Martín Valle, following Charm's victory: "She has become much more of a galloper"

Following his victory aboard the daughter of Strategos in the Clásico Chile (G2), the jockey reflected on his performance and shared his thoughts

The victory of Charm in the Clásico Chile (G2-2200m) came as no surprise to Martín Valle. A positive performance from the mare was certainly within expectations, but the authority she displayed from the outset and the commanding manner in which she closed the deal confirmed that her underlying class remains fully intact.

With the quiet composure of a job well done, the Corrientes-born jockey explained that despite a few recent results, he never lost faith in the representative of Stud Triple Alliance.

“In my opinion, I don’t think the mare ever really went away. In her recent starts, she raced on a light schedule, running every three months, finishing second or third, and always performing well. What happened in those previous races was that she was returning from layoffs, but today she came in tremendous shape—she was calm and no longer has that early urgency she used to have,” the rider noted.

The preparation and physical condition of the daughter of Strategos invited optimism, enough so that the team decided to play their cards aggressively from the break. There was no intention to wait around or let rivals dictate the terms. The strategy was to leverage her stamina, put early pressure on the field, and turn the race into a true test of endurance.

“I had instructions from the trainer to go forward early because the mare had been working exceptionally well, arrived sound, and had everything in her favor. We wanted to lay our cards on the table right away, because honestly, if they wanted to beat her today, they had to run from the start, and thankfully the tactic paid off,” Valle detailed.

That early move was a deliberate maneuver. Knowing he was aboard a mare in peak condition, the jockey did not hesitate to capitalize on her strengths, forcing the opposition into early exertion long before straightening for home. The response was textbook: Charm maintained her relentless rhythm, rationed her energy, and ultimately made her superior galloping ability tell.

Indeed, that physical transformation was another key aspect highlighted by Martín Valle. The mare who early in her career raced with excess nervous energy and tended to burn out prematurely has learned to settle. She no longer needs to rush to find her position nor relies solely on a short turn of foot. Now, she conserves her energy more efficiently and thrives as the distances stretch out.

“She’s a much more seasoned, complete racehorse now. I wouldn’t say she’s lost her sharp finish, but she’s evolved into much more of a galloper. Before, she was overly aggressive, making her move too early and struggling to sustain it late; now she settles nicely, builds her momentum progressively, and finishes like a true stayer,” he explained.

Far from viewing it as a loss of turn of foot, the jockey sees this evolution as a weapon that opens up new horizons. Maturity has allowed Charm to harness her power more effectively and positions her as a formidable force for long-distance contests ahead.

“I loved the way she ran. These races at 2000 or 2200 meters and beyond suit her down to the ground because she is physically in peak condition,” Valle concluded, clearly pleased with a performance that yielded highly encouraging signs.

Charm laid her credentials on the line once more at Palermo, but did so with a newfound dimension: calmer, more experienced, and mastering the distribution of her power. She had never really gone away, just as her jockey insisted. She was simply learning a better way to race.