The G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, staged under floodlights at Rio de Janeiro’s Gavea Racecourse on Saturday (Sunday, 19 October, Hong Kong time), brings together the best of South America’s horses in its unique equivalent of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).

The continent’s richest race is a one-off, staged in a different country or racetrack each year and sometimes over a different distance and on dirt or turf, since its inauguration in 1981.

This year’s edition, run on grass over 2000m, features a four-strong home defence headed by champion mare Ethereum, taking on visitors from Argentina, Peru, Chile and Uruguay.

Given the itinerant nature of the contest, punters’ usual go-to guides such as racetrack form, going and age are rendered less important.

Crucially, though, the last three times the charming Gavea – Rio’s inner-city track, which is modeled on ParisLongchamp in the shadow of the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue – hosted the Latinoamericano, a Brazilian horse prevailed.

Ethereum, ridden by Jose Aparecido, is Brazil’s three-time champion, picking up the titles of Horse of the Year, three-year-old filly and, last year, the two-year-old filly crown.

With only Argentina’s Need You Tonight edging her in the ratings, the double Group 1-winning star will take all the beating.

“Throughout this period of absence from the tracks, she has remained in excellent shape. All Ethereum’s workouts have been outstanding,” said trainer Cosme Morgado Neto of his stable star, who is undefeated over 2000m.

She and Boudica are the only fillies in the star-studded 16-runner field, which collectively boasts 99 wins, including nine at the top level. 

Brazil’s other big hope, Obataye, landed the 2024 G1 Grande Premio Brasil (2400m) at Gavea. He won the G1 Grande Premio Matias Machline (ABCPCC Classica, 2000m) in August under Joao Moreira, who rides the galloper again after the pair made an eye-catching charge to victory at Cidade Jardim Racecourse in Sao Paulo two months ago.

From Argentina, Need You Tonight is joined by Vundu, who is drawn well in six. He is fast and resilient and boasts excellent form on grass over 2000m.

Chile’s Daktari will be hoping for better luck after finishing last in the 2024 Latinoamericano run on dirt in Peru. But he will have expert assistance in the saddle in the shape of Gustavo Calvente, winner of the 2020 Latinoamericano.

“I have good experience in the Latino and I hope to continue that path,” said the Argentinian rider.

The race unites two legends of the turf – the world’s winning-most trainer in Juan Suarez Villarroel, who runs Boudica for Peru, and Jorge Ricardo, the world’s most successful jockey with more than 13,000 wins, on board King Mo.

The 64-year-old Ricardo retains all the passion and expertise that has helped him to five Latinoamericano successes in his decorated career: Falcon Jet (1991), Much Better (1994 & 1996), Jimwaki (1998) and Good Report (2007).

“I’ll try to do my best, to win … and I don’t know if I would retire if I win. I’m thinking about it. If I win, I retire,” he told Global Media Turf this week.

The Latinoamericano is one of two World Pool races from South America this Sunday.

The other is the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club de Sao Paulo (2000m), the second leg of the “Quadrupla Coroa Paulista” – the Sao Paulo Quadruple Crown.

Star Do Iguassu claimed the first leg over 1600m in eye-catching fashion and will be well supported to follow up over this extra 400m.

Gran Premio Latinoamericano is carded as S4-2 and will be run at 7:00am (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 19 October; Gran Premio Jockey Club de Sao Paulo is carded as S4-1 and will be run at 6:20am (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 19 October.