Princesa Moche: iron heart and historical glory at Santa Anita

With her victory in the Megahertz Stakes (G3), she became the first horse born in Peru to win a graded stakes race on United States tracks

Princesa Moche (right) achieved what no Peruvian horse could do before in the USA / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Especial para Turf Diario).- Peruvian horse racing reached an unprecedented peak in the northern hemisphere. With a display of bravery and endurance, Princesa Moche became last Saturday the first horse born in Peru to win a graded stakes race in the United States, by prevailing in the Megahertz Stakes (G3).

While the Argentine-bred Si Que Es Buena (Equal Stripes) had previously achieved a similar milestone after campaigning in Monterrico, this victory for the representative of Rancho San Roberto Inc. marks a turning point as she is a 100 percent Incan-origin product.

Conversely, the disappointment in that race came from the Argentine Violeta M. (John F. Kennedy), who finished at the rear of the field with some physical issues involved.

Backed by public favoritism, the daughter of Muwaary proved that her second-place finish in the Las Cienegas (G3) was no fluke. Under the guidance of Italian jockey Mirco Demuro, the bay stalked the lead for much of the journey, setting fractions of 23s73/100, 48s63/100, and 1m13s16/100.

Although she seemed to give up ground upon entering the homestretch, her jockey explained the mare's reaction: “I got a little scared because she relaxed too much on the last turn. It looked like she was going to be defeated, but she changed leads in the stretch and fought like she always does,” he commented.

In a heart-stopping finish decided by a triple photo, Princesa Moche showed her class to win by a neck over Vibez(Collected), with Will Then (War of Will) taking third place by the same distance. The final time for the mile was 1m36s9/100.

With this win, Doug O’Neill's trainee improves her record to 39 starts: 12 wins, 4 seconds, and 5 thirds, surpassing $170,000 in earnings. The trainer, visibly moved by the success of his first Peruvian import, spared no praise: “I’ve never had a horse from Peru. She’s average in size, but I always say she’s like Tanner from Bad News Bears. She’s as tough as a nut; she knows where the finish line is.”

Princesa Moche has not just won a race; she has placed the name of Peruvian breeding at the very top of international horse racing, proving that the quality of the South American horse knows no borders. And, for now, no limits either...