On August 10, 2008, the horse El Gran César, with the mount of Santiago Gonzalezbecame the seventh triple crowned in the history of national equestrian.
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The first question that arises is why the Classic Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in August?
For 2008 there was a strike of riders after the second step of the triple crown, which is why El Gran César had to wait until August to consecrate himself on the third step.
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Santiago González spoke with this medium by telephone and this was what he said at that time.
“I remember the strike, it didn’t last long, but it did change the date of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The horse was well exercised during that period”, said Santiago González
But this was not the only strange thing that happened in the triple crown.
The Great Caesar did not cross the line in first place in the Jose Antonio Paez. Yes, just as you read it, the specimen came second in the first rung of the triad.
On May 25, 2008, five colts competed in the Clásico José Antonio Páez; King Seraf, San Nicolás, Royal Dubai, Tito Prince and El Gran César were going for glory.
With his resounding victory in the Unicria Grand Prix, El Gran César started out as the great favorite of the competition.
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King Seraf came out on top with the mount of Emisael Jaramillo and the Great César escorts him. At the 800-meter post, Santiago González looked inside for the pointer and there he had a stumble that the judges determined was influential in the result.
“I remember I was going to pass and Jaramillo went down a little bit, he put me back to third place, but my horse had a big heart and he came back to get to just neck. The claim lasted more or less, but in the end they raised me to first place, ”he recalled.
“The race that I remember the most was the last step, a lot of expectations and the horse showed all his class, it really was a great year and I won many races with my agent José Ángel Torres Velázquez “Edificio”, he concluded.
With that victory it was the first and only time in history, that in consecutive years there is Triple Crowned in the Venezuelan equestrian. Well, in 2007 Taconeo had been consecrated.