Leyte Vice Governor Sandy Javier with Chairman Aurelio P. de Leon
Javier leads Philracom awardees
BUSINESSMAN/sportsman, and now elected Vice-Governor of Leyte Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr. took home the dream plum of being named top horseowner last Sunday during the 2022 Philracom Awards honoring the best performers for 2021 in various categories.
Javier, who was personally on hand to receive his award, bested all other horseowners with almost P21 million in earnings from his gallopers led of course by his most famous charger nowadays, Super Swerte, which accounted for 6.5 million of that total.
He thanked the Philracom for the award during his speech and even joked, “mas mura pala mag-alaga ng kabayo kesa mag-kampanya.”
Rounding out the top ten owners were Gabriel Gaerlan, Melaine Habla, James Anthony Rabano, Bell Racing Stable, Edward Vincent Diokno Running Rich Racing, Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, Ken Logistics and Faustino “Caloy” Datu.
Esguerra Farms and Stud of another businessman/sportsman Herminio “Hermie” Esguerra grabbed the Top Breeder award with the consistent showing of his produce throughout the year over Habla, Javier, SC Stockfarm, Joseph Dyhengco, Antonio “Tony” Tan Jr., Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Wilbert Tan, Jade Bros. Farm and Livestock and Puyat.
In the trainer category, it was no surprise that multi-titled Ruben Tupas again came out on top beating the likes of Conrado “Dodek” Vicente, Donato “Donnie” Sordan, Peter Aguila, Danilo “Dabe” de la Cruz, Ernesto “Boy Gare” Roxas, Richard “Pinog” Rivera, Wally Manalo, Pedro “Maton” Sanchez and Edwin Vitalli for the honors.
As for the jockeys category, Jesse Guce just nosed out Kelvin Abobo and Pablito Cabalejo for the top spot. Jonathan Hernandez, John Alvin Guce, Andreu Villegas, John Paul Guce, Oneal Cortez, Mark Angelo Alvarez and Claro Pare Jr. complete the top ten.
In the final human category, Nelson Esteban emerged as the leading apprentice for 2021 over Jimmy Siego and Mark Tumanan.
..Top Import honors went to Righteous Ruby owned by the Golden Three Kings Inc. besting Our Tito Chancetheracer, Super Ninja, Candaba, Vivid Pink, Troubador, Viva Forever, In the Zone and Kaka and Bachi.
Melaine Habla’s Brigand, sire of 2021 Triple Crown third leg winner War Cannon, proved to be the top stallion of 2021 with his progenies taking home more than P15 million in prize money. This was more than P1 million ahead of Oh Oh Seven’s produce while Art Moderne came third.
For the broodmares, it was Haley Rebecca which came out on top with her progenies earning close to P12.4 million, almost double than that of nearest rival Faster Tapper. Ivanavinalot came a close third.
2021 Triple Crown two leg winner and declared Presidential Gold Cup Champion Nuclear Bomb owned by Gabriel Gaerlan emerged as the top horse with almost P11.5 million in earnings. Far second was Sandy Javier’s Super Swerte with Melaine Habla’s War Cannon in tow for third.
