When Hard Work Pays Off: Aserito, Need You Tonight, and an Emotional Coronation

The victory in the Estrellas Classic marked a turning point for the Uruguayan jockey, who expressed gratitude to his team, his family, and trainer Roberto A. Pellegatta for their trust

Maximiliano Aserito and the victory sealed... / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Simón Mitagstein

For years, Maximiliano Aserito was just another name in the jockeys’ colony. Reliable, professional, hard-working, yet always slightly overshadowed by more illustrious riders. Big opportunities seemed to pass him by, until one day fate gave him a wink. Aserito didn’t hesitate, and since then, he hasn’t stopped delivering.

Last Saturday at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, the Uruguayan rider shone again, this time in the demanding Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (G1), where Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja) confirmed his dominance among the nation’s top older distance horses. It was a victory as emphatic as it was meaningful, not only confirming what he showed in the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1), but also allowing the jockey to reach a peak that long seemed out of reach.

“I’m very emotional right now. We had been waiting for this race with a lot of anticipation, and thankfully it played out just how we wanted,” said Aserito, his voice still trembling with adrenaline. “You work day in and day out, and when results like this come, you really feel like you’re touching the sky.”

Much of this turnaround is tied to his partnership with Roberto Andrés Pellegatta, son of the renowned Roberto Pellegatta, who has been forging his own successful career as a trainer in recent years. “I have to thank Roberto for the confidence he gave me, because from that moment my professional life changed – it took a 90-degree turn. Today we form a great team, results are coming, and I’m happy to have delivered in these high-pressure races.”

And deliver he did, with poise. In the Estrellas Classic, Aserito read the race perfectly, refusing to be tied down to any rigid tactics: “I saw the horse winning every step of the way. We sat closer because the pace was slow, and all I did was let him run free. By the 1000m pole he was asking me to go. When we turned for home, he kicked just like he did in the República, and after that everything was easy. I gave him a couple of smacks just to be sure because he’s such a kind horse, but he didn’t really need them.”

Need You Tonight’s development seems to mirror that of his rider. “I feel like he improves with every race; he’s matured a lot and honestly we don’t know where his ceiling is. Working with people who have horses of this class and letting you ride in these big races makes you grow as a professional. I owe so much to Need You Tonight – he’s giving me all these joys.”

Aserito’s humility is impossible to miss. In every answer, he thanks those around him. “The secret is coming to work every day. That gives you the chance to get noticed and ride better horses, and then the results come. The credit is for the entire team behind the horse – the groom, the vets, and Roberto, who is the one truly responsible for getting him to this level through dedication and attention to every detail. You saw how he looked… that’s thanks to everyone, but especially to the trainer, to whom I’ll always be grateful for the trust he placed in me.”

In a tough and often ungrateful sport like racing, a win can mean far more than a good check or a line on the stats. “When you win these types of races, people notice you more, and that opens the door to ride class horses. This is a results-based sport – if you’re not winning, no one’s going to come looking for you, no matter how capable you know you are.”

That’s why this moment is so special for him. “Thankfully I have a family that supports me in everything, and that’s the pillar you lean on each day. I dedicate this win to them, it’s so important for my career.”

From patience to reward, from silent work to recognition. Maximiliano Aserito waited, trusted, prepared himself. And when the dream horse arrived, he never let go. Today, he’s enjoying his best season in Argentina, and nothing can take away what he has lived. As he himself said:

“When results like these come… you feel like you’re touching the sky.”