Omar Labanca: "Amuni Has Improved, Matured, and Is Answering the Call"

The trainer highlighted the changes being shown by the son of Tetaze and the considerable improvement in his form

LA PLATA.– Amuni's victory in Tuesday's Clásico Antonio Cané (G3-2100m) at Hipódromo de La Plata came as no surprise to those who live alongside him on a daily basis. Both jockey Gonzalo Borda and trainer Omar Labancaagreed that the son of Tetaze had been showing clear signs of evolution, and the triumph represented the confirmation of a potential they had always recognized behind stable doors.

Borda highlighted the ease with which the colt was able to develop his race and the response he found when the time came to decide the issue: "The race unfolded well because he broke great and put himself close. When he travels comfortably without trouble, he likes it and responds; he draws clear nicely. I was very pleased with him. He is a great horse and the trainer holds him in very high regard; it's good that he proved it on the track," the rider expressed.

For Labanca, Amuni's growth has been constant and is directly related to a physical improvement that has allowed him to begin exploiting all of his qualities.

"Amuni is a colt that has been evolving and one we have always held in high regard. We knew he would get a long distance, but he has a small frame and has improved. Today, he is a nice medium-sized horse who has taken to the stamina distances beautifully and gets along terrifically with Gonzalo, who knows him well. Sometimes he had to run alongside Sono Perfetto (Tetaze), like in his previous race where he finished second," the trainer explained.

According to the professional, the performance in the Cané was the reflection of a step forward that he had already been observing during the prior weeks: "He had taken a little leap ahead for this race, and I think it has to do with his physical improvements and the maturation of his character. He is going through a good patch, he is sound, and I was even surprised by the way he won—doing it well in a race against consistent horses. He did everything very professionally," he added.

Labanca also took the opportunity to refer to Sono Perfetto, another of his stable's prominent representatives, whose bid in the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) did not yield the expected result.

"We didn't do well with Sono Perfetto in the 25 de Mayo, I think because of the turf track. And now he is entered for the General Belgrano (G2) at Palermo, and we hope he returns to his 2025 level, when I believe he was one of the best 3-year-olds of his generation," he commented.

Following the victory, both Borda and Labanca extended credit to the entire backstretch team that accompanies the horse daily. The jockey gave special thanks to the stable staff and the colt's groom, while the trainer added a special mention for Agustín, his son and right-hand man in their everyday work.

At just three years old and still in full stages of development, Amuni seems to have found the path that his connections had envisioned for him for a long time. The Cané was a demonstration of maturity and stamina capacity, and also the confirmation that the high regard they always had for him now has strong backing on the racetrack.