo de San Isidroin the Clásico Southern Halo (G3-1400 m, turf), during a week that won't exactly be showered with major spectacles.

The representative of Stud El Ranquel has not raced since mid-February when he took the Clásico Horacio Bustillo(G2), which followed his victory in the Invasor (G3), confirming his return to the elite level.

There will be 7 rivals for the brown colt trained by Joaquín Cano, who will have Lautaro Balmaceda in the irons for the first time. Balmaceda replaces the injured Iván Monasterolo, who had been his regular rider. Among the opponents is Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), the winner of the 2025 Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1), who seeks a very quick redemption after finishing last at a gallop in the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1) on May 1 at Palermo.

El Ernesto (Señor Candy), Envidioso Frank (Gidu), Río New (Hurricane Cat), Royal Rimout (Remote), Stormy River (Le Blues), and Viejo Varieté (Qué Vida Buena) complete the field.

On Wednesday the 13th, the main event at the Jockey Club Argentino venue will be the Especial Seductor (2000 m, dirt), for mares 5 years old and up with 3 or more wins. Reina Casada (Long Island Sound) will carry the top weight of 58 kilos against 6 adversaries.

The Hipódromo de Palermo will host racing on Saturday the 9th and Monday the 11th, with the most important race of the week scheduled for the former. This is the Clásico Círculo de Propietarios de Caballerizas SPC (G3), set over 1600 meters on the dirt for mares 3 years old and up.

With Gigantografías (Bodemeister) as the only withdrawal from the original entry list—who had been one of the main contenders—the starting gates will feature: Blessed Shine (Honour Devil), Casa Pueblo (Strategos), Duffy (Il Mercato), Increpante (Sigfrid), Lancara (Manipulator), and Souq (Forge).

As for Monday the 11th, the highlight will be the Handicap British Empire (1200 m), for winning mares 4 years old and up, where Ataka (Señor Candy) will carry the high weight of 61 kilos.