Sono Perfetto regained his finest form and establishes himself as a top contender for the Dardo Rocha
The son of Tetaze controlled the pace from wire to wire in the Clásico Organización Sudamericana de Fomento del Sangre Pura de Carrera (G3), drawing away to beat Elegir Bien by 3 lengths and leaving a formidable impression despite a scare mid-stretch. Amuni, the favorite, finished well back
LA PLATA.— Sono Perfetto was Sono Perfetto once again. The horse that had dominated the 3-year-old division last season at the Bosque, the one that had shown his class at Palermo, and who seemed to have lost some of his luster in his last two starts, put all doubts to rest this Tuesday. The chestnut representing Stud El Cárcara put on a dominant display of authority in the Clásico Organización Sudamericana de Fomento al Sangre Pura de Carrera (G3-2200m, dirt), the final major stepping stone toward the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1) on November 19.
And he will certainly be a force to reckon with for the local showpiece. On a heavy and particularly demanding track, the son of Tetaze regained his finest form with a resounding victory, controlling the race from the start and refusing to let any of his rivals challenge his dominance. It was a demonstration of high class, but also of resilience, as he had to overcome a moment of uncertainty before sealing his triumph.
With Lautaro Balmaceda in the irons, Sono Perfetto broke with intent to do what he likes best: dictate the pace upfront, set terms, and manage his energy his way. No opponent managed to disrupt his rhythm, and the race unfolded entirely to his liking. Always comfortable, always in control, he built a lead that ultimately proved impossible to close.
Entering the home stretch, he began to draw away with surprising ease, though with about 600 meters left to the wire, the only scare of the afternoon occurred. The chestnut stepped into a hole, momentarily losing his footing and forcing Balmaceda to handle a tricky situation—the kind that can easily derail an effort. Fortunately, he recovered instantly, and far from being unsettled by the incident, resumed his stride with impressive power.
From that point on, the outcome was sealed. Sono Perfetto pulled away with authority, crossing the wire with a 3-length margin over Elegir Bien (Fortify), who came in backed by three consecutive wins at Palermo and delivered a solid effort in his group-race debut.
Far behind, a further 10 lengths back, Fruit Hunter (Global Hunter) finished third, while race favorite Amuni(Tetaze) was the major disappointment of the event, trailing home fourth, a distant 25 1/2 lengths off the winner.
Amuni's effort was particularly striking. He came into the race off a victory over Sono Perfetto in the Clásico Stud Book Argentino (L), where he had relegated him to third, appearing well-positioned to reaffirm that superiority. However, he was never a factor in the finish and ran completely out of contention. The taxing track conditions may have played a role in his regression, though the margin was too vast for a simple explanation.
For Sono Perfetto, on the other hand, it was pure vindication. Defeats in the Clásico Federación Argentina de Jockey Clubs e Hipódromos and the aforementioned Stud Book Argentino had raised questions about his current form, but his response could not have been more emphatic.
Special credit goes to trainer Omar Labanca, who has kept El Cárcara's representative competing at a remarkably high level. The conditioner knows the horse inside out—a runner who was the top 3-year-old of the last season at La Plata and who in 2026 had already secured important wins in the Clásico Comparación (L), also at the Bosque, and the Clásico General Belgrano (G2) at Palermo, where he defeated Nassau (Forge), recent winner of the Clásico Vicente L. Casares (G3) in Buenos Aires.
With Tuesday's victory, Sono Perfetto brought his record to 7 wins from 17 starts—6 of them in stakes company—and surpassed the 100 million pesos mark in earnings. These metrics reflect a career of outstanding consistency, particularly for a runner who still faces the ultimate challenges ahead.
Bred by Sergio Oscar Savi, the winner is the first foal out of Perfecta Soy, a daughter of Perfectperformance and a full sister to Perfecto Juez, winner of the Clásico Polla de Potrillos (G2) and the Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (G1), as well as named Champion 3-Year-Old at La Plata in 2016. It is a family with deep roots in the breeding program of the former Haras El Pelado, once again delivering a top-tier performer.
The final time of 2m20s50/100 served as a benchmark on an afternoon where track conditions proved highly demanding.
An exciting picture now emerges ahead of the Dardo Rocha. Sono Perfetto will head into the big race on November 19 backed by a formidable performance, his confidence restored, and with the certainty that when allowed to set his own pace, he is a formidable opponent to catch. High-caliber rivals and a significantly tougher pace await. But after Tuesday's display, no one can afford to overlook him. Sono Perfetto has reclaimed his place among the top stayers, sending a clear message across the Bosque: to win the Rocha, they will first have to go through him.
