13 imported horses clash in PCSO race

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen imported and island-born horses headed by Fierce Fighter make up the cast vying in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Diamond Anniversary Cup set today at the new Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The runner to beat in the long 1800-m event remains Fierce Fighter, who comes off a shock win against five others under veteran Patti Dilema in the Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Cup last Sunday.

Rounding out the field are Antiress (R. Basco), My Hope (Kelvin Abobo), Fond Embrace (C. Garganta), Mooney Money (Fernando Racquell), Alexandrina (Louie Balboa), Holy Ridge (Dominador Borbe), Batang Tundo (John Cordero), Tiwi Magic (Jesse Guce), Multiply (Rodeo Fernandez), Lim Expensive Toys (John Alvin Guce), Ziraz (Virgilio Camanero) and Miss Elliot (Dan Camanero).

The race is serving as the government’s agency’s gift to the racing fans as it celebrates its 75th year, according to PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia.

A prize of P600,000 goes to the winner of this race, highlight of the MARHO (Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners) week-long racing festival that culminates tomorrow with a 13-race program.

“The PCSO has been helping the horse racing industry for many decades now as part of our mandate. We’re glad that the partnership has become stronger through the years,” said Valencia.

Lim Expensive Toys and Ziraz, both veterans of a number of stakes races, are picked to make the going tough for Fierce Fighter, who beat Weder Weder Lang and Ibarra in a furious homestretch battle to bag the top prize of P1.2 million in the Cojuangco stakes race.

Save for Fierce Fighter, Ziraz, Tiwi Magic and Lim Expensive Toys, the other bidders are competing in the big stage for only the first time.

Runner-up gets P225,000, while the third and fourth placers take P125,000 and P50,000, respectively.