Quick Casablanca stars in Clasico El Derby

Report: Chile, Sunday

Valparaiso Sporting Club: Clasico El Derby (Group 1) 1m4f, 3yo, turf

FAVOURITE Quick Casablanca (Gonzalo Ulloa/Juan Pablo Baeza) did not disappoint his backers delivering a scintillating victory in the 127th running of the Chilean Derby.

Sent off the punters' choice, the Until Sundown colt cruised to the front at the top of the stretch and drew off to a three and three-quarter length victory to capture the final leg of Chile's TripleCrown.

US-based Chilean jockey Hector Berrios finished second aboard stablemate Pimm's with Soy Bacan, Cornelio Sila and Maria Morena rounding off the top five finishers in the 14-horse field.

Campaigned by StudCarillanca, Quick Casablanca was gaining only his second career victory and first stakes win after four Group 1 placings, including a runner-up in the St. Leger - Cristal, the series second leg on dirt at Hipodromo Chile, and a third in the inaugural leg, El Ensayo - Cristal at Club Hipico de Santiago.

"The colt confirmed his category and personally allowed me to win a stakes that was starting to skip me," said Ulloa who picked up his first Derby triumph.

Bred in Chile by Haras Matancilla, Quick Casablanca is out of the Argentine mare Quick, by the formidable Cipayo, a grandson of champion English stayer Alycidon.