Magna Carta reigns in Pres Gold Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Magna Carta over the weekend ran the perfect race and won the P2.50 million 39th Presidential Gold Cup stakes race at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Cavite.

Pulling away over the last 600 meters, Magna Carta won one of the biggest races of the year by more than four lengths with a time of 2:07:00 over surprising newcomer Sulong Pinoy which finished one second behind. Last year’s winner, Yes Pogi, finished third with a time of 2:08:20.

The win earned owner Michael Javier P2.50 million in a race where Magna Carta became an even bigger favorite after the late scratches of Tensile Strength, Hari Ng Yambo, RightHereRightNow, and Shining Armour.

However, Javier said they were very confident of winning the 2,000 meter race against whomever they were competing.

“The scratches are not a factor to us. Our horse was in good condition and we like the distance,” Javier said.

San Lazaro records showed that Hari Ng Yambo had fever and Tensile Strength was off-feed. Unofficially, both Shining Armour and RightHereRightNow were said to have bruised soles.

Sprint horse Constatic, as expected, led the first half of the race with Magna Carta choosing to remain in the middle of the pack.

As Constatic started fading, Magna Carta along with Yes Pogi, Carriedo, and Gastambide started jockeying for position for the final stretch.

Magna Carta, ridden by Jesse Guce got the clear lane on the outside during the final stretch while Yes Pogi ridden by Manolito Daquis was stuck on the inside lane.

“We were aware of what Yes Pogi can do but we were confident that we can beat everyone in the race,” Javier said.

According to Javier, they will continue to compete next year believing the three-year-old Magna Carta is still very much capable of winning a lot of big stakes races.

Meanwhile, Hagdang Bato, ridden by Jonathan Hernandez, won the 1,600 meter Philippine Racing Commission Juvenile Championship with a time of 1:41:40 after heavy favorite Humble Riches was disqualified for bumping.

Humble Riches, ridden by Val Dilema was leading the race when it bumped a late charging Hagdang Bato in the final turn.

The 39th Presidential Gold Cup stakes race, held in honor of the Philippine president, was sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Racing Commission.