Princesa Moche came within a whisker of glory and continues to write a historic campaign for Peruvian racing
- Turf Diario
- hace 2 horas
- 3 min de lectura
Finished second in the Yellow Ribbon (G2) at Del Mar, narrowly denied by Warming, and continues to solidify her position as one of the finest ambassadors Peruvian racing has ever sent to the United States
By barely a neck, Princesa Moche was once again denied a graded stakes victory in the United States. Nevertheless, her performance on Saturday in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G2), contested over 1,700 meters on the Del Mar turf, did nothing but strengthen a feeling that has been growing for several months: the daughter of Muwaary is building a career that may well rank among the best—if not the best—of any horse bred and raised in Peru within the demanding North American circuit.
representing Rancho San Roberto Inc., the mare once again displayed all the virtues that turned her into a turf standout. under an intelligent ride, she took the lead early, set the pace with authority, and only in the final strides yielded to the surge of favorite Warming (Global Campaign), who rallied from the back of the field to nip her by just a neck. another neck behind in third was Take A Breath (Bated Breath), completing a high-caliber finish.
the defeat left a bittersweet taste given how the race unfolded. for much of the running, Princesa Moche seemed to have the race well in hand and forced the winner to unleash a top-level late run to break her resistance in the closing meters. it was, once again, a top-class performance.
on the other side was an opponent in outstanding form. trained by Graham Motion and saddled in California by his assistant Alice Clapham, Warming confirmed the team's superb moment. the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partnersrepresentative, already winner of this year's Gallorette Stakes (G3), found a perfect closing rally under Juan Hernández, sweeping wide around the far turn to maintain all her momentum and seal the deal right at the wire.
"Juan said she settled really well during the trip and was traveling super comfortably the whole way. when she changed leads, she really exploded," explained Clapham after another victory for Motion's powerhouse stable at Del Mar, where they have been collecting major wins for over a decade with names like Miss Temple City (Temple City), Spendarella (Karakontie), Sister Otoole (Amira's Prince), Gimme A Nother (Gimmethegreenlight), and Heredia(Dark Angel), winner of this very stakes in 2025.
yet beyond the rightful celebrations of the winning connections, a generous share of praise fell back on Princesa Moche. because maintaining that level in an American G2, facing top-tier rivals, is no fluke. it is the continuation of a campaign that already boasts multiple graded stakes placings and keeps her permanently among the top turf route mares on the West Coast.
for Peruvian racing, moreover, each new outing from the mare carries a special significance. historically, very few horses born in that country have managed to establish themselves with such consistency at the highest level of North American racing. Princesa Moche doesn't just compete; she fights every race to the bitter end and forces the very best to dig deep to defeat her.
sometimes, great careers aren't measured solely by the number of victories. they are also built on the ability to consistently compete at the pinnacle of the sport. and in that regard, Princesa Moche has already earned her place among the greatest ambassadors Peru has ever exported to international horse racing.
