VAVAVOOM, ridden by Andrew “Dodong” Villegas, proved to be a cut above the rest, topping the PSA Cup race in the rain last Sunday at the Metro Turf in Malvar, Batangas.
The five-year-old bay’s magnificence was in full display, leaving foes with broken hearts and those watching mesmerized at the spectacle of a dominant win in the 1.4-kilometer race.
Vavavoom exploded out of the gates and sustained a torrid pace to win by five lengths with a clocking of one minute and 25.8 seconds.
The Dan Camanero-saddled Lucky Lea, CP Henson-ridden Biglang Buhos and JA Guce-mounted Denueis Son settled for crumbs, winding up second to fourth places, respectively.
For the old hands and race fixtures, the lopsided win was as inevitable as the sun rising every morning as Vavavoom was trained by a maestro in veteran Ruben Tupas and multi-titled horse owner and breeder in Sandy Javier, a known sportsman who has dabbled in basketball in the past.
“Hindi na ako masyado na-surprise kasi lahat ng prestigious races naipanalo ko,” said Tupas, a recipient of multiple trainer of the year awards.
Proceeds of the race will go to the charity programs of the PSA headed by Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran.
“This annual benefit race is for the PSA and we’re here to partner with the sportswriting community and support their advocacies,” said Philracom president Reli de Leon.
De Leon was accompanied in the awarding ceremony by acting executive director Ronaldo Corpuz and MMCTI race manager Rondy Prado.
