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BLAME it
on being rusty if you want but the favorites simply
don’t have the spunk and the stamina to win the major
event.
Relatively newcomer Ger Francis came out of the gates
oozing with firepower to beat his rivals in the 2007
Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Chairman’s Cup
(in honor of the late chairman Jose C. Avelino Jr.) last
Sunday at the Santa Ana Park.
The
three-year-old bay colt by Yaz out of former stakes
campaigner Heavenly was suddenly thrust into the
limelight as an instant contender for this year’ Triple
Crown Championsip Series. Ridden by a promising
newcomer, apprentice jockey Jemo Tinte Jr., the colt was
simply amazing in front all by himself as it fashioned
out a wire-to-wire victory.
It
rewarded its beaming owner, Sherry Yambao (wife of
former Malabon mayor and now IBC 13 president Jayjay
Yambao) the whopping top prize of P900,000, the biggest
so far in its budding career. It also became the new
glamour horse of winning trainer Boji Fernandez, who was
so full of confidence of winning the race even before it
started.
The
colt, another proud breeding of Johnny Tionloc (who bred
former Triple Crown champ Silver Story), reportedly had
a relatively good workout recently. An insider told us
that in a late morning workout, Ger Francis has beaten
another three-year-old aspirant.
Another
longshot, Storm Hall of Tony Boy Eleasar, stormed home
second and went home with the runner-up prize of
P337,500 while top favorite Ididitmyway of Hermie
Esguerra and Miguelito of Junjun Molina were third and
fourth. They received P187,500 and P75,000,
respectively. The other finishers in the 1,500-meter
event were Hot Shower of Herma Farms, Lord Boni of Boni
Mantilla, Golden Sutter also of Esguerra, legendary of
MA Marino, Tiger Raffy of Ralph Javier, Conquistaroyal
of Roland Tan, Western City of Jun Sevilla and Amazing
Jel of RJ Aguila. The clock was stopped at 134.6 with
quarters of 18’-24’-23’-28’.
The son
(Manding) and daughter (Bernadette) of former Philracom
chairman Jose Avelino Jr. together with the former
Philracom executive director Boying Cruz and his son
were present during the awarding of trophies to the
winners. They were joined by Philracom commissioners Vic
Tantoco and Eyo Fernando and PRCI’s Ramon Ereneta.
*****
THE
entry of new technologies made life easier for us,
especially the journalists.
Take the
case of those computers, laptops, DSL connections and
many more that were not in our midst when we were a
struggling deadline-beater. Computers, yes, but you can
use it only at the office then so you have to go back to
submit your story.
Yes, the
DSL are very cheap these days while the connections are
speedier and easier. That’s why I would like to thank
the PLDT people when they hook me up with their DSL
recently.
What
also surprised me was the way PLDT gets the job done in
a zip. A few minutes after I arrived in our house on the
afternoon of the same day when I applied for my Internet
connection, here comes a lineman on a bike that came
with a handy modem and the connection was done.
Actually, the actual connection on my DSL was done the
next day.
But what
they (the PLDT) did was really commendable. Imagine how
many grateful and satisfied clients there will be in the
future if the PLDT continues with that excellent
service. No wonder it is the bestseller these days among
the Filipinos, huh!
*****
THE
guessing game is still on whether the Philracom will
push through with its change in the handicapping system
among the two-year-olds starting on April.
The last
time I was able to get in touch with Philracom chairman
Florencio Fianza, it seems that the Philracom is pushing
through with it come hell and high waters.
But a
talk with several major personalities in the races last
Sunday at the racetrack, I could feel the tension is
still high among the players of this industry. Many of
those owners we interviewed are really against the
changing of the present handicapping system, “even if it
means only for the two-year-olds up to December of this
year.” They added industry-wide dialogue and meetings
are needed in order to thresh out the said changes.
Although
it is still a month to go before the Philracom could
push for the said changes in handicapping, we have seen
the various merging of forces from various sides of the
industry. There are several sectors that are siding on
the opposite side of the issue while others are still in
the middle and waiting for the opportune time to come
out and pick the side they wanted.
We have
already heard that supporters of one side of the issue
are already gearing up for a protest and will not be
joining the races for sometime in order to show their
intentions. The other side had already made known their
intention to join the Philracom “in its crusade to
cleanse the races.”
That’s
why I want to wake very early on April 1 to see what
will happen in and out of the racetrack on that day.
Nah, don’t tell me it’s April Fools Day! |
