MANILA, Philippines — Shanghai Grey ruled the wet and wild finish of the 2019 Philippine Racing Commission’s Lakambini Stakes Race at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite Sunday.
My Jopay actually finished ahead of Shanghai Grey by a nose in the 1,600-meter race, but lost the crown due to infractions.
“Stewards repeatedly reviewed the tape of the race and observed that during the jump out, My Jopay sharply shifted in unto Shanghai Grey denying the latter a fair start. At the final turn, My Jopay shifted ground outwards 10-horses wide, carrying Shanghai Grey further outside. Stewards ruled that the two infractions alterred the original order of arrival,” the Philracom report stated.
My Jopay jockey MM Gonzales was suspended for 156 racing days for foul riding, admitting his actions affected Shanghai Grey’s running.
The victory was worth P900,000 for Shanghai Grey owner Melanie Habla, whose breeder Erwin Habla pocketed the winning breeder’s purse of P60,000 from the total guaranteed total prize of P1.5 million.
“Game plan namin pasabay-sabay lang sa top 3, tapos hataw sa rekta. Malinaw sana na panalo kung walang interference,” said Shanghai Grey jockey JB Hernandez, who claimed that as the field approached the final bend, he noticed that Gonzales had his whip on his left hand, forcing My Jopay to swerve out.
My Jopay, owned by Moses Villasenor, took the runner-up pot of P337,500.
My Shelltex (owner Antonio Tan, jockey JB Guce) went home with the third-place prize of P187,500, while Shanghai Grey’s stablemate, fourth placer Two Timer (jockey JA Guce) received P75,000.
Other Sunday winners were Indubitably (Race 1), Cavite Royale (Race 2), Hardliner (Race 3), Ifyourhonorplease (Race 4), Triton (Race 6), Early Bird (Race 7), Fort McKinley (Race 8), Concert King (Race 9), Daanbantayan (Race 10), Desert Gold (Race 11) and Halo Wander (Race 12).