INQUIRER Sports

FIERCE FIGHTER, A HARD-FINISHING mare, looms as the top choice Saturday when the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Diamond Anniversary Cup is flagged off today at the new Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

To be handled by the venerable Patti Dilema, Fierce Fighter will slug it out with 12 other notable chargers in chasing a second straight major stakes win, with the journey today for the P600,000 top prize set over the lung-busting 1,800 meters.

The race serves as the government agency?s offering to horseracing fans as it celebrates its 75th year, according to PCSO chair Sergio Valencia.

?The PCSO has been helping the horse racing industry for many decades now as part of our mandate,? said Valencia.

Lim Expensive Toys and Ziraz are the other horses to watch because of their experience in races of this magnitude. John Alvin Guce pilots Lim Expensive Toys, while Virgilio Camanero partners Ziraz.

Fierce Fighter will be looking to follow-up a brilliant showing in the Ambassador Cojuangco Cup, where she triumphed in a stretch run to remember.