Stormy Summer Holds Her Own in First Test Against Older Rivals

The Nicholas filly scored impressively in the Clásico The Japan Racing Association (L) on turf

Stormy Summer finished strongly to capture her second stakes victory / HAPSA

Stormy Summer continues to build an impressive résumé and is fast emerging as one of Argentina’s most promising turf fillies over middle distances. Facing older rivals for the first time, the daughter of Nicholas (Equal Stripes) confirmed the strong impression she’d been making with a commanding victory in Saturday’s Clásico The Japan Racing Association(L–1400m, turf) at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

A homebred for Haras Carampangue, Stormy Summer displayed once again the blend of speed and balance that has become her hallmark—particularly her remarkable ability to handle Palermo’s tight inner turns, a skill that proved decisive this time.

It was Intrusión (Gouverneur Morris) who set the pace early, closely tracked by the eventual winner, who swept to the front around the bend and hugged the rail turning for home. From there, the outcome was never in doubt. Stormy Summer quickened clear, crossing the wire in 1:22.29 with a length-and-a-half advantage over Dream Serena (Forge), who rallied late for second. Another 2 1/2 lengths back came Ulla Uxia (Un Pionero) in third, while the heavy favorite Candlelit(Equal Stripes) failed to fire, finishing a disappointing fifth—nearly nine lengths behind the winner—in her first local turf appearance.

Trained by Agustín Pavlovsky, the granddaughter of Orpen now boasts three consecutive wins from four career starts, the last two at the stakes level, all on turf.

The post-race ceremony carried an international flavor, with Hiroshi Yamauchi, Japan’s Ambassador to Argentina, presenting the trophy alongside Masayuki Goto (President and CEO of the Japan Racing Association), Tom Hashimoto(General Manager, JRA New York), Henri Pouret (France Galop Executive Director), and Horacio Espósito, Vice President of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. All were in attendance following last weekend’s Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at Gávea, Brazil.