Teaming up for the first time ever, Princess Eowyn and superstar jockey JB Guce looked like a veteran of many winning battles as they came through with a masterful six-length triumph in the Philippine Racing Commission’s 2019 Sampaguita Stakes Race at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.
Princess Eowyn engaged El Debarge, ridden by jockey JA Guce, to a furious neck-and-neck race before grabbing the pole at the half-mile point as it scooted home pulling away, leaving the 7-horse field scrambling on her trail.
“Ngayon ko lang po ka si siya (Princess Eowyn) nasakyan,” revealed Guce. “Tinanong po ako ng owner kung anong diskarte, sabi ko, pasarida. Kung kaya mauna, mauna na. Pero alam ko po na ‘yung kalaban ko, may tulin din (El Debarge and Cevesa Rosas). Nagpasarida kami para lamang kami sa puwesto at hindi na maabala, kung saka sakaling may magpupumilit, sabi ko kahit ibigay namin ang harapan, pero bantayan ko na din po kaagad.”
As it turned out, Eowyn and Guce were never threatened as soon as the duo seized the lead.
“Pinakiramdaman ko kung kaya pa ng kabayo nila sa half mile pa lang. Pagkakuha ko, hindi ko na binitawan. Nag-abang nalang po ako kung may dadating, wala naman, sa homestretch dire-diretson na,” said the multi-titled jockey, who feels that the win is the start of a long, winning partnership.
“Hopefully, simula pa lang ito,” said Guce.
The victory was worth a whopping P1,200,000.00 for owner Edong Diokno, whose other “more popular horse” in Boss Emong took the second leg of the Philracom’s Triple Crown Series last June.
A total of P2 million was allotted by the sponsoring Philracom in the Sampaguita Stakes Race featuring some of the country’s best up-and-coming fillies.
Heiress of Hope of owner Benhur Abalos III and jockey AR Villegas secured the runner-up purse of P450,000, while Doktora of owner JM Yulo and jockey CV Garganta bagged P100,000.
Races 1, 2, 4 and 5 were dubbed the Manila Horsepower Special Race held in memory of the late Philracom Commissioner Wilfredo de Ungria Jr.
Fire Bull ruled Race 1, Facing Dixie took Race 2, Hiconicus won Race 4 while Fort McKinley secured Race 5.
The Philracom Charity Race for the benefit of the Sto. Nino de Malolos Foundation Inc. was won by Minalim.
Other winners were Casino Royales (Race 7), Fire Dancer (Race 8), Goldsmith (Race 9), June Eleven (Race 10), Double Sunrise (Race 11) and Rhaegal (Race 12).
Several big stakes races are still in the offing from Philracom in the coming months – such as the first legs of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Oct. 6 and the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Oct. 20, followed by the 2nd leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Nov. 3, the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Nov. 17 and the 2nd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Nov. 24.
December proves to be the busiest horseracing month for big races with the Philracom’s holding of the 3rd leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on the 1st, the Grand Sprint Championship on the 15th, the Chairman’s Cup and the 3rd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge Series on the 29th and the Juvenile Championship on the 31st.