The Absence of Quality Boy Clears the Path for the Rising Amuni in the Clásico Cocles

According to information released by the Jockey Club, the topweight will not be in the starting lineup, and now the son of Tetaze steps up as the principal candidate

While waiting for a weekend that will keep everyone glued to the TV for the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, the Hipódromo de San Isidro will offer an excellent appetizer this Friday, featuring a card packed with attractions in both stakes and allowance fields.

Two stakes events will be contested, a sequence starting with the sprinters in the Necochea (L) and continuing with the Clásico Cocles (L-2400 m, turf), marking another step on the road toward the great December showdown of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1).

With 12 originally entered, the Jockey Club management confirmed early in the morning the scratch of Quality Boy(Asiatic Boy), who had been assigned the top weight of 59 kilos and loomed as the primary candidate for victory. His absence fuels the ambitions of Buenos Aires's own Amuni (Tetaze, 57 1/2), who will look to leverage his youth and strong current form.

The Omar Labanca trainee is fresh off a striking performance at the Hipódromo de La Plata, where he defeated the seasoned El Darwin (Il Campione) by 4 lengths in the Clásico Antonio Cané (G3). Now, he returns to a surface where he hit the board in his first two career outings.

It will be no easy task for the dark bay, who crosses paths with another rising name in Don Logrado (Fortify, 54 1/2), a runner set to receive a few kilos in what will be his stakes debut. The Haras San Benito homebred has captured two victories in seven starts and stretches out to the 2400-meter trip following a gritty win over the Brazilian-bred Pretty Boy(Outstrip).

Not far behind in the assessments looms Cornwall (Remote, 58 1/2), winner of the Clásico Fondistas Provinciales and Clásico Ciudad de Azul. Following an excellent third-place finish in the Gran Premio Vicente Dupuy (G3) at La Punta, he checked in fourth, not far behind Castañón Rim (Remote), in the Clásico Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo (L).

Breaking from the inside will be Saphirus Blue (Daniel Boone, 55 1/2), aiming for an upset, while a bit further out in the gates will be Buen Escosés (Bodemeister, 57), who left connections disappointed in his most recent effort.