Equestriennes take shot at RP’s last gold

BUSAN, South Korea – Their spirits buoyed up by their storied silver medal finish in the team show jumping, the Philippine equestriennes will go for the gold in the individual show jumping, one of the last events of the Asian Games here.

The team of Antoinette "Toni" Leviste, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and Danielle Cojuangco made it to the roster of the top 20 riders who will go for medals at the conclusion of the event at the Busan equestrian ground.

The three together with Michelle Cojuangco Barrera made history for winning the nation’s first silver since the sport became part of the Asiad calendar in 1982 in the New Delhi Asian Games.

They improved on the bronze medal in the three-day dressage won by Steven Virata, Mariella Virata, Fedilino Barba and Jose Montilla in the New Delhi Games.

The all-female squad, whose looks and charm have added glitz and glamour to an otherwise all-male field, won the silver by amassing only eight penalty points, losing only to Japan which went perfect for two days. Malaysia was third with 11 penalty points.

"Hopefully, with God’s help we’ll do better," said Mikee Jaworski, who was cheered on by father former Rep. Peping Cojuangco and husband Dudot Jaworski.

San Miguel Corp. chair Danding Cojuangco and wife Gretchen were also extremely pleased when their granddaughters Michelle and Danielle stepped into the podium to receive their medals.

The individual event will be two rounds with the first set at 10 a.m.

"It’s an entirely new ballgame. The course is gonna be different and they will make it as difficult as possible because the fences will be raised from 1.30 meters to 1.40 meters. The course builder said we’re the best of the lot so he wouldn’t be nice to us," said Leviste, who will ride Nazli, a 12-year-old chestnut mare she leased from the legendary Nelson Pessoa of Brazil.

In a neck-and-neck duel with the Malaysians, Barrera, riding Coalminer, made a perfect ride but Jaworski drew four penalty points aboard Rustic Rouge and Danielle the same output on top of Ascot T. It was then up to Leviste, the anchor rider, to make or break it for the RP team and she was up to the challenge and cleared all obstacles.

"I was fortunate the way I rode in the final round. I analyzed my fault the previous round, replayed the tape maybe 100 times and analyzed every stride, every angle we made," she said.

The 29-year-old Leviste, who placed fifth overall in Bangkok and 68th in the recent world championship in Jerez, Spain, said she hoped to perform well today since her horse was in fine shape. "We’ll do our best for the country," said Leviste.