Need You Tonight ready for G1 Carreras de las Estrellas Classic
Argentina’s biggest day of racing takes centre stage this weekend, with a blockbuster program set for San Isidro on Saturday, June 27.
The headline event is the Group 1 Carreras de las Estrellas Classic (2000m) — part of the prestigious Carreras de las Estrellas series, or “Stars Race Day””” — which joins The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pool for the first time.
There are no less than five Group 1 winners among the nine-horse field and it is defending champion Need You Tonight commanding a lot of the headlines in the build-up to the mouthwatering contest.
Seen only four times since his Classic victory 12 months ago, Need You Tonight had a quiet back half of 2025 with only two runs, including a seventh in last October’s Group 1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (2000m) in Brazil.
He has built into his current preparation very nicely, however, running an eye-catching second in April before snaring the Group 1 Gran Premio Republica Argentina (2000m, dirt) in striking fashion last month.
The biggest question for the in-form galloper to answer is his aptitude to turf racing – that Gran Premio Latinoamericano seventh was one of only two races the four-year-old has competed in on the surface, although in his other grass outing he did produce a Group 1 second.
Standing between Need You Tonight and back-to-back successes are The Gladiator’s Hat, who enters the race off the back of an impressive last-start third in this year’s Gran Premio Latinoamericano, which was held in Peru, and Honest Boy, who steps back in trip after running third in the Group 1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (2400m) last month.
Then there is Vundu, who tasted success in this race on the San Isidro turf back in 2024 and enters Sunday’s edition in winning form after saluting in the recent Group 2 Clasico Forli (1800m), and reigning Group 1 Gran Premio Jockey Club (2000m) hero Real Rim.
Rounding out the field are Neat Colt, Don Machete, Hit Colchonero and Mister Coquette.
Also at San Isidro’s prestigious meeting are the Group 1 Carreras de las Estrellas Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Carreras de las Estrellas Distaff (1800m).
Perhaps the one to beat in the Mile is Earth God, Argentina’s reigning Champion Miler who has a happy knack of racking up Group 1 successes.
Victorious at the top level in November and December to round out 2025, the four-year-old is winless so far in 2026, however, and must put a last-start eighth in the Group 1 Gran Premio de las Americas – OSAF (1600m, dirt) behind him here.
Finishing well ahead of Earth God in the Americas were winner Drive Joy and third placegetter QueTarde Gris and they again looked well-placed here, while Bronx and Folie Ninja will again chase glory after dead-heating for first in this race in 2024.
Also among the chances is Colifato Novo, a former Champion Two-Year-Old in Argentina who has been in top form with three Group-race wins on the trot, while Nevado Catedral, Majority Wins, Kopke, Grand Canyon and Adorado Rim also line up.
Headlining the Distaff is Charm, the champion three-year-old who tasted Group 1 success on this card last year by winning the Carreras de las Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (1600m, dirt) and can be forgiven for her last-start fourth in the Group 1 Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (2200m).
Taking chief aim at Charm are those who filled the first three in last month’s Group 1 Gran Premio Copa Diamante (1600m) – Indiana Candy, Samba Do Brazil and Dream Serena – while the field also features a string of gallopers who finished further back in that race in Pawnee Drive, Noche Alta and Neowise.
Rounding out the field are Invocacion, Casa Pueblo, La Watson, Lancara and Elvitas.
