By Julio Guimaraes
Born in Argentina, raised to be champion in Peru, a winner in Chile and in the United States, Super Corinto has been flown in from Miami to make a bid for one of the top prizes in the United Arab Emirates. The Super Saver colt will run in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile and fans from four countries will be eagerly watching, waiting for him to win.
Super Corinto could have run the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, last January at Gulfstream Park, but unfortunately was forced to stay away and spent his time in quarantine after a case of herpes was detected in the stable where he had been boarded. He put on one of his best performances at the Hipódromo Chile, that is located between the Pacific Ocean and the De Los Andes mountain range.
There he won the Grade 1 Gran Premio over 2200m on dirt, after finishing second in the Grade 1 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano. As a 4yo, this son of Super Saver has a lot of gas in the tank and before boarding the plane that brought him to Dubai, he did a 1000m workout at Gulfstream Park with a time of 1:02m.
For the first time in history, the silks of a Peruvian owner will be seen on Dubai World Cup Night and these will be of the Jet Set Racing Stable. Super Corinto’s trainer though is the Chilean conditioner Amador Sanchez, who saddles two on the night: Super Ocho, the winner five of his 19 starts, who is part of the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen line-up. Having watched the Brazilian Es-Unico finish second in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and then fourth in the Group 3 Saudi Derby at Riyadh last month, Antonio Cintra nurses dreams of winning the Group 2 UAE Derby.
LOOKING TO SIPHON OFF PRIZES
Since Siphon took a narrow second behind Singspiel in the 1997 Dubai World Cup, many South American connections have been tempted by the fame, glory and prize money that come from winning the races created by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Invasor, Gloria de Campeo, Honor Devil, Lundy’s Liability, Asiatic Boy al0l left their mark.
Their exploits are still recounted today. Now it’s time for another group of South Americans to carry the continent’s legacy forward.
