MALVAR, Batangas – Chef Cat recovered from a lethargic start to reign supreme in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup benefit race of the 29th Metropolitan Association of Horse Race Owners (MARHO) Breeders’ Championships Friday, Nov. 22, at the Metro Manila Turf Club Inc. 

Coming in slow midway through the 1,200-meter race, Chef Cat, which is owned by Juan Carlos Delos Reyes, shifted to a higher gear to beat its foes by just a hairline and timed 1 minute and 15 seconds.

“Mahirap na karera ito, swertihan lang. Na-suwertehan lang ng kabayo ko. Binantayan ko kasi sa pagtulog yan at tsaka naramdaman ko mahimbing ‘yong tulog eh,” Delos Reyes said.

“Pare-parehas lang yan, kung sino mahimbing siya ang mananalo. [Talagang] Malakas tumulak ‘yung hinete ko,” the stable owner added.

It was almost a disaster for Chef Cat in the tournament organized by the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) as it trailed behind Compassions and Seven of Diamonds.

Thanks to jockey Antonio Navarosa, Chef Cat dazzled and went full throttle after outpacing early leaders in Street Magic, Marengo, Compassion and Axis Deviation to complete its upset victory.

With its winning run, Chef Cat bagged P180,000.

Philracom chairman Reli de Leon hoped that the income would help the PSA, the oldest media organization in the country, in its advocacies.

“‘Yong benefit income rito, sana makatulong ito sa mga advocacies ng PSA na matagal konang kaibigan, for more than 20 years na rin,” said De Leon.

“Kasama na namin kayo dati pa, ‘yong mga naunang sportswriters. Tulungan natin ang industriya ng karera,” De Leon added.