Six races highlight MARHO racefest

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Yes Pogi and three other tested runners make up the cast vying in the San Miguel Beer-Classic, one of the six big stakes races highlighting the SMB-MARHO Cup Swift Sixteen racing festival this Sunday at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The most successful horse last year with a string of stakes victories, including the Presidential Gold Cup, Yes Pogi goes up against Carriedo, Gastambide and Darleb in the 2000-m Classic race that offers P1 million to the champion.

The rest of the country’s finest runners will also see action in the five other rich events during the afternoon festival sponsored by SMB, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philracom, Philippine Racing Club, Ciara Marie Foundation, Hygain Feeds, Norkis Trading and Pagcor.

These highlight races are the SMB-Colt Mile, PCSO Filly Mile, Philracom-Juvenile Colts, Philracom-Juvenile Fillies and Santa Ana Park-Sprint, all offering prizes as high as P500,000 to the winners.

Leonardo Javier Jr. and Eric Tagle, MARHO chair and president, respectively, have expressed their gratitude “to all our friends who helped us make this event possible” while inviting fans to come and watch what could be a memorable day in local horse racing.

To be ridden by regular jockey Manolito Daquis, Yes Pogi went unchallenged in 2010, winning the first two legs of the prestigious Triple Crown before capping a big year by ruling the Presidential Gold Cup.

He’s expected to set out as top choice, with a strong challenge from Carriedo, the same horse who beat him by a nose in a memorable, action-packed race during the third leg of the “Triple”.    

The lineups:

SMB-Classic (2,000 meters) – Gastambide, Carriedo, Yes Pogi, Darleb

SMB-Colt Mile (1600-m) – Arvin Dugo, Makers Mark, Barkley

PCSO-Filly Mile (1600-m) – Prime Rate 2, Kitty West, Coal Harbour, Dimasalang, Cheese Mosa

Philracom-Juvenile Colts (1600-m) – Steel Creation, Purple Ribbon, Golden Empire, Hagdang Bato, Yes I’m The One, Yes Yes Yes, Bechot, Angat ang Pinoy , Mr. Slim, Ikei

Philracom Juvenile Fillies (1600-m) – Cat’s Diamond, Storm Blast, Amazing Migs, Cheese Bianca, Jahan, Etcetera, Never Say Goodbye

Santa Ana Park-Sprint (1000-m) Brother Barack, Heaven Sent, EJ’s Magic, Gabo, Go Army.