Big Lagoon hopes to join an elite club of champions when he goes for a repeat in the Presidential Gold Cup this Sunday at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.
Only four horses have so far won the Philracom-organized and PCSO-sponsored event two in a row and the Melaine Habla’s owned and bred Big Lagoon is eager to become the newest member of the esteemed group.
Apart from history, Big Lagoon is also chasing the top purse of P6 million in the P10 million event that will be contested over 2,000 meters.
Like last year, ace jockey John Alvin Guce will be Big Lagoon’s partner against eight other gallopers in the richest horse race in the country.
Leading this charge of wannabe spoilers is Kennedy Morales Stable’s flag-bearer, 2022 Horse of the Year and recent back-to-back Philracom-PCSO Silver Cup Winner Boss Emong (Dance City out of Chica Una bred by Antonio “Tony ” Tan Jr.) with Jeffril Zarate onboard.
Also tipped to contend is Don Julio who is coming off a second place finish behind Boss Emong in the Silver Cup.
The rest of the field is made up of Bonapart Morales’ Ambisioso (Oh Oh Seven-Sparkling Rule bred by the Esguerra Farms and Stud), Enigma Uno of the Running Rich Racing (bred by Melaine Habla, Brigand out of Betty H), Big Lagoon’s stablemate Istulen Ola (Brigand-Close Haul), the Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr. owned and bred Magtotobetsky (Zap out of Will Soon), Ken Logistics’ Sophisticated bred by Atty. Narciso O. Morales (Safe in the USA-Celestial Chase) and Triple Crown leg winner War Cannon of Rancho Sta. Rosa (Brigand out of Ivanavinalot bred by Melaine Habla).
