Substitute jockey steers Wind Blown to victory

Replacement jockey John Cordero passed his test with flying colors yesterday as he steered Wind Blown to a smashing six-length victory in the Philracom Xmas Invitational Race (Group 1) at the San Lazaro Hippodrome.

Cordero took the saddle in favor of Fernando Racquel, Wind Blown’s regular rider. He did pretty well on board the superhorse and seemed to have gained the approval of owner Hermie Esguerra as they head toward the Presidential Gold Cup race on Dec. 22.

Racquel is under suspension for eight weeks for a previous infraction and effort by Esguerra to defer the service of his suspension proved futile.

Wind Blown bolted out of the pack after the first 800 meters of the 1,900-meter race and went on to win the P300,000 top purse with a time of 1:58.5, ahead of Lord of All, Lyonnais and Staunch Ally. — Ramon Romualdez