Nassau is now the real deal and has joined the ranks of the top stayers
The son of Forge led gate-to-wire in the Clásico Vicente L. Casares (G3) at Palermo, securing the most important victory of his career; Butterfing gave chase throughout the entire trip but could never put his triumph in jeopardy. Now, the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha and the Copa de Oro-Pellegrini trail emerge as potential targets for his future
By Diego H. Mitagstein
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Special for Turf Diario).— Nassau is running better and stronger with every passing day. At 4 years old, the son of Forge is enjoying the defining phase of his career, and this holiday Monday at Hipódromo de Palermo, he took another giant step toward solidifying his status among the country's premier stayers. His victory in the Clásico Vicente L. Casares (G3-2500m) was packed with authority, class, and the unmistakable feeling that there remains plenty more to uncover in a horse who seems increasingly at home as the distances stretch out.
The heavy track—particularly demanding for a test over such a grueling distance—proved no obstacle for the runner trained by Juan Carlos and Juan Sebastián Maldotti, who virtually dictated terms from the break and crossed the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Butterfing (Angiolo), the heavy favorite, who was making his return to action following a 164-day layoff.
Rodrigo Blanco judged Nassau's needs to perfection. He allowed him to seize the lead without expending unnecessary energy, rationed his reserves cleverly, and granted him a breather between the tail end of the backstretch and the midpoint of the final bend—right when it was crucial to save fuel for the stretch drive.
Butterfing, who had stalked his every step throughout the journey, tried to put the pressure on as they straightened for home. However, when Blanco called upon him with a single stroke of the whip for a final effort, Nassau responded with remarkable punch. He drew clear with absolute authority, established a decisive margin, and coasted through the final 100 meters with everything well under control.
The teletimer read 2:39.81—a mark that must be weighed against the challenging condition of the strip. A neck behind Butterfing, Holy Holy Rim (Remote) finished third, while the remainder of the field crossed the wire far behind, as if contesting an entirely separate race. The top three were clearly on another level compared to their rivals.
The winner's performance can hardly be labeled a surprise, though the manner in which he continues to progress remains deeply impressive. Nassau had sparked high expectations since his early days under the care of Luciano Cerutti at La Plata, where he ranked among the standout 3-year-olds of the previous generation. Among his finest efforts was that narrow runner-up finish, just a head behind Piñazo (John F Kennedy), in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3)—an early display of his stamina.
His arrival in the Maldotti barn inaugurated a period of exceptional consistency, particularly at Palermo. There, he captured two allowance races, finished second to Sono Perfetto (Tetaze) in the Clásico General Belgrano (G2), and has now earned his maiden graded victory, proving that his steady evolution was built on solid ground.
The occasion was also notable for the debut of the silks of Stud Macondo, taking over for Stud El Basti. The premiere in the new colors could not have unfolded better, as Nassau produced a performance that surely expanded the dreams of his connections.
The skilled touch of the Maldottis stands out as a core factor in his development. Distance conditioning—a historic hallmark of the stable—has once again found a top-class pupil. Nassau not only sustains his pace over extreme journeys, but he seems to grow more comfortable the longer the distance gets—a trait that opens up enticing possibilities for the future.
For now, two clear paths emerge on his horizon. One leads to Hipódromo de La Plata for the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1), while the other—particularly alluring to his connections—contemplates a stepping stone in the Gran Premio Copa de Oro (G1) en route to the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1), mimicking the road the Maldottisfamously traveled decades ago with the legendary Potrillazo (Ahmad). That second path presents one major unknown: the turf, a surface on which the dark bay bred at Haras Carampangue has never competed.
These are major assignments, naturally, but Nassau has just shown he possesses every argument to start dreaming big.
Credit is also due to Butterfing. The grey trained by Juan Saldivia was making his first start since placing fourth in the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) on May 1, taking on a formidable task against an opponent in peak race fitness and on the rise. He tracked the leader, tried to push him in the lane, and never gave in, preserving enough stamina to fend off the late rally of Holy Holy Rim to hold second. It was a highly encouraging comeback run with an eye on his upcoming targets.
Yet the afternoon belonged indisputably to Nassau. He shed the label of prospect to transform into a heavyweight force within the stayer division. And judging by Monday's display, he is still far from reaching his ceiling.
