Top gallopers cross paths in Philracom Open Classic

The battle for the year’s top racing honors has come down to a thrilling rematch between two of the hottest gallopers in the land, an emerging track superstar seeking outright validation and the consensus heir apparent to local racing’s vacated throne, as they cross paths anew in this afternoon’s featured running of the Philracom Open Classic Championship at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

In a fitting sendoff to the 2003 racing calendar, the principal protagonists during the recent PCSO Presidential Gold Cup race, led by surprise Cup conqueror Red Star Rising and vanquished Cup favorite West Bound, get to renew their rivalry in the P1.67-million all-comers championship showdown set over 2,000 meters.

"MJCI is proud to host the last major horse racing event of the year at the only modern racing facility in the country. We would like to invite all racing fans to join us as we bid farewell to another eventful racing year with a special yearend card at the SLLP," according to MJCI vice president for corporate management Henri Kahn.

Big revelation Red Star Rising, which rose from relative obscurity to overnight celebrity on account of his spectacular win in the prestigious Gold Cup, will attempt to score a repeat victory if only to prove that his recent victory was not a fluke. The classy 3-year-old chestnut colt owned by Francis and Michael Trillana will be partnered anew by jockey Manolito Daquis as they bid for a second consecutive classic win at the country’s newest and most modern racing complex.

West Bound, the consensus front-runner in this year’s three-year-old derby, will seek outright redemption as he attempts to rebound from four consecutive runner-up defeats in top money races. A big win this afternoon can possibly seal his claim as legitimate successor to retired champion Wind Blown. Racing under the banner of C&H Enterprises, the versatile colt will be ridden by jockey Jonathan Hernandez.

Sharing the limelight with Red Star Rising and West Bound are seven other top-notch gallopers, including four imports and three seasoned local-breds, in a battle-royale of the top performers in the year’s open handicap set.

The import charge is led by recent All-Import Championship Race winner Catwalk Pia (AUS), streaking stablemates’ Real Slew (AUS) and Royal Catch (AUS), as well as seasoned import campaigner and JRA Cup winner Buena Sera (AUS). The other locals in the field include Gold Cup placer Diktador, classic winner Free Wind and veteran campaigner Dandansoy.

Winner of the Philracom Classic Open is set to receive a guaranteed P1-million purse, with P376,750; P 209,250 and P84,000 going to the second thru fourth placers, respectively.

Top officials from the Philracom and host MJCI, led by Philracom chairman Jaime Dilag and MJCI president and chief executive Alfonso Reyno Jr., are expected to be on hand to award the trophies to the winning connections. Fourteen races are scheduled for today’s program at the SLLP, which starts promptly at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, weeklong races continue at the SLLP for tomorrow and Wednesday and will resume Jan. 2-4.