With dreams of an unforgettable triumph, Martana and Storm Sound are set for Maroñas

The filly will line up in the G1 Ciudad de Montevideo, while the colt is set for the G3 Pedro Piñeyrúa, both chasing a coveted berth in the Breeders’ Cup

Martana will look to carry her talent across the River / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).- As is tradition every Jan. 6, the Gran Premios Ciudad de Montevideo (G1-2000m, dirt), Pedro Piñeyrúa (G3-1600m, dirt) and Maroñas (G3-1000m, dirt) will once again serve as the perfect supporting cast to the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez (G1), shaping another unforgettable Reyes Day meeting at Maroñas.

The first of those features, for fillies and mares from three years up, will include the Argentine Martana (Fortify), one of the leading dirt performers in Buenos Aires, who will be chasing her first top-level success while tackling the always demanding challenge of traveling.

Prepared by Enrique Martín Ferro and set to be ridden by Martín Valle, the Haras Santa Inés homebred has been pleasing in her morning work at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas, fueling plenty of optimism in her camp.

The track is expected to be firm due to the lack of rain, another variable for Martana, who must also contend with rivals such as Brazil’s La Bella Julia (Alpha), the local Guitarrera (Mestre Gosik) and the 3-year-old Tantan Royal (Uru-Midshipman), winner of the 2025 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G3).

As for the Piñeyrúa, it will carry special historical significance, as for the first time it becomes part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series – Win and You’re In, awarding its winner a guaranteed berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland next November.

That always compelling mile will feature another major Argentine presence, with Storm Sound (Hi Happy) shipping from Palermo to take on Sí Señor (Uru-Señor Candy), arguably the best older horse on this side of the River Plate and the defending champion, having captured the Piñeyrúa in 2025.

Trained by Omar Labanca and with Lautaro Balmaceda set for his international debut, Storm Sound is the leading miler in La Plata, where he signed off his local campaign on Nov. 19 with a victory in the Clásico Joaquín V. González (G1).

The meeting will close with the Maroñas, a wide-open sprint that shapes up as one of the most competitive in recent memory. Little Roy (Uru-A Little Warm) looms as one of the early favorites, alongside Storm Summer (Uru-The Leopard), Oliver (Brz-Put It Back) and the ever-dangerous La Sobrina (Trinniberg).