Next year the Chilean Carlos Lopez can celebrate 25 years as a jockey in Scandinavia. He just gets better and better with the years, and another big season may lie ahead. Carlos is an expert at coming from behind. He has a fantastic judgement of pace, and he is an outstanding finisher. Carlos Lopez has won countless feature races, among them nine Derbys and two Group 3 races outside Scandinavia. RaceTime has interviewed Carlos Lopez, who is happy with his life.
TWO FANTASTIC RIDES.
Twice recently Carlos Lopez has fascinated me with rides that have underlined his very high class as a jockey.
The first time was at Meydan in Dubai on the back of Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca) in the UAE Oaks (Gr.3).
Halfway up the straight there was a long way – a very long way – up to the Japanese Arigatu Gozaimasu. But Carlos Lopez did not give up, and after an excellent run he got past Arigatu Gozaimasu in the final strides.
A great, unforgettable triumph for trainer Niels Petersen, for the owners Kiri and Tom Glæsner Larsen, for all enthusiastic Scandinavian racing fans – and for Carlos himself.
”Queen Azteca is a lovely horse to ride”, Carlos said, when we met in the Owners’ and Trainers’ lounge before racing on Mowerinaløb day. ”She takes it calmly until I ask her for something”.
”Do you think Queen Azteca wins the Svenskt Derby?”, I asked. ”YES”, Carlos answered without hesitation, but he added that there are a great many good 3-year-olds in Niels Petersen’s stable.
The other ride was on the back of Mercur (Sir Wilberfourse) on Klampenborg’s opening day this year. The field was not quite as distinguished as at Meydan. It was a class five handicap, but those can offer atmosphere and excitement too.
Carlos Lopez was on the back of Mercur, who was favourite in the betting, and he quickly dropped a long way behind. Everyone who had backed Mercur had undoubtedly given up any hope of a win at that point.
Turning into the straight Mercur was still a long way behind the others, but then Carlos Lopez went to work. Halfway up the straight there was still a long way to the leaders, but after an excellent finish Carlos got there first all the same.
The big crowd on opening day cheered. And trainer Stine Shäfing got her first win as a professional trainer. It was a race with something to it, and it contributed greatly to a very successful opening day at Klampenborg.
”Why did you drop so far back with Mercur?”, I asked Carlos. ”He was out of balance, he needed to find himself first”, Carlos answered.
Carlos points out that he believes in himself when he rides. His confidence is high. Among the qualities that make him an outstanding jockey, he himself mentions that he is good at getting his position right.
Added to that, of course, is what we have all seen many times. A fantastic judgement of pace and a superb finish.
For fun I asked Carlos which of his colleagues he would least like to have around him in a finish? ”Oliver and Jacob”, Carlos answered, and he incidentally had plenty of kind words for the two of them.
GROWING UP IN CHILE.
Carlitos Lopez was born in Chile in 1982, where he grew up in Santiago together with three brothers.
Chile was at that time a military dictatorship ruled with a hard hand by the army chief Augusto Pinochet, who was in power until 1990. But Carlos and his family were not affected by the situation.
Carlos’ family have for generations been active in racing in Chile, and Carlos’ father always took him to the races. ”It was a dream for me”, Carlos noted.
”It was on the cards that I would be a jockey, and I had success quickly as an apprentice. So my apprenticeship was short before I could call myself a jockey. I rode 59 winners in my first 300 rides”.
So even then it was clear that this was a very big jockey talent.
In Chile Carlos was contacted by an acquaintance of Bent Olsen, who asked whether he would be interested in becoming a jockey in Denmark.
”I had no knowledge of Denmark”, Carlos explained, “but it sounded exciting, so I accepted after a short think. And I knew that two of my countrymen, Fernando Diaz and Manuel Santos, were already jockeys in Scandinavia”.
In April 2001 the 19-year-old Carlos came to Denmark and started as a jockey with trainer Bent Olsen, who at the time was based at Hvidegården.
