As expected, Ganapathy and Prakash shared the top honours among trainers and jockeys
respectively. Dr M A M Ramaswamy was the leading individual owner.
Be that as it may, the long drawn card on the final day definitely
did not go well with race goers who would have preferred to have the
usual eight or nine races. Easy and Hawaiian Sunrise who has lost form
were the market fancies to win the 1200 metres Leading Owner Cup (Div I)
while Mystic Force which should have received strong support was
available at lucrative odds. In the event, Mystic Force and Axara set a
furious pace, with Easy giving up a futile attempt to go to the front at
around the final bend. Mystic Force who shook off Axara while entering
the straight, kicked away for a facile win with Rebellious and Snob
Value taking the next two spots. Easy who ran out of steam at the final
bend, was a spent force when the race was on the boil.
Rio Bravo who had created a favorable impression when recording a facile
win when winning last time out despite running after a long lay off, was
backed spiritedly and shared favoritism with Ruby Rocket. Despite a
sluggish getaway from the gates, Rio Brave moved swiftly along the
rails, saved ground and when pulled out from the rails in the final 350
metres, the progeny of Tirol showed tremendous acceleration to win
pulling up the lower of the race. Ruby Rocket was not in the hunt.
Havana and Arctic Blast finished second and third respectively. The
Sriram Komandur trainee has the ability to complete a hat-trick of wins.
Aeropostale, who had been knocking on the doors of success, claimed the
division three of the Leading Owner Cup getting the better of Zafar for
whom the change of name too did not help matters. Kioko came up with a
flourish in the final furlong but could only finish third.
After a frustrating wait, trainer Sardar Singh finally had success
through Ciampino in the Champion Jockey Cup (Div I). Advocate General
and Footstepsinthesky were engaged in an absorbing battle and when the
former emerged the better, he was being hailed as a winner. However,
Ciampino who was stuck along the rails was pulled out and given a clear
run and the favourite responded gamely to win with a degree of comfort.
Footstepsinthesky fought back to push Advocate General to the third
spot. Free Glider who was backed spiritedly in the lower division of the
race, just about held on to win from a late-finishing Rocamora. Hakuna
Matata came good, winning the Champion Jockey Cup (Div III)with a fair
degree of comfort. Alonso, who graced the wrong end of the field, came
through the rails to come within striking distance of the winner.
The Leading Tipster Cup was claimed by lesser fancied Illusive Girl who
managed to keep her only challenger Fantabulous Hero at a safe distance.
There was inspired support for Hurry Home but the horse itself was in no
hurry in the race.
