Sent off as the third choice, Rancho Sta. Rosa’s King Tiger (another Brigand progeny, this time out of Tiger Queen) relied on his vaunted stretch run to mow down the opposition in last Sunday’s 2022 PHILRACOM 4YO & Above Sprint at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
At the start, it was top pick Mommy Caring who immediately jumped for the early lead with Asiong and Stardust behind her close enough to put pressure on the pace-setter. In fourth was Flattering You with the eventual winner nicely settled in fifth with jockey John Alvin Guce holding him back just enough to keep in pace not minding the blistering opening 600 meters of 12’ and 20’ set by Mommy Caring.
But the long stretch for home at the Naic racetrack provided the much-needed real estate to give the Ruben Tupas-trained chestnut four-year-old momentum in the final quarter which he did in a scorching 24’, stopping the clock at 58 seconds flat as he crossed the wire.
The victory added another P900,000 to King Tiger’s earnings, while Mommy Caring, Flattering You and Stardust brought home P300,000, P150,000 and P75,000 respectively for coming in second third and fourth in that order.
“Congratulations to King Tiger’s connections for winning this afternoon main event. This result shows the unpredectability of a 1000-meter race. It is not all about speed, but just having enough gas left in the tank for the most important stretch run,” Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon said.