Ever Mine Now No.1 choice in Australia Cup

Streaking Aussie-bred import Ever Mine Now parades to the post as top favorite as she leads an impressive cast of William Inglis Sale graduates today in the third William Inglis—Australia Cup over 1,600 meters at the Santa Ana Park.

Fresh off her rousing victory last week in a regular group race, the stakes-winning five-year-old race mare will be challenged by five other seasoned campaigners in the P400,000 race co-sponsored by Australia’s leading bloodstock auctioneer William Inglis & Son Ltd. and Philippine Racing Club, Inc.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Tony Hely will present the prestigious William Inglis—Australia Cup to the connections of this year’s winner.

Owned by Batangas City Mayor Eduardo "Eddie" Dimacuha, Ever Mine Now (AUS) will be running as coupled entry to stablemate and last week’s Imported Stakes Series 4 winner La Tienne (AUS) as they attempt to gain control of the top two placings.

Ever Mine Now (AUS), by American Odyssey out of Ever Mine; and La Tienne (AUS), by Belong To Me out of Tierani, will be skippered by jockeys JB Hernandez and EF Salvador for the race, which carries a guaranteed purse of P250,000 to the winner, P100,000 to the second and P50,000 to third.

Expected to crowd out the powerhouse pair are classy imports California Lady, Badge of Honor, Being There and last year’s William Inglis—Australia Cup winner Suppressed.

Heading the charge of the opposition is Badge of Honor (AUS), a five-year-old race mare by Honour and Glory out of Fervent Hope, which won the second Philracom Tumbok Cup May 21 at Santa Ana.

Owned by the partnership of business mogul Norberto Quisumbing Jr. and businessman-sportsman Aristeo Puyat, the mare will be partnered by veteran DH Borbe Jr. for the mile journey.

All 13 track events this Sunday at the Santa Ana Park will also be branded races. They are William Inglis Easter in Sydney Race (Race 1), William Inglis Inward Buyers’ Race (Race 2), William Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale Race (Race 3), www.inglis.com Race (Race 4), New South Wales Race (Race 5), Queensland Race (Race 6), Tasmania Race (Race 8), Victoria Race (Race 9), Western Australia Race (Race 10), Australia Capital Territory Race (Race 11), Northern Territory Race (Race 12) and the South Australia Race (Race 13). — Ramon Romualdez