Gold Cup outcome questioned

MANILA, Philippines — There’s a cloud of controversy over last Sunday’s staging of the richest event in Philippine horseracing the Presidential Gold Cup at the Metro Turf.

Super Swerte owner Leonardo “Sandy” Javier has filed a formal protest before the Philippine Racing Commission and called for the result of the race “invalidated.”

Javier accused the jockey of Boss Emong, FM Racquel Jr., of “foul riding” during the 2,000-meter race that offered a record P6 million to the winner.

Race footage showed that Boss Emong apparently “impeded” the running of Super Swerte heading to the final stretch, and allowing Sky Shot, the former’s coupled entry, to win.

The victory was worth P6 million for Sky Shot owner Edward Vincent Diokno, who also owns Boss Emong. Nuclear Bomb was second (P2 million) and Super Swerte third (P1 million).

The Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. board of stewards has suspended Racquel for 156 days.

Regarding Javier’s protest, Philracom chairman Reli de Leon told The STAR, “We will observe due process and a decision will be made based on the merits of the evidence presented.”