MANILA, Philippines – A battle royale between archrivals Ibarra and Don Enrico gets going today in the P1.2 million Philracom Commissioners Cup, a race open to local runners four years old and above, at the San Lazaro and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The event serves as a rematch between 2008 Horse of the Year awardee Ibarra, which won last year’s Presidential Gold Cup, and Don Enrico, his tormentor in the recently concluded Philracom Garnet-II right in the same race track where the former was the heavy favorite but failed miserably at third place.
Others joining the hunt for the top prize of P720,000 in the 1,900-meter race are Anonymous, Gypsy Grey, Hieroglyphics, Ididitmyway, Mr. Victory and Will of Destiny.
“We take pride in hosting the Philracom Commissioners Cup and the Manila Horse Power Organization (MHP) benefit racing festival. I would like to invite the entire “bayang karerista” to witness the showdown of archrivals Don Enrico and Ibarra,” said MJC chairman and president Alfonso Reyno Jr.
A cash prize of P270,000 goes to the runner-up, P150,000 to third finisher and P60,000 to fourth. The breeder of the winning horse receives P50,000.
Lending support to today’s main event is the MHP benefit racing festival with eight MHP special races. They are the MHP Makati Councilors Cup with a guaranteed prize of P200,000 to the winner plus trophies to the owner, trainer and jockey, MHP President and Chairman Cup (P130,000 to the winner), MHP Ric Aquino Cup (P130,000), MHP Mandaluyong City Councilor Mike Ocampo Cup (P130,000), MHP Wildcard and Arty OTB Mandaluyong OTB Cup (P130,000), MHP Buddha Spa Cup (P130,000), MHP Ambers Best Cup and the 822 Mandaluyong OTB Cup (P130,000).