A DIFFICULT START.
Carlos Lopez’s first win in Scandinavia came as early as 15 April 2001 at Klampenborg with the Bent Olsen-trained Cajun Sunset (Red Sunset). Later followed a win on his debut at Fyens Væddeløbsbane with the Richard Of York son No Pollution, who was owned by the recently deceased Flemming Zwicky.
Carlos does not hide the fact that his first period in Denmark was difficult. ”I ran into many problems. Among other things I got many cautions about my use of the whip”.
In Denmark, besides Bent Olsen, Carlos worked in his first years with Helle Christensen and Flemming Poulsen.
Later Carlos moved to Norway, where he has been based ever since. Here Carlos worked in the beginning for, among others, Niels Petersen. ”A nobody at that time”, as Carlos put it with a big smile on his face. Other trainers he rode for were the established names Rune Haugen and Wido Neuroth.
Carlos’ first big Scandinavian win came with Alpino Chileno (Alpino Fitz) in Walter Nilsens Minneløp at Øvrevoll in May 2005. Later that year Carlos also won the Scandinavian Open Championship (Gr.3) with Alpino Chileno, who was Argentine-born. But before he was exported to Norway he had raced in Chile. Alpino Chileno was trained by Rune Haugen.
NINE DERBY WINS – THE FIRST CAME WITH THEATRICAL AWARD.
Carlos Lopez has won nine Derbys in Scandinavia. Two at Øvrevoll, three at Klampenborg and four at Jägersro.
The first Derby win came in 2008, when Carlos won the Norsk Derby with the super mare Theatrical Award (Academy Award). It became the first of eight feature race wins in the saddle on Theatrical Award, among them Marit Sveaas Minneløp (Gr.3) and two Listed wins.
Carlos particularly remembers when he won Marit Sveaas Minneløp (Gr.3) with Theatrical Award ahead of the 2007 Norwegian Derby winner Appel Au Maitre (Starborough), who at that point was unbeaten at Øvrevoll.
In 2016 Lifeofbryan, out of Theatrical Award and by Appel Au Maitre, was favourite to win the Danish Derby with Carlos Lopez as his jockey. But he had to settle for third place, clearly beaten by another Appel Au Maitre son, Suspicious Mind, who won commandingly.
”Theatrical Award mostly won narrow victories”, Carlos explained. She liked the competition, and often the big races for fillies and mares were too easy for her. She was at her best when she met the best Scandinavian colts”.
”Theatrical Award is among the best horses I have ridden”, Carlos emphasised, and in that connection he also mentioned two other mares, Iron Butterfly and Dorcia. Fillies and mares have incidentally given Carlos many big wins. Ultima and Queen Azteca are some of the others.
In 2020 Carlos got another Norwegian Derby win. This time with Niels Peter Gill’s Whispering Ocean (Le Havre).
THREE DANISH DERBY WINNERS WHO CONTINUED THE SUCCESS.
Carlos Lopez has ridden three Danish Derby winners. Master Bloom (Pastorius), who won in 2018, Iron Butterfly (Swipe), who won in 2021 and Slava Ukraini (Moohaajim), who won in 2023. They have all followed up with good performances since.
King David (Elusive City) was a hot favourite to win the Danish Derby in 2018, but the distance was too far for him. Master Bloom and Carlos Lopez won comfortably.
The following year it became another big win for the duo, when they won the Scandinavian Open Championship (Gr.3). I do not recall a Danish Derby winner being able to beat the older elite in the Scandinavian Open as early as the year after his Derby win, but Master Bloom and Carlos did.
Two fillies were favourites to win the Danish Derby in 2021. Go On Carlras (Harzand) and Iron Butterfly. It was Iron Butterfly, ridden by Carlos Lopez and trained by Niels Petersen, who came out on top.
Both have done extremely well in their later careers. Go On Carlras won the Scandinavian Open Championship in 2023.
And Iron Butterfly and Carlos have won one race after another.
