Easily one of the most exciting
finishes of the season was seen in the 1400 metres Manitou
Plate, a race for maiden three-year olds. Michael Eshwer trained
Zidane who had served notice of his imminent success in a mock
race and Ganapthy's My Treasure who had been sharpened up in
like manner were the market fancies. Zidane had the first run on
My Treasure but with the latter coming up with a good burst of
speed to snatch to the lead, the defeat for the favourite was
imminent. However, once jockey Gallagher, perhaps reconciling to
defeat, put his stick away, Zidane suddenly picked up momentum
to quicken past his adversary. The half a length margin at the
finish suggested that Zidane would relish extended trips and
with time, he will go places. The daughter of Turtle Island, My
Treasure was done in by the superior fitness of hr conqueror.
Altosax was a noteworthy third ahead of first-timer Aide De
Memoire.
Punters could not help regretting that they could have well
saved three coins had they not ventured to wager on the Sydney
Moses ward in the Royal Tern Plate (Div I). Three Coins who was
blazing the track and Padmanabhan trained Kisunugntly who has
been plagued by physical problems, were the market fancies, with
Jai Bharath being quietly fancied by the people in the know.
Kisunugntly had all the chances but failed to quicken at the
all-important end while Three Coins was never in with a chance.
Jai Bharath who was a handy second at the top of the straight,
went clear in the hands of jockey Shakti Singh, to win with a
measure of comfort from top-weighted Annodomini.
However, trainer Habib Khan whose ward Annodomini finished
second best in the upper division, had a runaway winner in the
lower division, through another top-weight Ambermatic who won as
he pleased. Ambermatic received inspired support in the betting
ring while ante-post favourite Danzor drifted out in the betting
ring. The race ran true to expectations of market forces as
Danzor came in home last. Moonlight Rays who finished second,
should strip fit after this run and make amends.
Arjun Mangalorkar's Ma Baker ran everybody off their feet when
winning the Kumararajah M A M Muthiah Cup in taking style. Ma
Baker who was unfortunate to loose to Our Ambition last time
out, was taken on a start to finish mission though for a brief
while Lady Gibraltor enjoyed that position. Ma Baker came into
the straight a couple of lengths clear of the opposition and
then stretched away when asked for an effort to provide jockey
Gallagher a good double for the day. Jockey C Alford who is
definitely out of depth at this center, kept Appleby too far
behind in the early part of the race and gave the Razeen progeny
too much ground to cover in the run in for home. Appleby
finished second ahead of Star Splendour and Arristo. Argyle Gold
who had run a blinder of a race when finishing behind Mr
Belvedere, ran below par.
Campanero was unfortunate to loose last time out as the luck of
the race was against the No Louder progeny. This time out, the
Darius Byramji ward Companero who was a handy third while
turning for home, quickened nicely when Pesi Shroff put him in
top gear and left the field for dead long way from home.
Fighting Brave, who posed a challenge for a brief while, was a
good second ahead of Blue Gardenia who has been pretty
consistent but not good enough to win.
Tapatio was blazing the track and the Pradeep Annaih ward
justified the strong support in the betting ring, by wearing
down the challenge of another market fancy Trillennium. Nothing
seems to be going right for trainer Abdullah whose fancied
runners have been biting the dust with a shocking regularity.
Trainer Samar Singh who was going through a bad patch, has been
perhaps energized by his success at Mysore which has given him a
fresh lease of life. His wards too, of late, have been seen in
different light. Sheer Blossoms won the day's opener, in a close
tussle from Splendid Ally and Forest Emperor.
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