Teao and a brilliant Luis Torres claimed glory in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Monterrico

The Chilean colt lived up to expectations to capture the continental feature; Uruguayan runner Galikovic was a strong second, while Argentina’s The Gladiator’s Hat finished third after encountering trouble

By Diego H. Mitagstein

LIMA, Peru (From a special correspondent).- Before a packed crowd at Hipódromo de Monterrico, unseen for many years, Chilean colt Teao delivered a magnificent victory in the 42nd running of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), guided by the brilliant Luis Torres, a true maestro in the saddle.

On a standout afternoon for South American racing, the gray representing Stud Don Tata was given a perfect ride by the experienced jockey, defeating Uruguay’s Galikovic (Goldikovic) with authority, while Argentina’s The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja) closed strongly to finish a close third after suffering serious interference on the turn.

Chile came in confident in its bid for an 11th title in the continental showpiece—and found its answer in the Julio Orellana trainee. His earlier triumph in the El Derby (G1) at Sporting Club de Viña del Mar had set the stage for what now became a complete success.

With experience and prior knowledge of the track, Torres handled the colt with precision. Saving ground early along the rail as local runner Boudica (The Lieutenant) set the pace ahead of Galikovic, “Mágico” angled out down the backstretch and waited until the turn to position himself perfectly for a clear run in the stretch.

Once he unleashed his move, there was no stopping him. He collared the game Galikovic inside the final 100 meters and drew off by two lengths, while The Gladiator’s Hat flew late to grab third just behind. Brazil’s Olympic Oman (Camelot Kitten) was fourth, followed by Medjool (Constitution) and Apolo Rey (Mendelssohn), with Argentina’s Thor Medina (Mootasadir) finishing 13th, beaten 10 lengths.

In contrast to previous editions on dirt at Monterrico, where local runners dominated, this first turf version turned the tables entirely. The best-placed Peruvian runner was Boudica, who finished eighth. This time, the familiar mantra—“La casa se respeta…”—never materialized.

There was also a poetic twist for Luis Torres, who once delivered a major win in Chile for Peru—aboard Comando Intimo (Riyadian) in 2004—and now returned the favor by bringing glory to Chile on Peruvian soil. Moreover, Teaobecame the first son of a previous Latinoamericano winner to replicate the feat, as his sire Ya Primo (Mastercraftsman) had captured the 2019 edition at Club Hípico de Santiago.

“We put in very hard work, and on my part, I was able to apply my experience on this track to help the horse. I’m grateful to the entire team,” said Torres during the trophy presentation, surrounded by a crowd more eager for selfies with the idol than interviews.

For trainer Julio Orellana, who only began his career six years ago, it was a defining moment: “We had high expectations, and Teao delivered. As in the Derby, we preferred to have Luis carry an extra kilo rather than change jockeys. Having him with us is a huge advantage.”

The 2026 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) was a resounding success in every sense. Off the track, the fans created a warm and respectful atmosphere; on it, a field of top-class horses produced a compelling race—one that crowned a worthy winner in Teao, with Luis Torres proving that, despite the passing years, his magic remains intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWUbK1PS_vU