Super Nao (7 Oct 2018–) is an Argentine-bred, Peruvian-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Peruvian Triple Crown in 2021.
Background Super Nao is a bay stallion with a star and right hind coronet that was bred by Haras Firmamento.
Super Saver, Super Nao's sire, won the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and had a record as a successful sire, with his progeny including Grade 1 winners Runhappy, Letruska, and Happy Saver. Super Nao's dam Royal Top was a winner in Argentina who produced the Peruvian Champion Turf Mare Reina de Mollendo the year before Super Nao, as well as stakes-placed runners Royal Top Sea and Reina Estrellita.
During his career, Super Nao was campaigned by Stud Ju Ya owned by Juan Sun Han and trained by Alfonso Arias Rodríguez. Alfonso described Super Nao as very sound and very agreeable.
Racing career Super Nao ran twice as a 2-year-old, finishing third in the listed Clásico Luis Olaechea Du Bois before winning a conditional race. He ran in the listed Clásico Hipódromo de San Felipe in his first race as a three-year-old before contesting the first leg of the Peruvian Triple Crown.
Super Nao started in the Polla de Potrillos as a long-shot, but won the race, defeating Eliitas and Peruvian two-year-old champion Sorpresivo. A month later, Super Nao also won the second leg of the Peruvian Triple Crown, the Clásico Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos.
In the Derby Nacional Super Nao took the lead from the start and led the all way to a wire-to-wire win in a final time of 2:34.4, winning the Peruvian Triple Crown.
Super Nao was named the Peruvian Horse of the Year and Champion Dirt Three-Year-Old Colt for his 2021 campaign.
In 2022, Super Nao ran poorly in the Group 2 Clásico Ciudad de Lima, losing to the older Nuremberg. The next month, the two faced each other again in the Group 3 Clásico Alfredo Benavides y Alfredo Benavides Diez Canseco run over 2000 meters, and Super Nao won.
Super Nao was selected as one of the Peruvian representatives for the 2022 Gran Premio Latinoamericano based on his win in the Group 3 Clásico Benavides y Alfredo Benavides Diez Canseco.
While training for the Group 1 Clásico Jockey Club del Perú, Super Nao suffered a tendon injury that resulted in his retirement.
Racing statistics DateAgeDistanceSurfaceRaceGradeTrackOddsFieldFinishTimeWinning (Losing) marginJockeyRefMay 22, 202121400 metersDirtClásico Luis Olaechea Du BoisListedHipódromo de Monterrico631:27.35(9 lengths)M. VilcarimaJun 18, 202121200 metersDirtCondicionalConditionalHipódromo de Monterrico6.40811:13.741 lengthsM. VilcarimaJul 25, 202131600 metersDirtClásico Hipódromo de San FelipeListedHipódromo de Monterrico721:40.512 lengthsR. MelgarejoSep 12, 202131600 metersDirtClásico Polla de Potrillos - Roberto Alvarez Calderón ReyGIHipódromo de Monterrico58.40911:38.62 lengthsJ. ReyesOct 10, 202132000 metersDirtClásico Ricardo Ortiz de ZevallosGIHipódromo de Monterrico7.20912:08.801 lengthsJ. ReyesNov 21, 202132400 metersDirtDerby NacionalGIHipódromo de Monterrico3.401012:34.856 lengthsJ. ReyesJan 16, 202232000 metersDirtClásico Ciudad de LimaGIIHipódromo de Monterrico662:06.95(12 lengths)J. ReyesFeb 20, 202232000 metersDirtClásico Benavides y Alfredo Benavides Diez CansecoGIIIHipódromo de Monterrico6.801112:07.125 lengthsJ. ReyesApr 2, 202232000 metersDirtGran Premio LatinoamericanoGIHipódromo Chile12.001462:03.63(16 lengths)J. Reyes
Stud career Super Nao entered stud in 2022 at Haras Rancho Fatima.
Pedigree
References