The same year that Iron Butterfly won the Danish Derby, it became a win in the Breeders’ Prize Classic at Øvrevoll. In 2022 the pair won the Dansk Breeders’ Cup and the Lanwades Stud Stakes (L) at Øvrevoll. A race Iron Butterfly won again the following year.
And in 2023 Iron Butterfly and Carlos won the Sceptre Stakes at Klampenborg after an intense battle with the 2022 Derby winner, Titannia (Appel Au Maitre). It is a race Carlos remembers well and looks back on with pleasure.
”Halfway up the straight Titannia looked like a winner, but then I got Iron Butterfly into top gear and in the end the win was safe”.
On his record Slava Ukraini was a hot favourite (18:10) to win the Danish Derby in 2023, and with Carlos Lopez in the saddle he did not let his many supporters down.
Halfway up the straight Carlos really got Stald Handshake’s Slava Ukraini going, and then the Derby was settled. Surprises are nice now and then, but stars are also important and good for racing. And the support for Slava Ukraini was great in every way.
Since the Derby win Slava Ukraini and Carlos Lopez have followed up with several wins. It would not be wrong to call Slava Ukraini the Breeders’ king. He has won four Breeders’ races. Three of them with Carlos Lopez in the saddle.
The Breeders Trophy Classic in his Derby season and the following year the Dansk Breeders’ Cup and the Breeders’ Trophy Mile at Bro Park.
In all Slava Ukraini has won nine times – eight times with Carlos as his jockey – and earned almost three million kroner.
”Slava has had some injury problems, but now he is well on the way back to top form”, Carlos reported.
CLOSE TO FIVE DERBY WINS IN A ROW AT JÄGERSRO.
Carlos Lopez won the Svenskt Derby in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, and it could have become five Swedish Derby wins in a row if Carlos had not been suspended when the Svenskt Derby was run in 2019.
Carlos was booked to ride the hot favourite. Lone Kaj-Nielsen’s Red Cactus (Hard Spun), who was trained by Bent Olsen.
But being barred from riding on Derby day meant that Eduardo Pedroza got the chance instead and won with Red Cactus, who beat Privilegiado (Sea The Moon), who later won the Norsk Derby, and Queen Rouge (Lord Of England), who subsequently won the Danish Derby.
”I was deeply frustrated by the treatment I received”, Carlos pointed out during the interview.
Carlos was, on the other hand, back in the saddle on Red Cactus next time, when he won the Hurricanelöpning easily.
Carlos Lopez’ first Swedish Derby winner was Duke Of Burden (Footstepsinthesand), who won the Swedish Derby in 2016.
The following year it became another Swedish Derby win, when Carlos won with Dorcia (Henrythenavigator).
”It rained a lot that day”, Carlos said, and nobody gave Dorcia a chance, so I had a free hand. I dropped in a long way back in the field, but turning into the straight I came round the outside, as I assumed the ground was less soft there ”.
After an impressive finish Carlos won with Dorcia at 54 times the money.
The duo followed up with a win in the Svenskt Oaks, and it could have become a treble, as Dorcia subsequently also won the Stockholm Cup International (Gr.3), but there Carlos was on the back of Icecapada (Mastercraftsman).
”I had a free choice”, Carlos noted, ”but Icecapada was after all also an outstanding mare, who I thought would handle turf better than Dorcia“.
Both Duke Of Burden and Dorcia were trained by Lennart J:r Reuterskiöld.
In 2018 it became a third Swedish Derby win with Nordic Defense (Makfi).
It could have become three Scandinavian Derby wins that year, as Carlos also won the Danish Derby with Master Bloom, but in the Norsk Derby Nordic Defense was beaten by Square de Luynes (Manduro), who was also trained by Niels Petersen.
Carlos Lopez won 64 races and earned almost 10 million Swedish kronor in 2018 at Swedish racecourses, and he became Swedish champion jockey that year.
