LONGSHOTS prevailed in the two major stakes races of the first leg of the local Triple Crown Series on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.
Hari ng Yambo prevailed in the main event while Constatic won the Hopeful race—both in wire-to-wire fashion.
Ridden by jockey Deo Fernandez, the three-year-old colt by American sire Royal Chapel out of the Argentinian mare Daulide blurted out of the gate first among six contenders in the main race that offered a whopping P3-million prize.
There was no looking back for jockey Fernandez as he padded his lead in the backstretch to four lengths with heavily favored Magna Carta and Lord of War fighting it out in second position. Way behind them were Arvindugo, Barkeley and The Rock. Bosbarawana was scratched before the race.
Both Magna Carta and Lord of War tried in vain to move closer behind the leader at the far turn. They were a little successful as Hari Ng Yambo allowed them to get a little closer to his tail. But that was the closest they could muster as Hari Ng Yambo accelerated at the top of the stretch and moved ahead for good.
He was seven lengths ahead of his closest pursuer when he crossed the line and assured owner Manny Santos the top prize of P1.8 million.
It was the first Triple Crown victory for Santos, one of the country’s top breeders who believes importing top-quality horses would improve his stock. The Magic Millions of Australia, whose managing director David Chester is in the country right now, is Santos’s major supplier.
Chester planed in from Seoul on Sunday to invite Filipino horsemen to the annual Magic Millions National Sales that will start by the end of the month up to June 8 in Gold Coast, Australia.
David met with local horsemen in a networking conference at Mikey’s Restaurant and OTB on Monday night and fielded questions regarding the annual event that is considered “the biggest horse auction in the Southern Hemisphere.”
David called up early Monday morning and said his flight from Seoul was too late as he came in at around 1 in the morning. “I am inviting all interested horseowners who would want to go to Gold Coast and participate in the keenly awaited Magic Millions National Sales to come and be with us at 7 tonight at the Mikey’s Restaurant on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.”
Meanwhile, Santos himself revealed that he was too confident of his horse’s winning the first leg of the series. “Nag-mature na siya ng husto. Confident ako na mananalo. Bumait na siya at umentado pa ng husto.”
The island-born colt, which has been clocking 1:41 in his previous workouts, proved too strong last Sunday afternoon as he steamrolled the opposition and clocked an amazing 1:39 in the 1,600-meter voyage.
“Hindi namin siya masyadong binabatak sa ensayo pero nagpupruweba pa ng 1:41. Sana naman ay makaraos pa sa dalawang legs,” added Santos in an exclusive phone interview on Monday morning.
Santos also disclosed that he turned down several offers to sell the horse. “Hindi ko ibinenta kahit may offers na P2 million mula sa ibang buyers. May feeling kasi ako na gagaling siya at bubuti.”
He added that the name Yambo is one of the seven lakes in San Pablo, Laguna, where he came from.
The mare Dauride was then carrying Hari ng Yambo when Santos bought her for $35,000 in one of the Keeneland sales several years back.
The P1.8 million was the biggest paycheck so far for Hari ng Yambo, which is now lined up for the coveted Triple Crown. The second leg of the series is set on June 11 also at the SLLP.
Magna Carta snatched the runner-up prize of P675,000 after he beat The Rock in a photo-finish. The latter picked up P375,000 while fourth-placer Barkley salvaged P150,000. Lord Of War and Arvindugo came in next.
Meanwhile, another longshot prevailed in the P1-million Hopeful Stakes that was disputed on Saturday also at San Lazaro. Ridden by jockey Louie Balboa, Constatic came up with a scintillating wire-to-wire victory to beat 13 other hopefuls to reward owner Ronald “Boy” Tan the top prize of P600,000.
The three-year-old filly by Ecstatic out of Tan’s own broodmare Consa simply set out a furious pace right from the start and never looked back to win by some three lengths over his closest rival and top favorite Cheese Mosa, who placed second and went home with the runner-up prize of P225,000.
“Sigurado ako sa kabayo ko na magpe-perform ng maganda sa laban dahil magaganda talaga ang ensayo namin. Hindi ko pinagpruweba ’yan dahil mahahaba naman ang bigay namin sa kanya sa ensayo. At gigil na gigil na sa laban nung huling ilabas namin sa pista noong Huwebes,” revealed trainer Joel Mijares.
Tensile Strength checked in third for P125,000, while fourth placer Whistler took home P50,000. The other finishers were Coal Harbour, Dear John, Vanguard, South Bound, Major Major, Olajuwon, Secuity King, Thirdy Thirdy, Kick The Can and Kate Ganda.
