MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Don Enrico battles six veteran runners in the Classic race, main event of the prize-rich, week-long 35th MARHO (Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners) Breeders Cup today at the new Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
Winner of seven stakes events, 11 under regular rider Fernando Racquel – the most by any horse 11 months into the season – Don Enrico is expected to set out as overwhelming favorite to win the P1.8 million 2000-m run and boost his claim as the strongest candidate for the horse-of-the year-award.
Don Enrico, son of the great Wind Blown out of imported mare Kayumanggi, takes on Es Twenty Six, Ididitmyway, Tiger Would, Gypsy Grey, Shining Fame and Sword O’War in the biggest of the six marquee events highlighting a 13-race program starting at 2 p.m.
Expected to share the limelight in the racefest backed by San Miguel Corp. and the Philippine Racing Commission and organized by MARHO headed by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos are juveniles Carriedo and Gastambide and 2009 Triple Crown two-leg winner Heaven Sent.
Carriedo and Gastambide, the most dominant two-year-olds at present who carry the colors of the popular Hermie Esguerra stable, make their bids in the 2-Year-Old Colts division while speedball Heaven Sent looks too tough to beat when she meets three others in the 3-Year-Old Fillies.
The other key races are the Sprint, 2-Year-Old Fillies and the 3-Year-Old Colts, which are all staking total prizes of P400,000 or more.
The five-year-old Don Enrico is coming off a 15-length victory over Shining Fame in the Yellow Topaz 1 a few weeks ago at the San Lazaro Leisure Park, his sixth in a magnificent season that also saw him beat superhorse Ibarra in the big First Gentleman Silver Cup last summer.
The entries:
• Sprint (1,000m, P400,000): Minsk City, Million Dollar, Sutter’s Royal, Tiger Song, Eternal Flame, EJ’s Magic
• 2YO Fillies (1,300m, P900,000): Blonde Ambition, Redemption, Elusive Cat, Perfect Material, Speed Spell, Tiger Moon, Morayta, Andalucia, Moscow Ballet
• 2YO Colts (1,300m, P900,000): Yes Pogi, Thoti’s Best, Real Winner, Pinakamagaling, Carriedo, Gastambide
• 3YO Fillies (1,600m, P900,000): Nuclear Power, Blue Ocean, Sutter Dee Night, Heaven Sent
• 3YO Colts (1,600m, P900,000): Creation, Boni’s Gem, Lakay, Shadow Strafze, Oh Wacky, True Value, Dream Supreme, Lively Dude
• Classic (2,000m, P1.8 million): Sword O’War, Ididitmyway, Don Enrico, Shining Fame, Es Twenty Six, Gypsy Grey, Tiger Would