The most recent Swedish Derby win to date came in 2020, when Carlos Lopez won with The J.C. Organization’s Bullof Wall Street (Tapizar).
Carlos took the lead from the start with Bullof Wall Street and only the second favourite Yoker (Manduro) and Jacob Johansen could go with him, and they left the rest of the field in pieces. At the line Bullof Wall Street was a good length ahead of Yoker.
”Bullof Wall Street is clearly one of the best horses I have ridden”, Carlos pointed out.
A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH NIELS PETERSEN HAS PRODUCED MANY BIG WINS.
Especially over the last five years Carlos Lopez has had a close partnership with Niels Petersen at Øvrevoll and taken the role of first jockey with Niels.
Five of the Derby wins Carlos has taken have been with horses trained by Niels Petersen.
Among the horses the two have celebrated triumphs with, and which have not yet been mentioned, are Icecapada (Mastercraftsman), Kick On (Charm Spirit) and Easywithme (El Kabeir).
With Icecapada Carlos Lopez won several of the big races for fillies and mares, among them the Bloomers Vase (L) two years running (2017 and 2018) and the Stockholm Fillies & Mares Stakes (L).
Icecapada won 12 times in her racing career and earned almost four million Swedish kronor.
And with Elkær Stutteri’s Kick On Carlos won several feature races, among them two Group 3 races in 2020. First Stockholms Stora Pris and later Marit Sveaas Minneløp at Øvrevoll.
It was Carlos’ third win in Marit Sveaas Minneløp. He had already won with Theatrical Award in 2009, and in 2015 he won with Fearless Hunter (Alhaarth).
Niels Petersen owns Easywithme (El Kabeir) himself, and she did not make her debut until she was a 3-year-old. She did so in style, though. She was unbeaten in her first four starts, and she won, among other races, the Svenskt and Norsk 1000 Guineas – each time with Carlos Lopez as her jockey.
Easywithme was third twice in Dubai over the winter in Group 2 races, both times with Carlos in the irons.
”She disappointed me on her latest start at Klampenborg, but she is a really good horse, whom we will be seeing a lot of in the big Scandinavian races for fillies and mares”, Carlos noted.
Carlos is very happy riding for Niels Petersen. ”He is a good employer. He is very patient. He never puts pressure on me. He is a good trainer, and we know each other really well”.
TWO GROUP 3 WINS OUTSIDE SCANDINAVIA.
Until last year wins in Group races abroad had not been on Carlos Lopez’ record, but the past year has brought two of them, both Group 3 wins.
The first came when Lulu Tøpholm’s Ultima (Amaron) caused a sensation at the end of October, when Carlos rode her to a commanding win in Hanover in the day’s main event, the Group 3 Arqana Herbst-Stuten Preis over 2200 metres.
With the win Carlos gave Lulu Tøpholm and the training pair Veronika Jandová and Willy Segovia, and a Scandinavian-trained horse, one of the very rare Group 3 wins abroad.
The second Group 3 win came, as already mentioned, when Queen Azteca won the UAE Oaks at Meydan.
Carlos is no stranger to notable wins abroad, though.
In 2019 the 5-year-old I Kirk (Eishin Dunkirk) won the Azizi Farishta over 1200 metres on dirt at Meydan under top weight of 60 kilos.
”I was quick from the gate as usual with I Kirk, so we could get a relatively easy lead along the rails”, Carlos explained.
Round the home turn Carlos sat completely still on I Kirk, and when he asked his horse for an effort into the straight the Eishin Dunkirk son quickly pulled several more lengths clear of the rest. The rest of the straight was like a fairytale.
The Swedish-bred gelding was far ahead of his rivals, and even though Lopez stopped riding altogether at the end, the pair won by more than three lengths.
”An outstanding horse”, Carlos emphasised, ”whom I also had the pleasure of riding to many big wins in Scandinavia.
