MANILA, Philippines - With Triple Crown champion Hagdang Bato bannering the long line of prominent horses running, the week-long 17th Marho racing festival culminates today with six rich stakes races on the line at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
Hagdang Bato is highly expected to start as overwhelming favorite under veteran Jonathan Hernandez when he returns from a long layoff to meet five others in the San Miguel Colt Mile, one of the big events lined up in the program dubbed Marho Daisy-siete festival.
A cinch for the horse of the year award, Hagdang Bato is coming off a four-month vacation, which started right after winning this year’s Triple Crown series in July to become the first in 11 years to sweep the annual event.
Challenging him in the one-mile (1600 meters) event are Yes I’m The One, Golden Empire, Purple Ribbon, Penrith and Steel Creation, all tested campaigners whom Hagdang Bato had previously beaten in the course of his amazing campaign in a season about to end.
All eyes will also be on multi-titled Carriedo, who will take on veteran Native Land and five others in the 2000-meter San Miguel Beer Classic where a top prize of P1 million is on the line.
The other highlight races are the Santa Ana Sprint, Philracom Juvenile Fillies, Philracom Juvenile Colts, and the PCSO Mile, all featuring cash pot as high as P500,000.
“It will be a day to remember in local horseracing. Don’t miss this one,” said Marho chairman Sandy Javier, while thanking the sponsors who helped make the festival a success.
Owned by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos and trained by Ruben Tupas, Hagdang Bato will gun for his sixth stakes win as he prepares for the prestigious Presidential Gold Cup scheduled Dec. 9 at the same track.