CARMONA, Cavite – Jockey CV Garganta’s Sharp As Ever won the Philippine Racing Commission Cup during a busy racing festival at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite recently.
Sharp As Ever took home the R240,000 top purse, the same prize money secured by Spring Collection, ridden by MM Gonzales, as they prevailed in the Manila Jockey Club Cup.
Jockey Conrad Henson’s Our Angel’s Dream ruled the fifth leg of Philracom’s imported/local challenge race, with a top prize of 300,000.
“It was an exciting day for race fans,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez. “From the races in the Ramon Bagatsing Centennial Classique down to our very own (Philracom) races, I think everyone went home with satisfied with the top-quality races that we offered.”
Meanwhile, nine-year-veteran Arnold Asuncion and his four-year-old mare Atomicseventynine chased down longshot Love To Death to win the 1750-meter 2016 Resorts World Manila-Challenge of Champions Cup.
It was a long pursuit right from the start, as Asuncion and two other favorites, Kanlaon and Court of Honour, were 20 paces behind Love to Death, which had jockey JB Hernandez on board.
But patience and Asuncion’s experience in dealing with Atomicseventynine’s temper allowed them to keep a steady pace, and finally slip past Love to Death in the last 500 meters to win in one minute, 45.4 seconds.
Val Dilema’s Kanlaon and RA Base’s Haley’s Rainbow also sprinted past Love to Death to take second and third at the podium.
This earned Asuncion and trainer A.L. Francisco the top purse of P600,000 out of the guaranteed P1-million purse.
In preparing for the race, Asuncion had training runs at the Naic track with Atomicseventynine in an effort to keep her temper in check.
“‘Pag mainit ang ulo ng kabayo ko, hindi nagpapaawat. Kaya naturuan namin sa Naic. Mga 1950 meters din yung haba.
Napalamig ko ang ulo,” said Asuncion.