Roi du Monde and his explosive turn of foot will try to carry him to glory in the Gran Criterium

The Stud RDI colt was dazzling on debut and now faces far more experienced rivals in the first Group 1 event of the year for juvenile colts on turf

Cardo Castilla winning the Chevalier / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Without question, one of the strongest attractions on Monday’s patriotic card at Hipódromo de San Isidro will be the Gran Premio Gran Criterium (G1-1600m, turf), featuring a clash among several talented colts eager to shine at the highest level in what shapes as a preview of the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) little more than a month away, the final major showdown for the 2-year-old division.

Between those who have already made headlines within the selective process and others stepping into elite company after eye-catching allowance performances, the result is a race where every detail deserves close attention.

Breaking from post 2 will be Roi du Monde, a son of Treasure Beach representing Stud RDI, who looked like an absolute machine when debuting 37 days ago over 1400 meters on the San Isidro turf.

The bay simply exploded through the field, storming away to score by seven lengths over soft ground while never appearing extended. Should he reproduce that same performance here, beating him could prove extremely difficult.

After a modest fourth-place finish in Palermo’s Gran Premio Montevideo (G1), Cardo Castilla (Strategos) returns to the course where he had crushed Sam Bushido (Pneumatic) in the Clásico Chevalier (G2), clearly seeking to regain momentum.

In that same Palermo feature, Paulo Sil (Treasure Beach) and Desert Voice (Dabster) finished second and fifth, respectively, and now switch to turf hoping to display greater acceleration.

The Clásico Juan B. Zubiaurre produced a convincing winner in Don Pacto (Pneumatic), who now seeks a repeat victory while attempting to give trainer Manuela Basombrío a dream debut at the Group 1 level.

The split division of the Zubiaurre also yielded an authoritative success for Stay Tune (Fortify), another colt expected to play a major role in the Gran Criterium.

Another noteworthy unbeaten runner is Pancho Gio (Caravaggio), who overcame heavy dirt conditions to win impressively on debut and appears likely to improve further over turf—the surface his pedigree always suggested would suit him best.

Teobaldo (Uncle Chuck) and Lunático Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) also arrive undefeated and hoping to deliver an upset.