Uruguay Enters the Breeders' Cup Scene as Touch of Destiny Aims to Open the Door
- Turf Diario
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Clásico AUPCC (G3) will be run this Sunday at Maroñas, with the unbeaten colt as the headliner and the Dirt Mile(G1) on the horizon, also aiming to make history...
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).- Undefeated, dominant in each of his performances, and owner of a projection that fuels major hopes, Touch of Destiny will face a different kind of challenge this Sunday, with international implications, as he leads a field of six in the Clásico Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3), which for the first time is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Beyond the local prestige that such a victory carries at Maroñas, an automatic berth with expenses paid to the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar on November 2 will be up for grabs. Uruguay thus joins the exclusive list of South American countries with Breeders’ Cup qualifiers, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
The Haras Phillipson homebred, trained by Raimundo Soares, has created a storm within Uruguay’s 2021 foal crop. He has won all five starts with an authority rarely seen, his latest coming with historic flair as he romped by seven lengths in the Campeones Juvenile, missing the 1400-meter track record by just 0.20 seconds.
A son of Midshipman, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in 2008, Touch of Destiny will stretch to a mile for the first time on Sunday while also making his group race debut, adding even more intrigue to his outing. His athleticism and versatility make him a serious contender, despite stepping up in class.
His start will be unprecedented, as it is rare to see a two-year-old taking on older rivals over a mile at this stage of the season.
He won’t be alone in the gate, though. His main rival looks to be fellow local Si Señor, owned by Stud Los Cuatro Mattos and trained by Jorge Rey. This son of Señor Candy has won five of his last six starts, including a front-running score in the Gran Premio Pedro Piñeyrua (G3) in January before adding the Clásico Otoño (L) in March.
Brazilian raider Latte Macchiato (Put It Back), racing for the famed Stud H&R, returns seeking redemption. Winner of this race in 2023 by 4 1/2 lengths, he comes off another dominant performance in the Clásico Benito Villanueva (L)over the same mile trip. His trainer Ricardo Colombo also sends out Samba e Samba (Rally Cry), who finished third in that event and will try to sneak into contention.
Ultra Black, representing Stud Maluga, aims to bounce back to form. The Discreetly Mine colt was third in the Pedro Piñeyrua but has been off the board in his recent efforts.
Rounding out the field is Sugar Bite, another from Haras Phillipson under Soares’ care. The son of Will Take Charge comes off a smooth win in an allowance over this same distance and could be dangerous if the pace heats up early.
Run under weight-for-age conditions and open to horses from two years old upward, the Clásico AUPCC will not only crown one of Uruguay’s top milers but also award the dream opportunity of representing the country at the Breeders’ Cup, with all expenses covered.
The Breeders’ Cup will cover not only entry fees to the Dirt Mile (G1) but also a travel subsidy for the winner, provided they are properly nominated before the pre-entry deadline on October 20.
In an increasingly global racing world, having these incentives and doors opened represents a major step forward for Uruguayan racing, which continues to build its reputation in the region. On Sunday, Touch of Destiny and company will be running for more than just a trophy—they will be running for a place among the best in the world.
