"Pare-pareho namang magagaling ang mga kabayong iyan, pero siempre malaking bagay din ang diskarte ng hinete," said First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, referring to Hernandez’s A-1 riding style that has been the trademark of the talented jockey’s career.
Expecting Wind Blown and his partner Fernando Raquel to chase their quick-stepping rivals in the seven-horse field, the four-year-old horse by Treasure Cay out of Likeable Style stayed way off the pace majority of the punishing 2,050-meter race then watched the overwhelming but heavily-handicapped favorite lose steam in pursuit of Kitty Hawk at the far turn.
It was actually Lyonnais, the other noted stayer in the fold, who made the first move as he swept past the fading Wind Blown at the top of the stretch and hounded Kitty Hawk in the last 200 meters, only to find Golden Ballet gallop home with a big, explosive run for a five-length victory.
Hernandez pumped the air in full-fisted glee as Golden Ballet crossed the wire unopposed, fully satisfied that he had pulled one again over his peers in a multi-million peso race graced by President Arroyo.
Golden Ballet sold only P148,361 out of the total sales of P1,677,314, the bulk of which was cornered by Wind Blown, winner of this event the last two years but whose 62-kg handicap weight proved too heavy for the massive horse to bear. The erstwhile champion horse wound up a disappointing fourth.
Golden Ballet, who won P1.1 million for owner Jun Almeda, was timed 2:11 with fraction times of 28’-22’-26’-25’-28’. Lyonnais placed second while Kitty Hawk settled for third. — With report from R. Romualdez