Upper Crust chased in vain and this also caused her to tire out which
enabled seasoned performer Hesperus to nose out the former at the post
to get the runner up berth. Upper Crust, despite being beaten squarely,
did not disgrace herself as she was taking on veterans who have big
achievements to their credit and the filly had not even run in the
highest class before venturing into a race of this caliber.
Trainer Ganapathy, who led in Haunting Memories, consolidated his lead
in the trainers’ championship race by adding two more winners to boost
his tally. Living Luxury, who had beaten Upper Crust in a maiden’s race
last winter, had not been allowed to run to potential all these days as
the filly was under the charge of Karthik. Now shifted to Ganapathy who
was fighting for the championship, the filly showed her potential and
she won the 1200 metres Maj Newton Davis Memorial Cup capably though
Cimarron threw some scare in the closing stages of the race with a late
charge. Living Luxury was winning a race meant for horses rated 40 to 70
while Upper Crust was attempting to win against the toughest opponents.
It is only because Living Luxury hadn’t been seen in real colours that
she ran at lucrative odds. Script Ure Destiny who running for the first
time during the season, led the field but weakened under pressure to
fade out of contention. Sunny’s Symphony ran on to finish third.
Star Team recorded a hat-trick of wins when he easily accounted for the
opposition in the 1600 metres Doaba Stud Plat. Star Team who went
sailing clear on turning for home, won with great deal of comfort from
Red Mustang who has been a pretty consistent performer. Star Team had
come out of the maidens’ ranks in winter and he completed three wins in
a row by winning his second race of the season. Habat ran on to be third
and this useful performer will get his chance probably
during the Mysore season.
Renascent, who had let down as a favourite in her last run, made amends,
winning the 1400 metres Bold Gesture Plate (Div I) quite comfortably
from Needofthehour. Renascent benefited by the five kg allowance claimed
by her jockey as she came through the rails to surge past the
front-running Needofthehour who shared favoritism with Reigning Sky.
Jockey Imran Chisty on General Ridge had a fall at the start of the race
but the jockey escaped unhurt. Reigning Sky who was in his path was
deftly maneuvered to avoid hurting the jockey but the three-year old
gelding who was also a strongly fancied runner, was not in his elements
thereafter and finished poorly. The lower division of the race went the
way of Freemason who barely managed to survive from Saptashwa who was
finishing the fastest. Allonia who was also fancied to win, led the
field but weakened in the homestretch to finish third.
First timer Welcome Black was taking on poor quality maidens and as
such, the support for the daughter of China Visit was not misplaced.
Welcome Back held a handy position from the outside draw and then sped
past Smart N Special in the final furlong to win comfortably. Favoruite
Double Emerge who led the field from the word `go’ was a beaten horse
well before the race took a serious turn.
New Pastures was backed to the exclusion of her rivals but the five-year
old mare failed to collar the front-running Zangi despite having all the
chances. Zangi took charge soon after the field settled down for the
mile and quarter trip and just about held on to win from Angel field. At
one stage, three runners were in a line but New Pastures failed to
sustain her challenge after coming contention.
Jockey M Reuben on Stanza Starry appeared to be caught napping as
Antonique nosed out the front-runner in a close finish. Stanza Starry
went into a comfortable lead inside the distance past but the jockey was
found wanting when it came in completing the finishing formalities. In
the day’s other action where more than three runners were in the
betting, rank outsider South Parade won from Wile Wench to provide
jockey Vivek one of those rare doubles. Vivek was earlier successful on
Zangi.
