Basheirrou fancied as ‘TC’ starts

Basheirrou, a prodigious colt who has shown a lot of early promise, sets out as the favorite in the first leg of the Philracom’s Triple Crown (TC) series to be run over the mile on Sunday at San Lazaro Leisure Park.

To be handled by Kelvin Abobo, the three-year-old chestnut is seen by many experts as talented enough to join an elite roster of chargers ever to complete a sweep of the three-leg series that started in 1978 and produced 12 champions thus far.

The legendary Fair and Square was the first to complete the sweep, doing it in 1981 under the brilliant Jesus Guce, while Heneral Kalentong was the last to pull off the trick, doing it in 2020.

Five other gallopers will be challenging the progeny of Brigand out of Allemeuse, with Radio Bell, under the guidance of ace JB Hernandez, looming as the logical second pick.

Jungkook, whose rider, Jeffril Zarate steered Boss Emong to an emphatic Chairman’s Cup win last week, Don Julio, Gomezian and Enigma Uno round out the field vying in the centerpiece P3.5 million race on a day where the P1.5 million Hopeful Stakes and P1 million 3YO Locally Bred Stakes will also be run.

The winner of the TC’s first leg bankrolls P2.1 million for their connections.

Five are entered in the Hopeful where three-year-old bay colt Brother Son is listed as the likely favorite under Jessie Guce. This race is also set over the mile.

There will be 13 entries in the Locally Bred Stakes, where Charm Campaign, a filly who will also be steered by JB Guce, could be sent off as the outstanding pick also over 1,600 meters.