No clear favorite in Presidential Gold Cup

The 33rd running of the prestigious PCSO Presidential Gold Cup looms as a wide-open contest for first as no clear favorite has emerged from the 10 official starters set to parade to the post today at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Much like last year, the battle for supremacy for the country’s most coveted Cup appears to be too close to call, an anybody’s horse race with more than half of the starters capable of pulling-off a king-size victory over the classic 2,000-meter distance.

Heading the hunt for local racing’s Holy Grail are two previous Cup champions, last year’s winner Empire King and 2003 titlist Red Star Rising. Both would be gunning for history as repeat champions to join the elite roster of two-time Gold Cup winners Fair and Square, Sun Dancer, Bulldozer and Wind Blown.

Outside the battle of the two Cup winners, three other celebrated track rivalries will be reprised in the country’s richest horse race sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. - R. Romualdez