Julio Guimaraes -
In a corner of the Chilean coast, where the sea and the hills embrace each other, there is a magical place: the Valparaíso Sporting Club. There, among the sound of the waves and the saline aroma, a race was held that transcends the merely sporting: the G1 Derby, a competition that awakens passions, unites hearts and, whose history, in this particular year, was intertwined with the flames of forest fires. The Valparaíso Sporting Club is more than a racetrack. It is a stage where dreams manifest to the rhythm of gallops. Its stands, loaded with history and emotions, have witnessed feats and defeats. But this year, the Derby has been dressed in sporting romanticism and tragedy.
Valparaiso Sporting Club is the home of the El Derby, brilliantly captured this time by the colt Kay Army, and in doing so completing the Chilean Triple Crown. He is a different horse, of which there are few. Immaculate, with 10 wins since he began visiting the track last March 2023. The 2024 Derby (2400m on grass) was scheduled for a sunny day in February. The riders tuned their mounts, the spectators chose their favourites and the bets flowed. However, nature had other plans. Forest fires, voracious and merciless, broke out in the region. The flames devoured houses, forests and lives. The Derby, that annual gathering that unites the community, was threatened and postponed.
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR THE WRONG REASON
The authorities made a painful but necessary decision: suspend the Derby until another day. Smoke and danger stood between the horses and the track. The bets were suspended, and the hearts of the fans burned like the flames that devastated the hills. The memory of that Sunday of fire was recorded in the collective conciousness. This year, the Derby has introduced the world to an undefeated horse. The Triple Crown has been placed on his head, which is also completed with the G1 St Leger and the G1 Ensayo.
This son of Katmai trained by Juan Pablo Baeza and, with Oscar Ulloa taking the controls, has never suffered defeat. “We had a very comfortable trip; the race was slow, but when I decided to quicken our pace my horse left with great speed. This class of horses appear every many years; I am happy to have been part of this team,” commented Ulloa of the champion. The Derby has been the race of resilience, won by a horse that is priceless, because there is no way to buy the love of a horse with this audience. The grey Wentrue had the misfortune to have crossed Kay Army’s path. He was undefeated, until Kay Army dispatched his rival to complete an historic success.
