The daughter of Fortify was dominant over the heavy Buenos Aires dirt, drawing off to defeat heavy favorite Sarawak Rim by 9 lengths
The list of top-class fillies and mares produced by Haras Santa Inés in recent years is a long one, whether under Juan Udaondo’s training or, more recently, with Enrique Martín Ferro. On Saturday, Martana firmly secured her place in that elite group with a dazzling performance in the Clásico Arturo R. y Arturo Bullrich (G2, 2000m, heavy dirt), the opening leg of the Campeonato de Oro at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.
A disappointing effort on the turf at San Isidro in the Gran Premio Copa de Plata (G1) had somewhat overshadowed the steady progress she showed late in 2024, when she defeated none other than Brienne Trigger (Cosmic Trigger) in the Handicap Miss Grillo before finishing second in the Clásico Ramón Biaus (G2). But back on her preferred dirt track and well-rested, the Fortify filly left no doubt that she has all the makings of a dominant force in her division Palermo's main track.
Sent off at an inexplicable 6.60-1 as Turf Diario’s top selection, Martana was simply overpowering from the break. She tracked early pacesetter Bichita de Luz (Fragotero) before jockey Martín Valle decided he had seen enough. Midway through the far turn, he sent Martana to the lead, and from that point on, there was no catching her.
Sarawak Rim (Remote), the heavy favorite under Gustavo Calvente, tried to mount a challenge, but she hit a brick wall in Martana, who pulled clear with authority despite some minor imperfections in her stride. At the wire, the Haras Santa Inés colorbearer was a nine-length winner, stripping Sarawak Rim of her unbeaten record in what was her stakes debut and first try at 2000 meters.
Another four lengths back, Ceniza Pampa (Hat Ninja) added yet another graded placing to her résumé, while It’s My Look (Equal Stripes), seemingly struggling over the deep going, finished fourth, another two lengths adrift. Martana’s winning time of 2:01.47 was notably quicker than the 2:01.84 clocked later in the day by Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja)in the Clásico Otoño (G2).
Trained by Enrique Martín Ferro, Martana is out of Marsigliese (Mutakddim), a Group 3 winner and a half-sister to Malpensa (Orpen)—a top producer in Japan—and Marina Romea (Orpen), dam of Marignac (Equal Stripes), winner of the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) in 2020. She hails from the legendary Talonada (Tatán) family, one of Haras La Quebrada’s most distinguished bloodlines.
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