Le Cornette, the Champion Sprinter, Provisionally Suspended at San Isidro

The decision was taken following his performance in the Gran Premio Suipacha (G1), where he finished fifth as the heavy favorite. Sanctions were also handed down to trainers Enrique Martín Ferro and Norberto Ricchi, along with other runners and jockey José Maximiliano Sánchez

High-impact news sent shockwaves through the racing community in recent hours following the revelation that Le Cornette, the reigning Champion Sprinter, has been provisionally suspended by the Racing Committee of Hipódromo de San Isidro. The measure stems from an infraction of Article 25 of the General Racing Rules, which pertains to performance-altering substances.

The decision was made during the session on Saturday, October 17, and was formalized in Resolution 1047, establishing the provisional suspension of the horse without yet specifying the substance involved or further details of the case.

The son of Emmanuel last ran on Saturday, October 3, in the Gran Premio Suipacha (G1) over 1000 meters on the turf—one of the marquee events of the Gran Premio Jockey Club fixture. With William Pereyra in the irons, he finished fifth behind Es Por Amor (Strategos), Claro Bombón (Claro Oscuro), Bailarín de Venecia (Angiolo), and El Luciano (Il Campione), a performance that fell well short of expectations after going off as the heavy favorite.

The news carries exceptional weight given the alazán’s status as a dominant force in the Argentine sprint division, boasting a top-tier campaign and a constant presence in the country's most prestigious stakes events.

For now, the ruling remains provisional pending administrative proceedings to determine a final resolution regarding both the horse and any potential regulatory consequences. Curiously, official communications make no mention of Francisco Gaim, who was listed as the trainer of record on the day, nor Gerardo Alteño, who famously conditions the champion.

This resolution follows a series of disciplinary actions issued by Jockey Club authorities, several of which also involve Article 25 regulations prohibiting methods or substances designed to alter equine performance.

Among the latest rulings is the provisional suspension of trainer Enrique Martín Ferro and the runner Tommy Go(Annals of Time) for an Article 25 violation in the tenth race on September 30. Quique had saddled the bay colt in place of his son, Nicolás Martín Ferro, who is currently serving a suspension. On that same card, following the ninth race, Rayo Girl (Remote) was also provisionally suspended, though the published ruling currently applies solely to the filly.

Another case reaching a final outcome involves trainer Norberto Gerardo Ricchi and Luna Colosal (Cityscape). Ricchi received a three-month suspension running from November 23, 2026, through February 22, 2027, inclusive, while the mare was banned for one month, retroactive from her provisional suspension on September 18 to October 17.

The infraction occurred in the eighth race on September 4 and resulted in the disqualification of Luna Colosal, altering the official order of finish. Calandra Lark (Strategos) was officially awarded the victory, followed by Nostalgia Frank (Gidu), Albalina (Mask), and Tontería Frank (Gidu).

Major disciplinary news also extended to the jockey ranks, with José Maximiliano Sánchez receiving back-to-back suspensions for his ride aboard Atajo Scat (Knockout) in the opening race on October 7.

Initially, the rider received a 20-fixture suspension spanning October 15 to November 4 inclusive for failing to properly persevere with his mount. An additional 10-fixture ban was tacked on, running from November 5 to November 14, for failing to report in-race anomalies to the Stewards.

The Racing Committee issued a formal warning to Sánchez, stating that any repetition of similar conduct could lead to stiffer penalties.

All measures were formalized through Resolutions 1046 and 1047, which extended the rulings adopted during San Isidro's sessions on October 14 and 17.

Among the various rulings, the case of Le Cornette stands out for its high profile. The provisional suspension of a champion of his caliber underscores the strict enforcement of medication controls and regulatory transparency as the industry awaits the final verdict of an ongoing investigation.