# Wally (horse)

Wally (9 November 1991 – 20 February 2024) was an Argentine-bred thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Group 1 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint three times and being named the 1996 Argentine Champion Sprinter. The Paulick Report described her as "pretty much the fastest thing to wear plates in the racing world" during her racing career. She was known as the "reina de la recta" ("queen of the straight"), referencing the straight courses that 1000-meter races, her specialty, are run at.

## Background

Wally was a solid bay mare, bred and raced by Haras La Quebrada.
Southern Halo, Wally's sire, was bred in the United States, sired by the notable sire Halo. As a racer, he never quite achieved a stakes race win, although he placed in several. Southern Halo was much more successful as a sire, being named champion sire and broodmare sire in Argentine multiple years and siring notable sire More Than Ready.
Welcome, Wally's dam, was an unraced homebred for Haras La Quebrada. She was sired by Logical, an excellent broodmare sire in Argentina who led the Argentine broodmare sire list four times. Before Wally, Welcome foaled two foals by Salt Marsh, neither of whom was notable as a racehorse. She would go on to foal seven full siblings to Wally as well as a colt by Merce Cunningham, a colt by Louis Quatorze, and two foals by Indygo Shiner. Wally was the most successful of any of her foals and the only stakes winner.
Throughout her career, Wally was trained by Carlos Alberto Zarlengo, who had earlier trained another noted female Argentine sprinter in Spiny.

## Race career
### Two-year-old season (1994)

Wally made her debut on April 30, 1994, in a 1200-meter maiden race on the turf at Hipódromo de San Isidro, facing 13 other two-year-old fillies. She started as the favorite and won by 8 lengths. Wally was then stepped up in both distance and class, running in the 1600-meter Group 1 Gran Premio de Potrancas in June. She finished seventh.
She ended her two-year-old campaign with 1 win in 2 starts and earnings of $7,500.

### Three-year-old season (1994–1995)

Wally ran in and won a 1200-meter race for winners of one race shortly after turning three years old. She then ran in the first leg of the Argentine Filly Triple Crown, the 1600-meter Group 1 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas, where she ran last of 9. She followed this up with a win in a 1100-meter race for winners of one or two races. This was the last time Wally ran at a distance other than her specialty of 1000 meters.
Wally won her first stakes race in December 1994, the Group 2 Clásico Tomás Lyon. She followed this with her first race in open company, the Group 1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires in January 1995. Wally won by 6 lengths. Wally then added wins in the Group 3 Clásico Francia and Group 2 Clásico Coronel Pringles to her win streak before contesting her first Group 1 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint, which she won by 2 lengths.
Wally's final record for her three-year-old campaign was 7 wins in 8 races, including 2 Group 1 wins, with earnings of $135,400.

### Four-year-old season (1995–1996)

Wally's first race as a four-year-old was the Group 1 Gran Premio Suipacha, where she finished second, a neck behind her rival Preflorada, who would be named the Argentine Champion Sprinter for 1995. Wally faced Preflorada again a week later in the Group 2 Clásico Ocurrencia, which Wally won on disqualification. Preflorada didn't run in the Group 1 Gran Premio Maipú that October, which Wally won by 5 lengths.
Wally ran second to Quebramar in the Group 2 Clásico Venezuela before facing Preflorada again, in the Group 1 Gran Premio Felix de Alzaga Unzué, Wally's last race of 1995. Wally defeated Preflorada by 2 lengths. Preflorada ran once more in 1995, winning the Group 2 Clásico Tomás Lyon.
The two again clashed in first week of 1996 in the Group 1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires, which Wally had won the year prior. Preflorada won by a length. They met again a month later in the Group 3 Clásico Francia, also won by Wally the year before. Preflorada defeated Wally by 51⁄2 lengths in what would end up being Preflorada's final race. The final record between the two was 5 races, with Preflorada winning 3 and Wally winning 2, one of which by disqualification.
Wally then won the Group 2 Clásico Santiago Lawrie and Group 2 Clásico Coronel Pringles in preparation to defend her title in the Group 1 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint. She won the Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint by 11⁄2 lengths.
Wally's four-year-old campaign ended with 6 wins in 10 starts, finishing second in the other 4, including 3 Group 1 wins and earnings of $203,100.

