Under the reins of jockey Manolito Daquis, the three-year-old colt by Khozaam out of Ito’s Choice outduelled fancied West Bound in the last 150 meters to pull off a thrilling half-length victory over the top favorite and pocket the top P2 million prize for owner Michael Trillana.
Daquis, who jumpstarted his massively-built mount in sixth place and wisely floated with a big group majority of the punishing 2,000-meter voyage, pumped his left fist into the air as they crossed the wire in 2:07. The new champion horse had fraction times of 24-24’-26’-26-26.
West Bound, who sold more than half a million pesos out of the grand total sales of P2.7 million, took home the P500,000 second prize while Mica’s Magic won P250,000 for finishing third in the event held in honor of the President and sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Diktador, another longshot, snatched fourth place worth P125,000.
As disappointing as West Bound were the three other top chargers — Lyonnais, Material Maker and last year’s Gold Cup winner Free Wind, who drew six-digit sales each but who all failed to land in the money race.
It was also a big victory for Daquis, who put one over rival Jonathan Hernandez, one of the country’s winningest stakes race riders who had thought he had the victory clinched after driving past a fading Material Maker at the homestretch.
But Red Star Rising, responding to Daquis’ urgings, came out five-wide of that big group in big strides then caught up with West Bound entering the homestretch where they turned the race into a two-horse affair.
Hernandez, perhaps unfazed by Red Star Rising’s surge, hardly used his whip despite the onrush of the Daquis-steered mount but was forced to do just the same in the last 100 meters when the eventual winner sustained his charge. — Ramon Romualdez