Rising star jockey Louie Balboa expertly steered Neat Laurel, a noted Aussie-bred sprinter, from the outermost to the inner rail at the clubhouse bend then sneaked in his five-year-old mount from behind Union Square and stablemate Crystal Show at the backstretch to seize the lead.
As Union Square and Crystal Show faded one after the other, Suonos tried to give chase three-wide but failed to keep in step with Neat Laurel’s big strides, leaving the most fancied horse in the fold all alone in front as she made her way to the final bend.
Not even the onrushing Sexiest, a noted stayer, could pull off a reversal down the stretch as Neat Laurel simply strode home for a two-length victory worth a guaranteed prize of P270,000 for owner Hermie Esguerra.
She was timed 1:26.5 over 1,400 meters on a bad track with quarterclocking of 13’-23’-24-26’.
Sexiest took home P101,250 for the Javier family for second while Suonos settled for third and the P56,250 purse for the RMR Equine, Inc.
It was the second victory in row for Neat Laurel, who ruled the recent PSA Cup in an equally-emphatic fashion.
Another Aussie-bred horse, Ouzo, won the inaugural leg of the Imported Stakes Series last April 4. The succeeding legs of the series are set for July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12 and Oct. 17.
The six-race Imported Stakes Series culminates on Nov. 21 with the running of the Philracom All-Import Championship over 1,900 meters at the San Lazaro Leisure Park. — Ramon Romualdez