Le Cornette and Bailarín de Venecia set the stage for a marquee showdown in the Gran Premio Suipacha
The champion sprinter faces an adversary arriving on the heels of four consecutive stakes victories; Naranccello, Rey de la Calle, and Sunny Frank also promise to mount a fierce challenge
Speed will ignite the first of three top-level features this Saturday on the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) card. Contested over 1,000 meters on the turf, the Gran Premio Suipacha (G1) promises a high-flying showdown, with Le Cornette (Emmanuel) defending his status as the division's reigning champion against a soaring Bailarín de Venecia(Angiolo), who arrives in the finest form of his career.
The role of favorite belongs to Le Cornette, backed by a remarkably consistent record and consecutive victories in the Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (G1) and the Clásico Paraguay (G3), the latter at Palermo. Capable of seamlessly transferring his high class from one surface to another, he returns to the northern turf straightaway with every argument to extend his reign.
However, standing in his path is an opponent who has made tremendous strides. Bailarín de Venecia has strung together four consecutive stakes wins, capping off that streak in the Clásico Cyllene (G2) by defeating Camuflaje(Orpen) and Naranccello (Le Blues), two familiar names he will face once again. While he already knows what it is to taste defeat against the champion, his current form suggests a far more competitive rematch.
The key will lie in how effectively he can translate that progress into a direct clash against the division's standard-bearer. Le Cornette holds the established class; Bailarín de Venecia brings the momentum of a winning streak that brings him closer to a career-defining breakthrough.
Reducing the analysis to just two contenders, however, would be a mistake. Naranccello proved earlier this season that he can beat Le Cornette, as demonstrated in the Clásico Coronel Pringles (G3). He subsequently finished third behind him in the Paraguay and occupied the same spot behind Bailarín de Venecia in the Cyllene. Always knocking on the door against the elite, he boasts enough back class to capitalize on any opening.
Rey de la Calle (Che Micky) also commands immense respect, having made a very favorable impression since stepping up to face stakes company. After winning four allowance events restricted to horses from the interior tracks, he lost his unbeaten record when finishing second to Le Cornette in the Paraguay, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths. He subsequently returned to the winner's circle at Azul, scorching 800 meters in 44.29 seconds—a vivid display of his raw early speed. He will compete on the turf for the first time, introducing a minor question mark he must answer.
Among the fillies, Sunny Frank (Gidu) presents a compelling case after drawing off to a 5-length victory over La Gran Furtiva (South Kissing) in the Clásico Condesa (G3). That dominant performance makes her a serious factor, even as the bar of competition rises significantly.
The lone 3-year-old in the field will be November Rain (Strategos), winner of the Clásico Estrellas Junior Sprint(G3) and most recently fifth in the Cyllene, where he finished not far behind Bailarín de Venecia. Armed with that initial experience against older horses and carrying 55 kilos under the weight-for-age scale, he possesses the tools to step forward and make his presence felt.
Meanwhile, El Luciano (Il Campione) needed his comeback run before bouncing back with a comfortable allowance victory at Palermo. Es Por Amor (Strategos), one of last season's top juveniles, continues to solidify his position in the sprint division, while Martinique (Señor Candy) offers a solid third behind Le Cornette in the Estrellas as a benchmark. Fifth afterward in the Paraguay, he comes in with renewed confidence following a convincing allowance victory.
