What a Man and Earth God stand out in the Anchorena, with Dettori adding his star power
- Turf Diario
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Respectively the winners of the San Isidro (G1) and the Palermo (G1), they loom as leading contenders in the mile; the Italian will ride Hi Scottish
The Gran Premio Joaquín S. de Anchorena (G1-1600m, turf) is always there—both as a primary benchmark for the turf milers and as a long-standing companion to the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) each December.
Memorable finishes, outstanding winners, and unforgettable professionals illuminate its hall of fame, which will welcome a new name this Saturday. No fewer than 17 runners will vie for that distinction, and as so often is the case, the puzzle looks complex—promising a thrilling spectacle and the sense of a tight finish, unless one participant decides to shatter the apparent parity on the San Isidro afternoon.
Two entrants appear a notch above the rest: What a Man (Mastercraftsman) and Earth God (Cosmic Trigger). The former comes off a season-defining victory in the Gran Premio San Isidro (G1), while the latter dared to beat El Éxito(Il Campione) on his home turf, capturing the Gran Premio Palermo (G1) at Avenida del Libertador y Dorrego—a bold statement from the chestnut.
But the Anchorena is far from a two-horse affair. Kopke (Hi Happy) edged What a Man in the Clásico Ecuador (G2), then chased him home in the San Isidro before finishing fourth in the Palermo.
The filly Escolastic Girl (Suggestive Boy) arrives in irresistible form and now takes on the males at the G1 level after dead-heating for first with Pecadora Joy (Fortify) in the Clásico Marcos Levalle (G2) at La Plata. A telling stat: she has not lost a race in Argentina in more than a year. She will not be alone either, as dual graded winner Fiesta Porteña(Fortify) forms a formidable female tandem.
Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger) has been knocking on the door and could break through at any time; Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione) returns to the course and distance of his Clásico 9 de Julio (G2) success; and adding a special attraction, the talented Hi Scottish (Hi Happy) will be partnered by the formidable Lanfranco Dettori, the star guest of the festivities—eager to begin his South American farewell tour by visiting the winner’s circle.
