Need You Tonight, The Gladiator's Hat, Vundu, Real Rim, and Honest Boy Promise an Unmissable Classic

The most important event within the Estrellas series drew 9 final confirmations and will feature a spectacular total purse of 120,000,000 pesos, with the Stud-Haras El Wing representative targeting a highly anticipated repeat victory

The Gladiator's Hat is coming off a third-place finish in the Latinoamericano in Peru / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Back in the late 1980s, when a group of breeders gave shape to the Carreras de las Estrellas, they introduced the last major transformation experienced by Argentine racing. Nearly 40 years have passed, and the series has continuously adapted through changes and subtle innovations, established today as the formal and prestigious closure of the first semester in Argentina.

Between next Friday and Saturday, the 36th edition of the festival organized by the Fundación Equina Argentina will take place, promising vibrant, top-tier racing for the public with a total of 96 confirmed horses across the nine scheduled competitions, spanning all reference categories.

At the pinnacle of this selection stands the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (G1-2000 m), open to 3-year-olds and up. It will headline Saturday's card alongside the Gran Premio Estrellas Distaff (G1-1800 m, turf), Gran Premio Estrellas Mile (G1-1600 m, turf), and Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (G1-1000 m, turf), crowning a festival that kicks off on Friday with the 2-year-old divisions and the addition of the Dirt events.

In a novel development, the Classic, Distaff, and Mile will all be simulcast to Hong Kong to participate in a new experience with the World Pool, the wagering system designed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club that underscores international confidence in the local product.

The original purse for the Classic was set at 104,000,000 pesos, with $65,000,000 earmarked for the winner. However, following the supplementary payment by the connections of Need You Tonight, the total purse has risen to 120,000,000 pesos, with a handsome $81,000,000 awaiting the victor.

The son of Hat Trick is one of five G1 winners featured among the nine confirmed runners, and he is none other than the defending champion. After scoring 12 months ago on the Palermo dirt, where he recently achieved back-to-back victories in the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1), the Stud-Haras El Wing representative will face his third career test on the turf. His previous grass attempts include a second-place finish to Acento Final (Treasure Beach) in the 2025 Gran Premio General San Martín (G1) and an unplaced effort in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) run last October at Gávea, Brazil.

The Classic offers plenty of additional storylines, such as the local return of The Gladiator's Hat (Hat Ninja). He is fresh off an excellent performance in the Latinoamericano at Monterrico, Peru, where he finished third behind the Chilean runner Teao (Ya Primo), though he was arguably close to securing the runner-up spot.

The dark bay will be one of two strong contenders representing Stud-Haras El Angel de Venecia, which also confirmed Honest Boy (Heliostatic). The latter captured the 2025 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) and recently finished third to Magnum Fifth (Daniel Boone) when attempting to defend that crown.

Another major force in the lineup is Vundu (Suggestive Boy), hero of the 2024 edition at San Isidro and coming off a gritty victory in the Clásico Forli (G2). As if that were not enough, Haras Firmamento ratified the presence of Real Rim (Remote), winner of the latest renewal of the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1). Don Machete (Daddy Long Legs)—winner of the Clásico Macon (L)—Mister Coquette (Bodemeister), and Neat Colt (Treasure Beach) round out the field.

The Classic shapes up as a fantastic contest, providing a fitting finale for a series that is thoroughly packed with top-flight stars.