2025 CAN BE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR CARLOS WITH NEW DERBY AND FEATURE RACE WINS.
The Scandinavian racing year has at any rate started well for Carlos Lopez with eight wins at Klampenborg, among them with Elkær Stutteri’s Grey Tycoon (Dark Angel), and in the Danish Jockey Club Cup (L) with L.T. Racing’s Frankel son Hans Andersen.
Hans Andersen’s win surprised many, but not Carlos.
”I had ridden him in a piece of work at Klampenborg before the Jockey Club Cup, and I felt straight away that he was happier at Klampenborg than in Dubai, where I do not think he liked the climate”.
On Sunday Carlos won the Spring Mile (L) with the 4-year-old Havandi (Le Havre) at Jägersro ahead of Aphelios (Kodiac), whom he met at level weights. The 4-year-old Havandi is now in training with Niels Petersen.
He was second twice at Meydan over the winter, and he is unbeaten in his three starts at Jägersro and now has a strong case ahead of Pramms Memorial (L) on 18 May.
As first jockey with Niels Petersen, Carlos can be pleased that Niels Petersen has almost 50 horses in training and, as always, many of very high quality.
There are nine 2-year-olds in the stable, and Carlos has a good feeling about them all.
Niels Petersen is furthermore armed with 3-year-olds who have already shown high class, as well as several classic candidates who have shown promise on their debuts this year.
The Dubai queen Queen Azteca is being managed towards the Svenskt Derby and Oaks.
”She is a distinct dirt horse, who after her performances at Meydan must have a strong case. With a handicap of 87 Queen Azteca tops the ranking for the Svenskt Derby”, Carlos pointed out.
”But there are many other promising 3-year-olds in the stable. The Swedish winter favourite War Bear (Kodi Bear, ed.) and War Socks (Kameko, ed.), who are both owned by The J.C. Organization and both did well in Dubai over the winter, must have good chances of running prominently in the Scandinavian feature races for 3-year-olds”, Carlos added.
The same goes for Elkær Stutteri’s import Grey Tycoon, who impressed greatly on his latest start at Klampenborg. ”I do not think he will have problems with the distance or with Jägersro’s dirt”, Carlos believes.
And Karin Salling’s Wassim (Zarak), who is unbeaten in his four starts at Øvrevoll, among them the Norsk Kriterium, tops the ranking list for the Danish Derby 2025.
”I am a little uncertain whether he stays the Derby trip”, Carlos noted. ”In the first instance we go for the 2000 Guineas at Klampenborg”.
Among the new 3-year-olds on the turf this year Carlos highlights Mr. Pirelli, who wintered in Dubai and won on his debut at Øvrevoll by 23 lengths.
And furthermore Acapulco Sunrise (Almansor), who was third at Klampenborg on his debut.
Among the older horses in Niels Petersen’s stable, four have a handicap of 90 or more at the time of writing.
Mozart (Le Havre) 93, Slava Ukraini (Moohaajim) 91, Let’s Go Crazy (Moohaajim) 90 and Havandi (Le Havre) 90. Carlos has already ridden and won with them all.
”Let’s Go Crazy has been struggling with an injury, but is OK again now”, Carlos said.
Of the other older horses he highlights Lord Mountbatten, (Connect) who is already a winner this year and next runs in Pramms Memorial (L).
WELL SATISFIED WITH LIFE.
Carlos Lopez lives close to Øvrevoll Racecourse together with his wife Line, who was herself a jockey with Wido Neuroth. They have a daughter, Ida, who is 15 years old.
Carlos has turned 43, and he expects to carry on for as long as he is fit.
He has no plans to return to Chile. ”I am staying in Norway. It is my home now”, he emphasised.
Carlos is not aiming to become a trainer one day, but he would like to continue in racing on the day he stops riding.
Carlos is grateful for all the support he has received over the years from trainers and owners. And Carlos is indeed a very likeable person, who has good relations with everyone.
Carlos ended the interview by saying that he is a happy man. He is happy with life, and he is happy with his family, and he is happy with all the help and support he gets day to day from his wife Line.
