REIGNING horse of the year Hagdang Bato returns to the track today after a long layoff to meet three others in the Classic, one of five big stakes events highlighting the 18th Marho racing festival at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
With regular rider Jonathan Hernandez guiding him again, the multi-titled Hagdang Bato is heavily favored to top the 2000-meter race and clinch his fourth straight win in the season about to end as he prepares for the prestigious 41st Presidential Gold Cup on Dec. 1.
The pride and joy of Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos will be pitted against Native Land, (Jessie Guce), Action Sailor (John Paul Guce) and Royal Jewels (Val Dilema), three veteran runners whom Hagdang Bato can beat seven days a week.
Five other rich events in the 15-race program—2-year-old Juvenile Filly, 2-year-old Juvenile Colt, 3-year-old Colt Mile, 3-year-old Colt Filly and Sprint—will be on the line on the final day of the festival put up by the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners headed by Eric Tagle.
“We would like to invite everyone to watch the races and see our best runners battle it out for big prizes. You’ll get your money’s worth,” said Tagle.