Although it took more than a year to accomplish, 2017 Triple Crown champion Sepfourteen finally conquered the Olympus of local racing as he recently won the prestigious PCSO Presidential Gold Cup and installed himself champion for an unprecedented third straight year.
The Gold Cup victory capped a dramatic comeback for the 4-year-old colt, who had to overcome a series of challenges and humbling defeats following his Triple Crown conquest.
“Many would have given up after his series of losses this year but we kept our faith in Sepfourteen and he rewarded us with another unforgettable track performance to prove himself worthy to be called a champion,” said owner Oliver “Jojo” Velasquez, who incidentally, was born on Sept. 14.
Bred and raised at Velasquez’ Santa Clara Stockfarm in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Sepfourteen now belongs to an elite club of racing greats who have achieved track supremacy at ages 2,3 and 4, which up until now has only been accomplished by Hagdang Bato from 2011 to 2013.
Further, he did one better than Hagdang Bato as Sepfourteen won the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup at 4 following his glorious Triple Crown campaign at 3.
Sepfourteen also joins an exclusive circle of Triple Crown champions or sweepers, who have also won the Gold Cup. A list that includes legendary Fair and Square, Skywalker, Time Master, Sun Dancer, Strong Material, Real Top and Hagdang Bato.
“This once-in-a-lifetime horse has been the fulfillment of every horse owners’ dream and I am just overwhelmed and extremely grateful that this one-time reject or ugly ducking turned out to be, not only as a beautiful swan, but one which also lays the golden egg,” lightheartedly remarked Velasquez, whose own SC Stockfarm breeding and racing operation has been dominating local racing the past two years.
Sepfourteen is a progeny of Regal Boom (AUS), one of the very first imported horses of SC Stockfarm, a well-performed chestnut race mare sired by Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch (USA) out of Noble Deed (NZ), a descendant of the great foundation mare Chelandry (GB).
His sire is Grade 1 winning Juvenile Consolidator (USA), son of the renowned sire of sires Storm Cat (USA) out of a stakes winning race mare Good Example (FR), which was imported into the country in 2011 by PHILTOBO President Manny Santos and is currently owned by a syndicate of breeders.
Following Sepfourteen’s Gold Cup win Sunday, Velasquez also revealed plans of running him again in 2019, in hopes of conquering even greater heights.
“Our main goal next year would be to repeat as Gold Cup champion, a task that is easier said than done, considering that Sepfourteen has already suffered the effects of wear-and-tear after a grueling 3-year campaign and we are not really sure about the level of next year’s competition. Hopefully he comes out well after this race and we’ll take it one race at a time,” Velasquez explained.
Sepfourteen’s P4-million prize in winning the 46th edition of the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup pushed his total track earnings past the P17-million mark, moving him closer to the record career earnings of Hagdang Bato.