BACK-TO-BACK WINNER. Rancho Sta. Rosa’s Cam From Behind won the Philippine Racing Commission Sampaguita Stakes at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas on September 24, 2023. The six-year-old galloper became only the third back-to-back winner of the annual event for older female horses after Malaya (2014 and 2015) and Princess Eowyn (2019 and 2020) in its 24-year history. (Photo courtesy of Philracom)
MANILA - Rancho Sta. Rosa’s Cam From Behind ruled the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Sampaguita Stakes at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas last Sunday.
The Havana out of Miss Lemon Drop mare became only the third back-to-back winner of the annual event for older female horses after Malaya (2014 and 2015) and Princess Eowyn (2019 and 2020) in its 24-year history.
The roan six-year-old galloper trained by Ruben Tupas was behind Flattering You and La Liga Filipina at the start but made her move in the final 500 meters to claim victory.
“I didn’t put too much effort in correcting her bearing out as this might just throw her off (her charge). I just let her run the way she wanted and with just the right amount of prodding, we got the job done,” said jockey Kelvin Abobo after the race.
Longshot Dambana grabbed second place followed by La Liga Filipina and Enigma Uno.
Cam From Behind earned PHP 1.2 million for the winning connections, clocking 2:08.2 for the 2000-meter journey with splits of 24’-23’-24’-26’-30’.
Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon congratulated Cam From Behind, and also noted the impressive sales generated during the day amounting to almost PHP 24.5 million.
“It was heartening to see the overwhelming support coming from the bayang karerista (racing aficionados) for today’s races reaching that amount despite having only eight races,” De Leon said. (PNA)