### Five-year-old season (1996–1997)

The Group 2 Clásico Pippermint was Wally's first race as a five-year-old, which she won, as well as the Group 1 Gran Premio Suipacha and Group 2 Clásico Ocurrencia. She then finished third in the Group 1 Gran Premio Maipú, Group 2 Clásico Cyllene, and Group 1 Gran Premio Félix de Álzaga Unzué before registering one final win to close out 1996, winning the Group 2 Clásico Tomás Lyon.
Wally was named the Argentine Champion Sprinter for 1996, during which she won 7 Group races.
Wally didn't perform to the same level she had previously in 1997, losing five consecutive races leading up to the Carreras de las Estrellas. She was fourth in the Group 1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires, second in the Group 3 Clásico Francia, third in the Group 3 Clásico General Viamonte, sixth in the Group 2 Clásico Coronel Pringles, and third in the Group 3 Clásico Olavarria.
Wally started as favorite as part of a coupled entry with Redama and Old Star in the Group 1 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint. She won by half a neck, becoming the first horse to win three Carreras de las Estrellas races. She remained the only horse to do so until 2024 when Labrado won his second Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint, having also previously won the Clásico Estrellas Junior Sprint.
As a five-year-old, Wally won 5 of 13 starts, including two Group 1 races, with earnings of $163,160.
In total, Wally won 19 of 33 starts and won 7 Group 1 races.

## Race statistics

| Date | Age | Distance | Surface | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Time | Field | Finish | Margin | Jockey |
| April 30, 1994 | 2 | 1200 meters | Turf | Premio Payalon (1987) | Maiden | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 2.75* | 1:09.20 | 14 | 1 | 8 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| June 4, 1994 | 2 | 1600 meters | Turf | Gran Premio de Potrancas | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 2.90† | 1:35.80 | 10 | 7 | (121⁄2 lengths) | Rubén Emilio Laitán |
| August 7, 1994 | 3 | 1200 meters | Dirt | Premio Pendencia | Conditional | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 3.00* | 1:09.40 | 6 | 1 | 6 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| September 4, 1994 | 3 | 1600 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 4.50† | 1:35.52 | 9 | 9 | (121⁄4 lengths) | Elvio Ramón Bortulé |
| November 12, 1994 | 3 | 1100 meters | Dirt | Premio L'Express (1992) | Conditional | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.40* | 1:01.80 | 4 | 1 | 21⁄2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| December 3, 1994 | 3 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Tomás Lyon | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 2.10* | :58.40 | 7 | 1 | 11⁄2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| January 8, 1995 | 3 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 3.40* | :55.64 | 9 | 1 | 6 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| February 11, 1995 | 3 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Francia | III | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.40* | :55.26 | 7 | 1 | 11⁄2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| April 17, 1995 | 3 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Clásico Coronel Pringles | II | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 3.90* | :54.49 | 9 | 1 | 6 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| June 25, 1995 | 3 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 2.70* | :54.71 | 11 | 1 | 2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| September 2, 1995 | 4 | 1000 meters | Turf | Gran Premio Suipacha | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.50* | :54.10 | 9 | 2 | (Neck) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| September 8, 1995 | 4 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico OcurrencIa | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.55* | :55.30 | 7 | 1 | DQ | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| October 20, 1995 | 4 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Maipú | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 2.60* | :54.59 | 6 | 1 | 5 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| November 26, 1995 | 4 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Clásico Venezuela | II | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 2.20* | :56.36 | 4 | 2 | (1⁄2 head) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| December 2, 1995 | 4 | 1000 meters | Turf | Gran Premio Félix de Álzaga Unzué | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 3.55 | :54.21 | 8 | 1 | 2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| January 7, 1996 | 4 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.60* | :55.80 | 9 | 2 | (1 length) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| February 10, 1996 | 4 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Francia | III | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.65 | :55.92 | 4 | 2 | (51⁄2 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| March 9, 1996 | 4 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Santiago Lawrie | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.45* | :54.53 | 9 | 1 | 2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| April 21, 1996 | 4 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Clásico Coronel Pringles | II | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.60* | :54.92 | 11 | 1 | v.m. | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| June 29, 1996 | 4 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.35* | :56.74 | 10 | 1 | 11⁄2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| July 13, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Pippermint | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.35* | :58.70 | 6 | 1 | 5 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| September 7, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Gran Premio Suipacha | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.25* | :53.75 | 8 | 1 | 1⁄2 length | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| September 18, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Cláscio Ocurrencia | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.10* | :54.60 | 4 | 1 | 1⁄2 length | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| October 6, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Maipú | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.45* | :54.16 | 7 | 3 | (21⁄2 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| November 23, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Cyllene | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.25* | :56.10 | 6 | 3 | (1⁄2 length) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| December 7, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Gran Premio Félix de Álzaga Unzué | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 3.30 | :55.63 | 14 | 3 | (5 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| December 21, 1996 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Tomás Lyon | II | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.30* | :55.38 | 5 | 1 | 2 lengths | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| January 11, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 3.60 | :55.59 | 9 | 4 | (2 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| February 1, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Francia | III | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 1.75* | :54.55 | 4 | 2 | (11⁄2 lengths) | Juan Carlos Noriega |
| March 1, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico General Viamonte | III | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 2.00 | :54.19 | 5 | 3 | (4 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| April 20, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Clásico Coronel Pringles | II | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 5.80 | :56.34 | 8 | 6 | (53⁄4 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| June 7, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Turf | Clásico Olavarria | III | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 2.95 | :57.64 | 8 | 3 | (2 lengths) | Jacinto R. Herrera |
| June 16, 1997 | 5 | 1000 meters | Dirt | Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.70*† | :56.63 | 12 | 1 | 1⁄2 neck | Rubén Emilio Laitán |
†Part of a coupled entry
An asterisk after the odds means Wally was the post time favorite.

