Ibarra rules Silver Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Outstanding favorite Ibarra routed the field to rule the PCSO 15th First Gentleman’s Silver Cup in easy fashion for his second major championship in two months at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

The six-year-old Ibarra, with Jesse Guce on the saddle, outclassed Go Army, Hieroglyphics and Shining Fame, leaving behind his rivals with about 450 meters left in the long 2,000-m race and finished a clear winner in two minutes and 07.5 seconds.

The win was worth P1.1 million for the son of Yonaguska and Fire Down Under, who also topped the Philracom Commissioner’s Cup last month in a big rebound from a disappointing campaign last year.

Hieroglyphics, ridden by Kevin Abobo, rallied in the final 150 meters to beat early pacesetter Go Army for runner-up honors worth P350,000. Coming in last in the lean four-horse field was Shining Fame.

Ibarra, who sold P805,742 out of the double pool of P994,498, didn’t stray too far behind Go Army majority of the race before making his move entering the mid-backstretch where Go Army started to lose steam.

Without getting a single whip, Ibarra easily grabbed the lead and kept on widening it. By the time Ibarra reached the top of the stretch, he was already some eight lengths clear of Go Army and the rallying Hieroglyphics.

Two other entries – Ididitmyway and Alamid – were scratched at the last minute.