Former Coolmore shuttler Orpen sired a G1 quinella in the Argentine 2000 Guineas in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Orpen colt Don Valiente stamped himself as a contender for Argentina’s Triple Crown with a decisive victory in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos at the Palermo racetrack.

Don Valiente (Orpen–Vacancy Girl by Bold Forli) was coming off a 14 length victory in a Palermo maiden at his second start last month.  He provided trainer Carlos Daniel Etchechoury with a Guineas first when a half-length winner over the previously unbeaten Quartier Latin (3c Orpen–Queen’s Bench by Southern Halo).

Orpen was undefeated at two with the 1998 Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville a career highlight.  He entered stud in Ireland and Australia in 2000 and shuttled to Coolmore’s Hunter Valley property for four seasons.  

Hailing from the Lure branch of the Danzig sireline, Orpen is a half-brother to deceased sire Jules (Forty Niner) and is closely related to successful sires Machiavellian (Mr Prospector) and Exit To Nowhere (Irish River).

Orpen was well-patronised at Jerry’s Plains and has sired 150 winners so far in Australia and NZ at a healthy 62% strike rate.  Unfortunately only Sea Saint and Goin To Jackson emerged as black-type winners and that wasn’t good enough to maintain a spot on the Coolmore shuttle service.

The South American market has proved a viable alternative for Coolmore and Orpen was re-routed to Haras Arroyo de Luna in Argentina for the 2004 southern season.  The deal was finalised shortly after his filly Torrestrella captured the French 1000 Guineas (G1) in May of that year.

Orpen’s current crop of Argentine three year-olds, his first in South America, have ensured his future in that continent.  

Don Valiente is a Haras San Benito homebred and is a half-brother to the Argentine Group winners Valency Girl (Ride the Rails) and Don Velez (Ride the Rails).

The Argentine Triple Crown series continues with the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) over 2000m on turf at San Isidro on October 17.