Impressive Sampaguita Stakes win by Princess Eowyn

Princess Eowyn found little difficulty handling a torrid pace set up by a rabbit on Sunday and won the Philracom’s Sampaguita Stakes with plenty to spare at Saddle and Club’s Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

With JB Guce goading the grey filly perfectly, Princess Eowyn peeled away from a fading El Debarge in the far turn and the charging cavalry didn’t have anything that could threaten her in the final straight for a six-length victory.

The win, carved out in an impressive one-minute and 50 seconds broken down in 12’, 22, 23’, 24’ and 27’, was worth P1.2 million, not bad for a first-time partnership between Guce and his mount.

“When we seized the lead (at the far turn), we didn’t let go of it,” Guce said in Filipino. “I hope that this is the start of a long partnership.”

El Debarge paid dearly for setting up a break-neck pace and checked in dead last in the seven-horse field as Heiress of Hope salvaged second worth P450,000 for her connections.

Four special races, dubbed the Manila Horsepower Special, were held in memory of the late Philracom Commissioner Wilfredo de Ungria Jr.

Fire Bull, Facing Dixie, Hiconicus and Fort McKinley were the winners. The charity race for the benefit of the Sto. Nino de Malolos Foundation Inc. was won by Minalim.