Without the 1000 Guineas, the Bayakoa Serves as Consolation on the Turf Trail

The decision to eliminate the traditional race continues to spark controversy; this Saturday, just nine fillies will contest the tribute to the great champion, a race that now carries little weight in the shaping of the division

Plaza Athenee when she won on debut in the Boucau / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Only in a racing jurisdiction like Argentina can a Grade 1 race such as the Gran Premio 1000 Guineas be unceremoniously scrapped from the calendar overnight. Once one of the two marquee turf events for 3-year-old fillies at San Isidro, the 1000 Guineas was quietly shelved under the pretext that it no longer met the necessary ratings to retain its top-level status. Rather than downgrading the race to a Group 2, officials opted to eliminate it altogether and transfer its Grade 1 designation to the Copa Diamante. The decision was made behind closed doors, leaving no room for reconsideration.

As a result, starting in 2024, sophomore fillies are left with the far less prestigious Clásico Bayakoa (L-1400mT) as their lone opportunity on the calendar at this time of year. The race will be renewed this Saturday, now carrying little weight within the division’s natural progression.

Nine fillies have been entered in what appears to be a relatively even and unproven field. The leading chance appears to be Plaza Athenee (Il Campione), who won the Clásico Juan S. Boucau on debut and followed that with a respectable fourth-place finish behind Charm (Strategos) in the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas.

Though she’ll cut back 200 meters in distance, the dark bay representing Stud RDI seems to possess enough class to offset any threat posed by Mi Confesión (Suggestive Boy), a well-regarded invader from Palermo trained by Juan Saldivia.

Racing for La Dolfina, Mi Confesión was runner-up on debut in the Especial Juan P. Artigas, broke her maiden next out, and most recently just missed by a nose to Forti Leaf (Fortify) in the G3 Clásico Manuel J. Güiraldes. However, she has never raced on turf and that may be a significant hurdle.

Among the recent maiden winners stepping up are Miss Kalima (Seahenge), a 6-length debut winner going 1200 meters, and Catys Queen (Lizard Island), who impressed with a 4-length success at first asking.

Trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro will be represented by a trio of runners, including Orphila (Daniel Boone), who will look to bounce back from a sixth in the Gran Premio de Potrancas. He also sends out Mi Gran Chica (Seahenge) and Invocación (Treasure Beach), who will round out the stable’s hopes in a race that, for now, serves more as a placeholder than a legitimate steppingstone.