The daughter of Major Impact won in a record time of 1 minute 11.74
seconds. The existing track record no longer has any validity because
the distances were re-measured in the last decade and starting points
pushed back by about 50 metres. Byramji began the day with Zest and
ended with Slavic to record a fine treble.
Bratz had gone into the
race with the benefit of a mock race and had a distinct pull in weights
over the rest. Hesperus got a lot of support in the ring because of his
accomplishments thus far though he was conceding too much weight to all
his adversaries. The drifting odds on Diomedes did not speak well of the
other fancied runner in the race. Bratz was taken on a start to finish
mission by Suraj Narredu and the favourite kept stretching the lead as
she turned for home and checked in well clear of Hesperus and Armament.
Diomedes was a little fractious at the gates and then walked out of the
gate and struggled throughout and finished a miserable last! Diomedes
has thus fallen into a set pattern. After making an impressive debut in
winter, the son of Royal Kingdom ran down the field in his next outing.
Diomedes came out of the maidens’ ranks early in the season in great
fashion which suggestive of great things to come but once again he has
lapsed into his wonted habit. Obviously he has a problem that needs to
be sorted out to be a more genuine performer. Bratz, on the other hand,
has plenty of scope and her progress is of more than ordinary interest.
Hyderabad’s King Cobra was the favourite to pull it off in the 1600
metres Honeyday Plate. In the past, horses from that centre have rarely
enjoyed favouritism here but after quite a few of those horses did well
during the current season, there is healthy respect for horses from
Malakpet. However, King Cobra definitely did not belong to that league
as the big made son of Local Talent was never in with a chance. The well
bred Zest took advantage of the weak opposition as she dashed to the
front and grimly held on to win from a late-finishing Badge of Honour on
whom Mallesh Narredu failed to produce that bit extra. Byramji’s other
win too was at the expense of a Mallesh Narredu ridden Awesome Royal who
failed to improve on his noteworthy second behind Confluence. Slavic
finished on with a flourish to easily overhaul Awesome Royal and won
with something to spare.
Trainer G Nityanand, who drifted into this sport a few years ago, has
proved his mettle much faster than the ones who took an eternity to make
their presence felt. Despite training some modestly bred horses, he led
in his third winner in as many days through Roda Rosen who beat
favourite Rivage close home in the Tippu Sultan Cup (Div I). Rivage led
all the way and shaped like a winner but despite the saddle having
slightly shifted out of position, jockey Imran Chisty was able to drive
out the lesser fancied horse to a narrow win. Nityanand had earlier
saddled Turf Raider and Maple Fondant to success in the previous two
days to take his tally to five which is a remarkable record as he has
only 10 horses in his charge.
Padmanabhan trained Powerthrust recorded his third straight win in the
1800 metres Manjri Stud Plate. The son of Placerville out of Virginia
Princess was ridden brilliantly by jockey Srinath who kept him in a
handy second position behind Spark of Glory well into the straight and
packed punch to ensure that the second favourite stayed in front to
stave off the challenge of Scintillating Skill, Essex and Arizza.
Powerthrust’s dam is Virginia Princes who in the past had foaled horses
like Free Radical and Ravage who at best of times, have proved to be
milers. However, they were the progeny of Diffident and Greensmith
respectively but the dam Virginia Princes is by Nijinsky and has sound
staying influences and the nick with Placerville should see Powerthrust
turn into a stout stayer.
Puttanna’s Pleaser proved too good for the opposition in the 1100 metres
Skyline Plate, a race for horses rated 10 to 25. The small made son of
Burden of Proof came from behind to easily overhaul the front-running
favourite Global Gal who was attempting an encore. Austin Powers showed
some improvement in his form when snatching the runner up berth from the
favourite.
Regal Shot buckling close home to Missident in the concluding race of
the day ensured that trainer Ganapathy had to return home blank. There
was big support for Golden Venture but the money was evidently misplaced
as the race unfolded.
