The Polish RG El Bak and Marlize Rach won the Wathba Stallions Cup for Colts I and Fillies I Grands Prix that opened the weekend GP São Paulo, the most important of the turf in the state of São Paulo and the second in Brazil, at Cidade Jardim Hippodrome, Jockey Club of São Paulo.
First race on Saturday, May 14, the Wathba Stallions Cup for Colts I Grand Prix played over one mile on turf, was attended by six winning animals.
RG El Bak surprised everyone after starting in last place and attacking from the inside in the final straight while Mentor Rach (*Sarmata x Musa Rach by *Polonez) attacked from the outside to try for second place, while Mahatma Rach (*Sarmata x Magic All Rach by Ulisses Rach) dominated the race from the start.
After crossing the final 200 meters, RG El Bak attacks from the outside, overtakes Mahatma Rach mounted by Rudinick Viana and crosses with a 1 and 1/4 length advantage. In third place Mentor Rach under the guidance of Idevaldo Silva.
Trained by Estanislau Petrochinski and superbly driven by Ruberlei Viana, RG El Bak is a 4-year-old colt, son of RG Karat and *Endora by Wojslaw, bred and owned by Claudio Roberto Guimarães Ribas.
Trainer Petrochinski said: “RG El Bak surprised us because he is a long distance horse and as he started last I thought he would not have a good race, but the distance was a major factor in the victory. And winning in a race at the São Paulo GP weekend is a marvel.”
“I didn’t start well and I was last, but when I got into the final straight I had the opportunity to overtake and try to fight for second place, but RG El Bak showed a lot of desire to run and in the 200 meters I caught up with Mahatma Rach and managed the victory”, declared Viana.
