The Selección crowns the best filly of the season: Charm

The daughter of Strategos shone at Palermo, turned the tables on Moon Frank and collected her third G1 win of 2025—undoubtedly the number one

Charm fue contundente. en el Selección/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

There’s no debate left—the 2022-born fillies have their champion. Her name is Charm, and she capped off a sensational season Saturday afternoon at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, winning the Gran Premio Selección (G1, 2000m, dirt) in decisive style while turning the tables on Moon Frank (Gidu), who had bested her in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) and this time had to settle for third.

Her claim to the title of divisional leader is beyond dispute. She was the standout of her crop at two, combining precocity and class to capture both the Gran Premio de Potrancas (G1) at San Isidro and the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (G1) over the same Palermo surface she dominated again this weekend.

To those credentials, she added an outstanding second in the first leg of the Triple Tiara, showing maturity and adaptability, and now the Oaks—displaying the same brilliance over a demanding two kilometers that often test even the most seasoned performers.

Trainer José Cristóbal Blanco deserves enormous credit for keeping her at peak form throughout such a long campaign, managing each step of her progression with precision. Martín Valle’s handling was equally vital—tactical, patient, and confident when it mattered most. Of course, both could rely on the raw class of an exceptional filly.

In the Selección, Charm raced off the pace while Mis Locuras (Manipulator) set a strong tempo, living up to her name by opening several lengths early. Juan Noriega kept Rosa Eterna (Long Island Sound) under restraint in second, with Moon Frank tracking in third.

Fractions of :25.52, :48.61, and 1:13.10 suggested the leader’s task would be short-lived, and indeed, the field began closing in turning for home. Rosa Eterna briefly took command, then Moon Frank surged wider out but drifted in and changed leads late. Down the center, Valle waited patiently before asking Charm for her run, and when he did, the response was instantaneous.

She swept past to score by a length over Rosa Eterna, who reclaimed second as Moon Frank tired to third, a head in front of a fast-finishing Cannolina (South Kissing) in fourth. The final time was 2:03.94, with a mile split of 1:37.84.

Bred and raced by Triple Alliance, the Argentine arm of American owner John Behrendt, who had celebrated a G1victory just a week earlier in France with Barnavara (Calyx) in the Prix de l’Opéra, Charm is part of the outstanding first crop by Strategos (Zensational)—himself a G1 winner from 1000 to 2000 meters who carried the same Ojos Claros silks made famous by Candy Ride (Ride the Rails).

Triple Alliance has struck gold again, as it did two seasons ago with Edict (Il Campione), who followed up her Selección triumph with victories in the Gran Premio Enrique Acebal (G1) and the Gran Premio Copa de Plata (G1).

Charm is out of Roman Princess (Roman Ruler), a three-time winner for Haras Melincué who has also produced the multiple winner Emergent (Il Campione) and the useful Sign of Spring (Sebi Halo) and End of Spring (Il Campione), from the strong Haras Comalal family.

Now firmly established as the best of her generation, Charm’s next challenge will come against older rivals in December’s Gran Premio Copa de Plata (G1), back on the San Isidro turf where she already proved her class. Can she follow the path of Edict? She’s got the talent, stamina, and timing—and with the older mares’ division in disarray, the stage is hers to dominate again.