## Broodmare career

Wally retired to stud in 1997, being first bred to Mutakddim, a noted sire in Argentina. The resulting foal, Wolf, won three races in Argentina. Wally produced 10 foals, of which 6 raced and 5 won. The most successful was Watch Her, by Mutakddim. Watch Her won 6 stakes races, including the Group 1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Watch Her ran in the 2012 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint, finishing fourth.
Wally produced her last foal in 2008 and was last bred in 2014.
Wally is the second dam of Wanna Dance, winner of the 2013 Group 1 Gran Premio Saturnino J. Unzué.

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Wally (ARG), bay mare, foaled 1991 :
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail To Reason (USA) | Turn-To (IRE) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail To Reason (USA) | Nothirdchance (USA) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah (USA) | Cosmic Bomb (USA) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah (USA) | Almahmoud (USA) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Northern Sea (USA) 1974 | Northern Dancer (CAN) | Nearctic (CAN) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Northern Sea (USA) 1974 | Northern Dancer (CAN) | Natalma (USA) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Northern Sea (USA) 1974 | Sea Saga (USA) | Sea Bird (FR) |
| Sire Southern Halo (USA) 1983 | Northern Sea (USA) 1974 | Sea Saga (USA) | Shama (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Logical (USA) 1972 | Buckpasser (USA) | Tom Fool (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Logical (USA) 1972 | Buckpasser (USA) | Busanda (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Logical (USA) 1972 | Smart Deb (USA) | Dedicate (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Logical (USA) 1972 | Smart Deb (USA) | Demree (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Well Sun (ARG) 1977 | Solazo (USA) | Beau Max (USA) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Well Sun (ARG) 1977 | Solazo (USA) | Solar System (GB) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Well Sun (ARG) 1977 | Wilful (GB) | Sing Sing (GB) |
| Dam Welcome (ARG) 1984 | Well Sun (ARG) 1977 | Wilful (GB) | Will O The Wisp (GB) |