Hagdang Bato leads field in Marho race

MANILA, Philippines - Triple Crown champion Hagdang Bato will banner a five-horse cast vying in the San Miguel Beer Colt Mile, one of six highly-awaited stakes races highlighting the 17th MARHO (Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners) this Sunday at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

A hands-down-choice for the horse of the year award, Hagdang Bato will meet four others in the 1600-meter race which serves as his tuneup race for the Presidential Gold Cup next month.

Dubbed “Marho Daisy-siete,” the week-long racefest kicked off Tuesday night, and will climax tomorrow with the running of five other prize-rich stakes races – Santa Ana Sprint (1,000 meters), Philracom Juvenile Fillies (1 mile), Philracom Juvenile Colts (1 mile), PCSO Filly Mile and the San Miguel Beer Classic (2,000m).

“We are very much gratified at the warm response by the participants and the strong support of all our sponsors who have made the Marho Daisy-siete possible,” said Sandy Javier, chairman of the country’s oldest group of horseowners.

On the other hand, Marho president Eric Tagle is inviting all racing fans to watch the event. “This is a much-awaited annual festival, and Marho officials and members are happy to present it to the racing public.”  

Other noted gallopers like Native Land, Carriedo and Gastambide are also running this Sunday, but all eyes will be on Hagdang Bato, which will seek its sixth big stakes win in 2012 in a remarkable season that saw him sweep the three legs of the Triple Crown under veteran Jonathan Hernandez.