THE BATTLE for Triple Crown supremacy takes centerstage today at the Santa Ana Park as 3-year-old division standouts – Speed Advantage and Real Spicy – begin their quest for local horse racing’s richest and most coveted championship series.
The two celebrated gallopers will vie for the 2005 Eduardo M. Cojuangco Cup – the traditional starting leg of the local Triple Crown Championship series in honor of the founding chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom), sponsor of the event since its inception in 1978.
Venue to countless storied rivalries over the past 28 years, this year’s running of the Cojuangco Cup has lured a lean but mean field of six outstanding sophomore campaigners competing over a distance of 1,600-meters.
Carrying a total prize pot of
R1.67-million, with R1-million guaranteed to the winner, the other challengers for the premier spot include Speed Majesty, Tiger Song, comebacking War Alert and steadily-improving In Command.
However, expected to be the focus of everyone’s attention would be the fourth duel between Speed Advantage and Real Spicy. Both are capable of winning all three legs of the prestigious series for top 3-year-olds.
Speed Advantage, owned by businessman Roberto "Bobby" Yutadco, has a slight advantage over Real Spicy since it has a couple entry in Speed Majesty. Speed Advantage has decisively won two of their previous meetings, including their latest tune-up race last May 4 at the Santa Ana Park.
Set to be ridden by classy jockey Fernando Raquel, Jr., the colt by Royal Premiere (USA) out of Trudy Capote (USA), is being conditioned by veteran trainer Jose "Bojie" Fernandez, Speed Advantage has chalked up 11 consecutive wins before losing a controversial photo finish race to Real Spicy in the recent Saudi Crown Prince Cup.
Real Spicy is one of prized horses of businessman-sportsman Herminio "Hermie" Esguerra.
Acclaimed as last year’s most outstanding 2-yearold charger, Real Spicy will be guided by multi-titled jockey PattyDilema and will race in tandem with stable mate War Alert for the mile journey.
A winner of 11 races out of 15 starts, Real Spicy is being conditioned by veteran horseman Andrew Sanchez, former owner of two previous Triple Crown champions – Time Master (1987) and Magic Showtime (1988).
Since 1978, only eight horses have managed to win all three legs of the series set over progressive distances from 1,600 to 2,000 meters between the two racing venues. Other past champions were Fair And Square (1981), Skywalker (1983), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996), Real Top (1998) and Silver Story (2001).
