The fifth day of the season at the Gran Hipódromo de Andalucía Javier Piñar Hafner brought about the winning double for Argentine jockey Nico Valle on the back of ‘Yo Roque’ and ‘Lady Cocody’. They also achieved two exemplary victories from coach Guillermo Arizkorreta’s yard. All the … The races were held on the grass track, which was soft due to the rain, also due to the presence of fewer fans than usual at this Nazarene sports venue.
The Shepherd’s Race Award opened the program, competing over a distance of 1,400 meters in which ‘Alhaurin’, from the Cuadra Mediterráneo, won, ridden by the Czech Vaclav Janacek. In this test reserved for three-year-olds, the one trained by Guillermo Arizkorreta won with great superiority over the rest of the batch. The reference trio included ‘Sound of Freedom’, led by Jaime Gelabert, and ‘Zalamera’, led by the Czech Denisa Sikorova.
The second test of Sunday, Premio Navidad a todo rein, was won by the mare ‘Shutterwood’, from the Cuadra Los Meleneros, with a great mount by Vicky Alonso. In this race, held over 1,200 meters, the three-year-old trained by A. Sánchez demonstrated her quality by winning by two lengths over the favorite, ‘Ambushed’, driven by Vaclav Janacek. He entered the trio just a breath away from the twin ‘Natural Force’, with J. Gómez’s riding crop.
The third installment of the day, contested over 1,600 meters, Premio Luz y Galope, was the first part of the tripled handicap, in which the closest finish of the day took place, where ‘Yo Roque’, from the Cuadra Los Peques and ridden by the Argentine Nico Valle, won. This three-year-old trained by Guillermo Arizkorreta won by a head over ‘X Mas’, with the saddle of Gabriel Arguinzones. This ending made the audience vibrate. It really was exciting. He entered the winning trio ‘Raiku’, with the saddle of Nicolás de Julián, three and a half lengths behind the twin. Did not take part in the ‘Dukes of Haater’ race.
Cristina Pérez’s victory
The third part of this handicap was the fourth race this Sunday, Premio Navidad in Dos Hermanas, in which ‘Smooth Transition’, from the Cuadra Soñador, was victorious, with a great ride from Cristina Pérez. This four-year-old trained by Blas Rama beat another horse from his yard and stable, the incombustible ‘Fiji Gold’, driven by Vaclav Janacek, by less than a length. In this way, this coach achieved the first two positions in the test. ‘Helheim’ came in third place, with the whip of Sevillian Ignacio Melgarejo. This thoroughbred from the Nazarene Cuadra Ginebra came in less than half a length behind the twin. He did not start in the ‘Grilo’ race.
The Sunday competition, the second part of this handicap, closed with the Brío de Navidad Prize, where one of the favorites, ‘Lady Cocody’, from Cuadra AFF, SL won, ridden by Nico Valle, who thus achieved the second win of the day. This three-year-old mare trained by F. Rodríguez won very narrowly over ‘Haya Taal’ and ‘Misstifly’ with the respective whips of Ignacio Melgarejo and J. Gómez
Next Sunday, December 28, the next day will be held at the Gran Hipódromo de Andalucía, the last of the year in this venue in the City of Dos Hermanas
