Asian Racing
Don Julio Wins the Presidential Gold Cup
A bold front running ride by veteran jockey Arnold Asuncion, sealed victory for Don Julio in the 53rd running of the Presidential Gold Cup, run over 2000 meters at the Padre Garcia racetrack on Sunday.
The win was an atonement for his unlucky close second in the race last year behind Batang Manda, and, proved to be a great compensation for owner Felizardo "Jun" Sevilla, whose horse Sky Shot was first over the line in the race in 2021, only to be relegated back to third place, following an inquiry into interference suffered by the third horse across the line, Super Swerte.
On Sunday there was no such drama, when the grey son of Adios Reality (USA) was set alight out of the gates by Asuncion to quickly take command of the race. The pair set up some cracking sections in the early stages before easing the tempo mid-way, Asuncion then stepped on the gas the last quarter to leave his rivals floundering. Easy Does It (Eagle Scout USA) ridden by N C lunar finished second, with Transform (Juggling Act Aus) under Jeff Zarete running on for third.
"My good friend Albert Dichaves has the stallion Adios Reality, he is a son of Tapit (USA). I thought with my mare it would be a good cross as Kangoo is by Fairy King (USA), and that's also the Northen Dancer (Can) line.
Don Julio, originally went through the hands of two trainers in his early years, before being handed over to Jesse Guce the former champion Filipino rider, as a four-year-old. He is winner of ten races to date and has overall been a model of consistency in his career, with Sevilla revealing his method of keeping his horses focused and happy for racing.
"I have a beachfront property about half an hour from the racetrack at Puting Buhangin in Batangas. The Tagalog word Puting means white sand in English. I bring my horses there to relax them, and to get them out of the stables for a nice change in environment.
"Don Julio loves the beach, and walking and swimming in the surf; its not only good exercise it relaxes the horses and its good for their mind to keep them happy."
For jockey Arnold Asuncion, the victory was a dream come true for the seasoned forty-four-year-old, who never started race riding until the age of twenty-seven years.
"Yes, it's the race all the Filipino jockeys' want to win and my dream come true. I've won lots of trophy races and my riding career has been good, but this is just the best.
"I was an apprentice at age twenty, but I was very rebellious when I was young and very immature, and that's why I started so late. But I have always been confident in myself even from when I started, I know I can do it, and I've won lots of cup races, but this is the greatest feeling."
For trainer Jesse Guce, it was another great achievement in what has been an amazing career in racing. As a jockey Jesse Guce was really something special. He is the son of the famous "El Maestro" Jesus Guce, the Philippines greatest ever jockey. When his father's racing career was ended through a race fall in 2006, that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Jesse stepped in to fill his shoes. He was a dominant force in Philippine racing for sixteen years, before a shocking race fall ended his career in December 2022.
He rode over 3000 career winners including four Presidential Gold Cups, Real Spicy 2006, Native Land 2007, Magna Carta 2011 and Super Sonic in 2019; but said after the race this was an even greater thrill, winning it as a trainer.
"To be honest I never had this feeling as a jockey. I'm not nervous when I compete as a jockey before in PGC, but this time as a trainer it's really heart pounding. Especially in the home stretch. After the race the first words I said was, 'Thank you Lord.'
"I was very confident before the race about beating the favorite Bea Bell, because my horse has been performing so well in his last two runs. I told Arnold (Asuncion) jump fast, and if Bea Bell doesn't take the lead, to then go forward and control the race."
Don Julio is the horse that provided Jesse with his first stakes win as a trainer, and was runner up in last year's cup along with the stablemate Sonic Clay running in third place.
"It's been an amazing start for my training career, I've only had my license for two years, and to think I got so close last year with second and third, and Don Julio gave me my first trophy as a trainer.
"I am so lucky that we are able to swim the horses at Tito Sevilla's place on the beach. It really helps our horses with their breathing and their stamina and their legs."
The hot favorite in the race Bea Bell, was trying to break a thirty-one-year hoodoo to be the first mare too win the cup since 1994, when Crown Colony (Regent Street Can) won the race; however, it wasn't to be. The grey broke ok from the gate (3), but was immediately hampered when Istulen Ola (2) dipped at the start and cannoned into her and at the same time Diversity tightened her from gate (4). After being prominent in the run soon after, the mare was under pressure rounding the bend for home, and ran on only fairly for fifth beaten 10 lengths.
The race carried record prizemoney of P15,000,000 (A$380,000); however, as well another record was smashed on the day with the Philippine Jockey Club reporting P53,665,002 (A$1,369,005) in betting turnover on the twelve-race card.
That's an amazing result, given that the PJC has only been operating since November 12, and has only run a total of eleven race days.
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