Need You Tonight and Vundy Complete Training, Set to Ship to Brazil on Thursday

Argentine Duo Impress in Morning Work, Head to Rio de Janeiro Full of Confidence

Need You Tonight Breezes Six Furlongs Tuesday at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Argentine hopefuls Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja) and Vundu (Suggestive Boy) completed their final workouts Tuesday morning, putting the finishing touches on their preparation ahead of the 41st running of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), to be contested Saturday, October 18, over 2000 meters on the turf at Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Both horses are scheduled to travel shortly after midday on Thursday aboard a direct flight to Rio. Upon arrival, they will spend two to three hours in a designated quarantine area before settling into the International Training Village at the Jockey Club Brasileiro.

“Last Wednesday he went 2100 meters in 2:10, finishing strongly and building up throughout the work, and this morning they gave us the fourth track just for him. He covered 1000 meters in 1:03 1/5, opening in 38 2/5 and closing the final 500 in 22 1/5. We were thrilled with it—he finished full of run,” said Nicolás Martín Ferro about Vundu, who represents Stud Gran Ascochinga and arrives off back-to-back wins in the Clásico Potrillón and Clásico Engrillado. “He’s in great shape, Martín (Valle, his jockey) is very happy with him, and now we just hope he travels well so we can fine-tune everything once in Rio.”

At Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, trainer Roberto Andrés Pellegatta sent Need You Tonight out for his final move on Tuesday. With regular rider Maximiliano Aserito aboard, the son of Hat Ninja breezed 1200 meters in 1:15, finishing comfortably with a sharp final furlong in 12 seconds.

“He’s doing great, just the way we like him,” said Pellegatta Jr. Tuesday evening on the Objetivo Latino program, aired on Global Media Turf. “We were pleased with the work, and now it’s all about traveling and waiting.”

Vundu and Need You Tonight will attempt to secure Argentina’s eighth victory in the storied continental championship—and its first since Tetaze (Equal Stripes) triumphed on home soil at San Isidro.

Everything is ready. Time to dream.