Seven tough horses compete in PSA Cup today

Seven battle-tested horses make up the cast in today’s third PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Cup, a one-mile event honoring a man known for his deep passion for horse racing.

At around 5 this afternoon, Free Wind, Material Maker, Success Story, San Diego Force, Speed Machine, Mica’s Magic and imported horse Neat Laurel will dispute prizes totaling P500,000 in the 1600-meter event hosted by the Philippine Racing Club Incorporated (PRCI), sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission headed by Jimmy Dilag and organized by the PSA.

The honoree is the late Camilo ‘Boy’ Mendez Jr., who died of heart attack two weeks ago after spending almost a lifetime working as a tipster, horse racing columnist and racing steward.

PSA president Jimmy Cantor of Malaya thanked the Philracom for sponsoring the event and the PRCI for hosting it, adding it’s just appropriate to hold the PSA event in honor of somebody who loved horse racing so much.

The other big event this afternoon is the 1600-meter William Inglis & Son Australia Cup, featuring seven imported horses from Down Under and offering a pay check of P250,000 to the winner.

The field is comprised of tested campaigners, namely, Crypto’rose, Scenic Splendor, Royal Llantana, Throttle, L’islet Sur Mer, Muro Ami and Bonjour Baby, who will figure in a race which is similarly too close to call.

No less than the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Ruth Pearce, will be attending the race held to strengthen bilateral ties with racing superpower Australia, PRCI and world-renowed bloodstock auctioneer W. Inglis & Son Ltd.

At the time of his death, Mendez, a long-time PSA director and Taliba sports editor, was chairman of the Board of Stewards of the PRCI.

He was largely credited for helping the sportswriters, the oldest group of media practitioners in the country, stage the first two PSA Cups held in honor of former race callers, tipsters and writers like Tony Trinidad, Ben Francisco and Rudy Navarro.

On the eve of the race, Free Wind, the 2002 Presidential Gold Cup winner, is fancied to set out as top choice with Success Story looming as his strongest rival for the P240,000 top prize.

In his last stakes race, the Joe Noel Camu-ridden Free Wind won the Freedom Cup in February, beating outstanding choice Red Star Rising in a close, interesting duel at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.

The win was worth P600,000 for the owner of Free Wind.