LEADING Horse of the Year contender Low Profile and undefeated US-bred import Sakima headline a star-studded group of top-caliber runners invited to compete in the inaugural “Henry Cojuangco Cup,” a featured showdown of the best of the best in Philippine thoroughbred racing slated on Feb. 5 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
In addition to the two headliners, also invited to the event are proven sprinter Skyway, runner-up to Low Profile in the 2016 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup and also the winner of the Philracom “Sampaguita” Championship last year and the PCSO Silver Cup in 2015; seasoned top money campaigner Dixie Gold, 2015 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup winner; consistent performer Kanlaon, last year’s winner of the PCSO Anniversary Stakes and the MARHO Classic; and multiple stakes winning import Atomicseventynine (USA), winner of the RW Challenge of Champions’ Cup, the 4th leg Philracom Import-Local Challenge and the inaugural Hagdang Bato Cup in 2016.
Also in the list are giant-slayer Manalig Ka, recent winner of the Philracom Commissioner’s Cup over Low Profile and Skyway and winner of two other Philracom Import-Local Challenge Races last year; and surprise package Silhouette, big winner of last year’s Philracom Chairman’s Cup, as well as, up-and-coming Lakan, impressive wire-to-wire winner of a handicap race (HR10) last Sunday, easily routing a field of stakes race veterans despite carrying top weight of 58 kilos.
The much-anticipated clash of champions set over 1,750 meters is spearheaded by racing industry colleagues and associates of the late Tarlac 1st District Representative, Enrique ‘Henry” Cojuangco, a dedicated horseman and sports patron, whose passion for horse breeding and racing has served as an inspiration to many Filipinos involved in the thoroughbred industry.
Henry Cojuangco, similar to his brother and business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr., is an accomplished horseman both here and abroad, having bred and raced the likes of Philippine Triple Crown champion Skywalker and a host of notable stakes winners in Australia like Turf Express and Gold Water, among others
Calling themselves as the “Hapi Group,” eponymous to “Mr. Happy” – the late Henry Cojuangco’s moniker in thoroughbred circles, the group is dedicated to bringing back the fun and enjoyment of thoroughbred breeding and racing, which they believe should be the catalyst in encouraging and attracting new players and investors to the multi-faceted sport of horse racing.
As their initial foray in promoting the sport, the Hapi Group, composed of emerging horse breeders will be holding the “Hapi Racing Festival” bannered by the 1st “Henry Cojuangco Cup” and 11 other added-money Trophy Races to be named after locally-based stallions standing at stud for the 2017 breeding season.
Much like the late Henry Cojuangco, who often said “Let’s be happy with what we have and share with others our passion for the sport,” the Hapi Group hopes to lay the foundation for a series of promotional events aimed at breathing new life into the local thoroughbred industry and creating new followers to the sport of horse racing.