Monsieur Delon Proves Tough at La Plata, Gets the Better of Es Aristocrático

Owned by footballer Ignacio Fernández, Monsieur Delon edged Es Aristocrático by half a length in the mile-long Clásico Colombia

Monsieur Delon Makes Triumphant Return to La Plata / HLP

LA PLATA, Argentina – The old adage that quality trumps quantity rang true once again Tuesday at La Plata, as the G3 Clásico Colombia delivered a thrilling performance despite fielding just four starters following the late defections of Educator (Il Campione) and Código Postal (Seek Again).

The mile contest on a fast dirt track offered a dramatic finish, with Monsieur Delon (Il Campione) digging deep in his return to the diagonals to fend off Es Aristocrático (Angiolo) by half a length in a sharp final time of 1:37.84.

Things got interesting from the jump, as Paraná Miní (Winning Prize) assumed command early, as expected, but faced consistent pressure from Laurus (Bodemeister). While the early fractions (25.48 and 49.14) were far from blistering, the tempo took its toll on the front-runner, who gave way far earlier than anticipated.

The complexion of the race shifted at the top of the stretch. Monsieur Delon, launching a wide rally, gained momentum on the outside, while Es Aristocrático, momentarily in tight quarters, burst through on the rail to challenge. The two battled head-to-head in the final furlong, but it was the grey colt who found just enough to hold sway in the final strides. Paraná Miní was third, beaten six lengths, while Laurus faded to finish last, another six lengths adrift.

Bred by Haras Santa Inés and trained by Jorge Mayansky Neer, Monsieur Delon was ridden to victory by William Pereyra and carries the silks of professional footballer Ignacio Fernández, a devoted racing enthusiast.

Earlier this year, the son of Il Campione captured the G3 Clásico Buenos Aires over the turf at Palermo, and while he had only made one previous appearance at La Plata—finishing fifth in a March 2024 allowance—he returned a far more mature and formidable competitor.

Out of Madame Kris (Exchange Rate), Monsieur Delon is her fourth foal and a half-brother to G2-placed Madame Inés(Violence).