P1.5 million at stake in Klub Don Juan derby

MANILA, Philippines - The Klub Don Juan de Manila Racing Festival set this Sunday will offer P1.5 million in the centerpiece KDJM Derby featuring the top imported horses and a lone local thoroughbred at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

KDJM president Lamberto “Jun” Almeda said the KDJM Derby is the highlight event of the eighth staging of the racefest which also showcases the Golden Girls Stakes sponsored by Don Antonio Floirendo Sr., and the Philracom-backed Juvenile Colts and Juvenile Fillies.

Almeda said the three other majors stake P500,000 each.

To spice up the racefest, the KDJM is holding a guess-the-sales contest (Oct. 25 sales) and photo contest among members of the media. Clipping for published articles on the guess-the-sales contest must be submitted before 2 p.m., Oct. 25, while submission of published photo entries will be up to Oct. 27.

Botbo, a three-year-old imported chestnut filly from Australia, heads the derby cast which includes two other imports - My Hope and Red Carpet - and the lone local bet - Oh Wacky.

A daughter of Reenact out of On the Corso, Botbo, carrying the colors of Container Bridge Philippines, had an impressive win last Oct. 11, making her the pre-race favorite. Experts pick My Hope to be her stiffest rival in the 2,000-meter race.

Longshot Holy Ridge topped last year’s derby staging, shocking a tough field including outstanding choice Shining Fame.

In the all-import Golden Girls Stakes (1,750m), an anybody’s affair is tipped among Ms. Abby Kat, Weder Weder Lang, Traditional, Fairy Queen, Best of Both Worlds, Santeria, Tiger is Ready and Fierce Fighter.

Gastambide, one of the so-called “street-gallopers” of the Esguerra Stable, is tagged as Juvenile Colts (1,400m) favorite over San Francisco, Bertong Balutan and Lakota Creek.

Another Esguerra entry, Azcarraga, is also heavily favored to rule the Juvenile Fillies (1,400m), which also lured Ice Storm, My Hear’s Delight and Ready to Rumble.

Unheralded Ziraz triumphed in the Golden Girls last year, while Esguerra’s Go Army and Nuclear Power prevailed in the Juvenile Colts and Fillies, respectively.