There are 23 fillies and mares entered for the Gran Premio Copa Diamante

The race, which will offer the same purse as the 25 de Mayo, will return to the fold after not being held during the previous season

Orpen Rimout, one of the leading names among the nominees / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Gran Premio Copa Diamante (G1-1600m, turf) for fillies and mares aged three and up, part of the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) meeting, emerged as the marquee race on the card when nominations were released.

No fewer than 23 possible runners were entered for the contest, which will distribute 100,000,000 pesos in prize money, including 50,000,000 pesos to the winner—the same amount assigned to the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) itself.

The division currently lacks a clear-cut leader, and that parity is reflected in a field featuring graded winners such as Dream Serena (Forge), Lessons of Life (Le Blues), Neowise (Brz-Agnes Gold), Noche Alta (Hi Happy), and Orpen Rimout (Remote).

A remarkable 12 of the nominees are 3-year-old fillies. Besides the already mentioned Lessons of Life, the list also includes Duffy (Il Mercato), Esthetic Chic (Long Island Sound), Fiesta Pop (Il Campione), Forti Leaf (Fortify), Indiana Candy (Señor Candy), Mercata Mayor (Il Mercato), My Pride (Daddy Long Legs), Pawnee Drive (Lucullan), Reina Secreta (Víctor Security), Samba do Brazil (Springdom), and Todavía Cantamos (Mootasadir).

The probable field is completed by Adi Shakti (Lucullan), Harlan’s Rim (Remote), Igual No Soy (John F Kennedy), International Look (Cosmic Trigger), Lost Beach (Treasure Beach), Paxing (Señor Candy), and Victoria Bayern (Santillano).

Group 1 races require a minimum rating of 110 to maintain their classification, but the Copa Diamante currently tops out at 109 with Orpen Rimout (using firm figures only, without allowances), while Noche Alta owns a 108 rating and both Dream Serena and Lessons of Life stand at 107.

The cost to secure a starting position is 1,800,000 pesos, meaning that if most of the nominees are confirmed, nearly half of the purse will effectively come from the owners themselves, since, as is well known, racetracks do not add nomination and confirmation fees back into the purse structure.

As always, all runners must pass a pre-race examination with a negative result, while final confirmations and rider engagements are due by noon on Monday the 18th. The post-position draw will take place virtually the following day.