Kilimanjaro tops Chairman’s Cup

Fourth pick Kilimanjaro came out of nowhere to beat top favorite Manila’s Gem and rule the Philracom Chairman’s Cup before a stunned crowd at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

At the tailend of the nine-horse field majority of the 1,600-meter race, Kilimanjaro made his move at the far turn then sneaked in the middle of the pack at the top of the stretch before galloping past a fading Manila’s Gem under heavy whipping from ace jockey Patti Dilema for the victory.

Dilema, who earlier scored an equally-scintillating come-from-behind victory atop Absolute Charmer in the Kabayan Charity Cup, pumped his fist as they crossed the wire, three lengths ahead of Manila’s Gem.

The victory was worth P600,000 for the Trillana family, who gained much from fancied Juggernaut’s withdrawal from the race which capped the "Kabayan Racing Festival" held in honor of Vice President Noli de Castro. — Ramon Romualdez