Juggling Act takes it; owner donates prize

JUGGLING Act, the reigning Imported Horse of the Year, finally got back at old tormentor Crucis in the final big race of his career  Sunday, and owner-trainer Hermie Esguerra later shared the victory with the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The seven-year-old horse ridden by Ferdinand Raquel pulled off a come-from-behind win in the rich Philracom Amb. Eduardo Cojuangco Cup at MetroTurf track.

Esguerra, in a magnanimous gesture, donated the P1.2 million champion’s purse to Yolanda relief through the Rotary Club of Manila.

“This is my family’s little way of helping alleviate their (Yolanda victims) plight,” said Esguerra after the son of Giant’s Causeway out of Picadilly Circus clocked 2 minutes and 6 seconds for the lung-busting 2,000-meter race.

Juggling Act, despite a heavy handicap weight of 57 kilos, made his move at the far turn and ran down the outstanding pick Crucis and Patti Dilema in the final straight, winning by half-a-length with quarter times of 24.5, 24, 24, 22.5 and 25.5.

It was sweet victory for Juggling Act, who lost to Crucis in the Jockey Elias and Rudy Salud Memorial races and was sent off as the far-second choice in the betting on Sunday. Esguerra later announced that he was retiring Juggling Act to stud at year’s end.

Oh Oh Seven, another Esguerra entry, was third, with Tritanic, Gentle Irony and Kornati Islands rounding out the order of finish.

The Philracom and MetroTurf also sponsored 10 other Trophy Races during the week in support of the main race that honored Cojuangco, the first Philippine Racing Commission chair.