Sono Perfetto Prevails Over Nassau in a General Belgrano Packed with Emotion
- Turf Diario
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After a thrilling race shape, the colt conditioned by Omar Labanca and racing for Stud El Cárcara defeated a tenacious and courageous rival by 1 length; once again, a feature-length duel captured everyone's attention, leaving many to wonder if it is time to rethink developing the category
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Special for Turf Diario).– The Clásico General Belgrano (G2-2500 m, heavy dirt) is steadily turning into the ultimate benchmark for long-distance racing in Argentine turf. Ever since those days when it served as a qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Marathon (G2) —Calidoscopio comes to mind— it has grown and fueled enthusiasm, maintaining an upward trajectory that runs counter to almost all other staying events on the national racing calendar.
In its 2025 version, everything kept on the rise, featuring a buildup with powerful names and a post-race reality where Sono Perfetto (Tetaze) and Nassau (Forge) gifted the public a thrilling, unmissable race shape that concluded with a 1-length victory for the former.
After two and a half kilometers of warfare, that was all that separated two colts who ranked among the best of the last season at the La Plata Racecourse and have now established themselves as benchmarks at the main tracks as well.
Sono Perfetto, the number one 3-year-old in the Bosque rankings—where he now also rules among the older horses—achieved in the Belgrano that elusive stakes triumph away from the eucalyptus trees, one that had previously slipped through his fingers in the Otoño (G2) and the 25 de Mayo (G1).
True to form, the chestnut was a monument to generosity, setting out determined to dictate the pace and refusing to yield an inch under pressure from Nassau, who proved he is built for the big stage, returning to the stakes level after two consistent allowance wins.
In what turned into a relentless fox hunt, the dark bay representing Stud El Basti could never break the defender of Stud El Cárcara, who maintained a steady stride through fractions of 26s1/100, 50s25/100, 1m14s66/100, 1m39s2/100, and 2m4s21/100 to secure the aforementioned margin over his tenacious adversary.
In a separate race, 4 lengths back, Private Blend (Lucullan) grabbed a meritorious third place, while the heavy favorite Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes) ran fourth, a distant 14 lengths behind the winner, looking stretched out from early on and once again performing as a shadow of his best self. The winning time was highly respectable given the demanding track conditions, stopping the clock at 2m36s77/100.
"I am very happy for the team and for the horse, especially after his performance in the 25 de Mayo. We believed it was the turf and we weren't mistaken. The dirt is his element; he is a true galloper with immense lung power," his jockey Lautaro Balmaceda commented later, knowing him by heart and understanding exactly how to maximize his potential.
For Nassau, it was a defeat in the end, it is true, but his connections can rest assured that his response was superb. He had never raced over 2,500 meters before and passed the test with flying colors, leaving a highly interesting outlook wide open for the remainder of the season.
Bred by Sergio O. Savi, Sono Perfetto is conditioned by Omar Labanca, who keeps him in peak form and has been doing a magnificent job alongside his entire team, led by his son, Agustín.
To conclude, a reflection directed at racing officials. Over the years, staying events have gradually lost weight, yet the example of the Belgrano makes it crystal clear that there is a space worth working on again. A tournament? Better purses? Something beautiful could be structured around races that the public and professionals absolutely love, perhaps even thinking about reintroducing a challenge beyond two and a half kilometers.
This is not about selling horses or targeting the international market, but about giving our public real reasons to pack the grandstands of a racetrack. It is certainly food for thought.
