El Kodigo lines up for Sunday morning’s Group One Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (2,400m) with all the right credentials to claim South America’s equivalent of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Group One showpiece on the turf of Hipodromo de San Isidro, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in Argentina, is debuting as a World Pool contest.

El Kodigo, partnered by his regular rider Gustavo Calvente, has established a wide fanbase this season, picking up Group One wins in the Republica Argentina (2,000m), General San Martín (2,400m) and Copa De Oro (2,400m).

The flying four-year-old faces 19 rivals, including contenders from Brazil, Uruguay and Peru.

Whilst boasting the best form, connections’ jaws dropped at Tuesday’s barrier draw when El Kodigo ended up in stall 20, right beside Avenida Dardo Rocha, the road which runs alongside the track.

To counterbalance this misfortune, he has a long straight ahead of him to get in a decent position before the bend.

Faring better at the barrier draw was one of the Brazilian challengers in Cold Heart, who will have a face familiar to Hong Kong punters in the saddle - Joao Moreira.

In town for last weekend’s Hong Kong International Races, Moreira went empty-handed in the four Group One features but snared undercard success aboard Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Packing Hermod.

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini jumps at 6am Sunday morning Hong Kong time and will be offered for betting by the Jockey Club.