Gold Edition caps checkered career with golden run

Gold Edition closed out the final chapter of her storied racing career with a golden run in the Sampaguita Stakes Race yesterday, nipping last year’s champion Hazmoore with a late charge that has been the trademark of her success since she burst onto the local track scene three years ago.

But it was a finish replete with drama and excitement as Gold Edition needed to fight back from third to last with a great run at the top of the stretch to top the nine-horse field and win the top P600,000 purse for the Cayco family.

Jockey Dominador Borbe, pushing and whipping his mount in rapid-fire fashion heading into the final bend of the 1,900-meter race, steered Gold Edition to a half-length victory over Hazmoore in 2:01 at San Lazaro. She had fraction times of 17'-25-25'-26-27'.

For a while, many thought the top favorite, sired by National Stud Farm (NSF)-owned stallion Periscope (AUS) out of Thorn of Gold (AUS), would bow out of the scene in a losing fashion as Gold Edition stayed behind the big pack majority of the race despite jumping out off the block in fourth-fifth places.

Hazmoore’s impressive run likewise added to the worries of the fans who placed their bets on Gold Edition as the former, a sprinter, appeared in tip-top condition for the lung-busting race, holding the charging Sky Hawk and Heavenly at bay.

But from out of nowhere, Gold Edition, racing four-wide, surged to fourth place as Hazmoore towed the field at the top of the stretch, then sustained the momentum in the last 100 meters before catching Hazmoore at the wire.

Hazmoore, under the reins of Jonathan Hernandez, settled for second worth P225,000 while Sky Hawk came in third and took home P125,000.

— Ramon Romualdez

Heavenly finished fourth followed by Serena, Materiales Fuertes, Morena, Kitty Hawk and I Love You in that order.