Klub Don Juan Derby up at MJC

MANILA, Philippines - Local horseracing’s last quarter storm gets underway Oct. 2 as Klub Don Juan de Manila (KDJM), in cooperation with the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI), stages the 11th renewal of the much-awaited Don Juan Derby racefest at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The six-day extravaganza brings together the headliners among the current crop of locally-bred and imported gallopers battling for divisional honors and rich prizes made possible through the support of the host-organizers, the Philippine Racing Commission, Magic Millions Sales Australia and Resorts World Manila.

“Don Juan Derby is a wonderful opportunity to showcase to the Bayang Karerista the best that local horse racing can offer and relive the tradition of excellence in the sport as epitomized by horse Don Juan, winner of 1950 National Grand Derby Race at the old San Lazaro Hippodrome,” said KDJM president Antonio “Tony Boy” Eleazar.

Highlight of the festivities will be the running of the P1.5-million Don Juan Derby on Oct. 7, featuring 10 top class three-year-olds, battling over the traditional Derby distance of 2,000 meters.

Humble Riches, winner of the 2011 Don Juan Juvenile Fillies, heads the Resorts’ World Manila-sponsored Don Juan Derby which includes division standouts Pugad Lawin, Golden Empire, Steel Creation, Isa Pa Isa Pa, Pleasantly Perfect and Purple Ribbon and Aussie-bred Lord Gee, Salima and The Guardian.

The Don Juan Derby, co-sponsored by MJCI, carries a guaranteed prize of P900,000 to the winner, P300,000 for second, P150,000 for third, P50,000 for fourth and P15,000 each for the fifth-10th placer. A P50,000 bonus will also go to any Magic Millions Sale graduate who would emerge winner of the event.

Also on tap is the running of the 2012 Don Juan Golden Girls, which will now be named the Don Antonio Floirendo Memorial Race, the late Chairman Emeritus of KDJM and sponsor of the featured filly and mare championship. KDJM and MJCI will bankrol the P500,000 championship which features returning champion Botbo and group standouts Born Tycoon, Divine, Doña Nenita, Rain Shower, Sliotar and Tigerous Queen. A P30,000 bonus awaits a winning Magic Millions Sale graduate.

Two Philracom-sponsored P500,000 championships for two-year-olds will also be contested on Don Juan Derby Day, bannered by the Don Juan Juvenile Colts featuring the much-anticipated rematch of rising track stars Boss Jaden and Sky Dragon and the Don Juan Juvenile Fillies led by outstanding fillies Ballet Flats and Super Whaa.