Super Swerte never skipped a beat despite a long layoff due to the pandemic, exacting a sweet revenge against Pangalusian Island in the Philracom Commissioner's Cup 2021 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite on Sunday, May 23.
Racing under bemedalled jockey JB Guce and trainer Ruben Tupas, Super Swerte crossed the finish line in one minute and 40 seconds, five lengths ahead of Pangalusian Island in the 1,600-meter race staged for the fire victims and medical frontliners at the Philippine General Hospital.
Super Swerte stormed right out of the gates but surrendered the lead to Patong Patong inside the 900-meter mark before the Mayor Sandy Javier-owned horse regained footing and broke away in the final 350 meters.
It was a much-awaited vengeance against Pangalusian Island which stole the thunder from the favorites in the Presidential Gold Cup in 2020 last December by beating Super Swerte in a thrilling homestretch.
Super Swerte seized the champion's purse of P1.2 million out of the P2 million prize pool on top of 50 qualifying points for this year's PGC.
"I'm very happy sa pagkakapanalo ni Super Swerte at sa development ng Philippine horse racing industry na sana magtuloy-tuloy na," said Javier, chairman of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners, who is looking to enter his ace horse in the Chairman's Cup next month.
Horseowner-breeder Wilbert Tan's Pangalusian Island came in second for P450,000 while Great Wall wound up third for P250,000 and Toy For The BigBoy finished fourth for P100,000. Patong Patong ended up last after losing steam in the closing stretch.
Proceeds of the Commissioner’s Cup will go to the PGH after the third floor of the government-run hospital was recently destroyed by fire.
"We are very satisfied with the response of racing aficionados to this rivalry between Super Swerte and Pangalusian Island. It’s one-all for them and we expect to see them again in the Chairman’s Cup on June 20 at the MMTCI,’’ said Philracom chairman Reli de Leon.
"This time, however, they will be pitted against other top-caliber horses such as Boss Emong, Heneral Kalentong, Princess Eowyn and Union Bell,’’ added De Leon.
Meanwhile, Cat Bell, one of the expected contenders in the coming Triple Crown, triumphed over six other horses to win the P600,000 top prize for De Leon in the P1 million-3YO Maiden Stakes Race.
Cat Bell clocked one minute and 37 seconds in the 1,500-meter contest to prevail against O Sole Mio under the guidance of jockey JB Hernandez.
O Sole Mio netted P225,000 while Tocque Bell placed third for P125,000 and La Vie D’Or checked in fourth worth P50,000.