Obataye, South America’s Best, a Worthy Winner of the Carlos Pellegrini

Racing on foreign soil, he settled the region’s most important race of the year with total authority, defeating The Gladiator’s Hat, as Brazilian racing completed a 1-3 finish with Havana Cigar finishing third

Obataye Matched the Feat of the Unforgettable Much Better / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

South America has a star, and his name is Obataye, who last Saturday produced a dazzling performance on the storied turf of Hipódromo de San Isidro to land the G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini over 2400 meters, the most important race of the season on the continent. The victory came before an ideal crowd, stoic enough to endure a fierce windstorm that swept in after a day of oppressive heat.

Already a winner of the G1 Grande Premio Brasil and the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, the Haras Rio Iguassú runner confirmed his class in emphatic fashion, justifying his favoritism and leading home a 1–3 finish for Brazilian racing, with the colt Havana Cigar (Can the Man) finishing third. In between them, the admirable The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja) split the pair to salvage local pride with a top-class effort.

Hall of Famer Jorge Ricardo has often said he never rode a horse like the unforgettable Much Better (Baynoun), and few opinions carry more weight. Until now, that legendary Stud TNT runner had been the only horse to complete the Brasil–Latinoamericano–Pellegrini treble—an achievement Obataye now shares, a telling measure of his stature.

João Moreira once again underlined his standing among the world’s elite riders, delivering a masterful ride aboard the winner. An idol in Asia, Moreira arrived in Argentina just hours before the Pellegrini after competing in the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong.

With Jazzy Frank (Gidu) setting the pace, Moreira never wasted ground, keeping Obataye relaxed in the pack and resisting any urge to panic. Approaching the turn, he began to shape the race, angling out into a clear second path that allowed a free run into the stretch.

Once straightened away, Moreira waited just a beat before asking for Obataye’s full effort. The response was immediate and decisive: the Antonio Oldoni trainee surged to the front early in the lane and powered clear to score by 1 1/2 lengths over The Gladiator’s Hat. Another length back, Havana Cigar finished strongly for third after swinging into the stretch some 15 lengths off the leaders—instantly stamping himself as a major contender for 2026.

Vota Bien (Hi Happy) also earned plaudits, finishing fourth, beaten just a neck for the podium after a brave effort close to the pace. He is another horse well worth following. The final time of 2:24.14 was excellent considering the headwind the field faced in the stretch.

Local hopes largely failed to fire, with Vundu, Real Rim, and Acento Final finishing ninth, 10th, and 11th, respectively, reinforcing the sense of a comparatively thin domestic year at the distance.

The Pellegrini also featured the historic participation of Lanfranco Dettori, who finished 15th aboard El Pulque after a slow start. Dettori was nonetheless a central figure throughout the afternoon, adding luster to the meeting and later presenting the trophy to Moreira. The global icon even found the winner’s circle earlier on the card with Grand Candyman (Señor Candy).

Bred by Haras Palmerini, Obataye earned an automatic berth to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland, as the Carlos Pellegrini once again served as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering a direct ticket to the world championships. Whether his connections elect to take that path remains to be seen.

With next season’s Gran Premio Latinoamericano set to be run on turf at Monterrico, Peru, for a purse of $300,000, that race could well be the next destination for South America’s best horse.