Roman Rosso wins the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Maronas

Ridden by jockey Wilson R Moreyra, the son of the late Roman Ruler came in ahead of Brazilian horse Leao de Prata, ridden by Carlos Lavor, followed by Barbón, from Peru, who finished third.

Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano is South America’s most prestigious and valuable horse race and is the only Group 1 race that moves from country to country each year.

The victory for Roman Rosso was made all the more significant as it was the winner’s first outing for several months following some impressive successes at the end of 2017. Roman Rosso, trained by Jorge Mayansky, had won five of eight starts and in his three starts prior to the Latinoamericano came runner up in the Group 2 Jockey Club Provincia de Buenos Aires and won the Group 1 Provincia de Buenos at La Plata, before romping to victory in the 12-furlong Nacional by six lengths.

So the omens looked promising for the two-time Group 1 winner for the race which was taking place for the third time in Uruguay and for the second time at the National Racetrack of Maroñas de Montevideo the first being in 2006.

The Latinoamericao is run over 2000 metres and around one turn of the course and this year’s renewal was run over a fast main track at Maronas which is slightly longer in circumference than the prescribed distance and was also celebrating its inauguration of the new track lawn of the racetrack.

Once Roman Rosso had made a strong move to the lead approaching the final three-furlong stretch, the remainder of the 12 horse starting field were always struggling although the Peruvian horses that came with a high level to compete in Montevideo gave a close fight.

However Roman Russo showed grit and determination of a worthy champion to win by a length from Leao De Prata and Peru’s Barbon in third, and in a decent time of 2 minutes 2.05 seconds.

It has also been confirmed that the 2019 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano will take place at the Horse Club of Santiago, Chile, next March.