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| Staff Writer |
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Two Group One contests in South America offer automatic qualification to racing's richest day as the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series continues. The Grande Premio Brasil at Rio De Janeiro and Gran Premio Pamplona in Lima provide golden tickets to the US$5 million Breeders' Cup Turf and US$2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf respectively.
Sinsel, trained by Luiz Esteves for Stud Red Rafa, leads twenty runners seeking Breeders' Cup Turf qualification in the Grande Premio Brasil. The 3YO son of Alpha captured the Franciso Eduardo e Linneo Eduardo de Paula Machado before finishing runner up to Nudini in the Cruzeiro do Sul Brazilian Derby.
Nudini, trained by Julio Cezar Sampaio, has excelled over the mile and a half distance, winning the Brazilian Derby and Marques de Tamandare. The son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer represents Stud Arare's qualification hopes.
Defending champion Obataye returns for Antonio Oldoni and Haras Rio Iguassu. Brazil's 2024 3YO champion colt, sired by Courtier, has won seven of fourteen starts but needs to bounce back from a fourth place finish in the Grande Premio Sao Paulo.
Juan Suarez Villarroel saddles three contenders for Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf qualification in the Gran Premio Pamplona. Mathilde, Forty Angela, and defending champion Boudica represent Stud Jet Set's powerful assault on the Group One prize.
Mathilde, a 4YO daughter of Galapiat, has won twice this year including a nose victory over stablemate Forty Angela in the Clasico Republica Argentina. The 2023 Gran Premio Nacional Augusto B. Leguia winner has six victories from thirteen starts.
3YO Forty Angela, by Fortify, captured consecutive Group stakes in the Clasico Oscar Berckemeyer Pazos and Clasico Postin before her recent runner up effort to Mathilde.
Last year's winner Boudica, Peru's 2024 champion grass mare and daughter of The Lieutenant, seeks to retain her crown having won four races including the listed Clasico Ernesto Ayulo Pardo.
La Kika, the 2024 Peruvian Horse of the Year for Luis Quimper and Stud Amistad, adds further quality to the field. The daughter of Badge of Silver won Group One titles in the Clasico Polla de Potrancas and Gran Premio Nacional Augusto B. Leguia but faces a qualification challenge after recent disappointing efforts.
Both winners receive automatic entry and paid expenses to their respective Breeders' Cup contests, making these South American Group One prizes among the most valuable qualification opportunities available.