Jockey Neeraj Rawal attempted a start to finish mission, hoping to
exploit the pull in weights but favourite Guest Connections who relished
the pace, was in striking distance of the front-runner and had things
her way once Prakash pushed her to the front. Predominant moved from
behind but did not quicken the way he was expected to and Hyderabad
challenger Red Key Point came through the shortest way to edge out
Predominant for the runner up spot. Full Speed who was once a rousing
form hasn’t shown any form but the way he is being campaigned despite
not showing any spark, the trainer is still hoping to recapture the form
of his ward which had seen him win the Mysore Derby.
With Retribution withdrawn from the way on veterinary grounds, the decks
were cleared for Angelique to record a long overdue win. Angelique had
found better on three occasions and in her last run, she was run in a
handicap race and asked to carry the penalty of a winner and contested
for lower stakes. But now brought back to a maidens’ race, Angelique
asserted her supremacy with a good stretch run which saw her pass the
front-runners with ease. There was inspired support for Olivia Valerie
and the odds on the Razeen filly dropped swiftly in the ring but the
second favourite could not quicken when the race was on the boil and was
a poor third. South Star had all the chances, having surged ahead in the
straight, but had no answer when Angelique swooped on him. Van De Star
ran on to finish third and he should be better off for this run.
The Nanoli Stud Plate appeared to be quite tricky with none of the
contenders showing out as the one to deserve maximum support.
Coincidentally, it was a Nanoli Stud Farm bred tail-swishing filly
Yantai who just about managed to win by a whisker from a late-finishing
Sugar Brown. Both these runners did not find favour with the race goers
who reposed their faith on Asiaticus who had the run benefit through a
mock race. Though Asiaticus had all the chances, he did not quicken
enough in the final furlong to have a bearing on the result. The speedy
Yantai disputed the lead in the early part with Diomedes before surging
ahead at the final bend and then lasted out to win from Sugar Blaze who
came with big strides even as the front-runner was slowing down. The
winning post came to the rescue of the winner. This is the second time
that Yantai was beating Sugar Brown in identical fashion.
Ascot Lady had showed out in a mock race but this full sister to the
well performed Green Bax has always floundered under pressure. Despite
the fact that she hasn’t won for a long time, race goers put blind faith
in her abilities. There was also quiet support for Feel Free who had
been a rousing performer in the last summer season. Feel Free who raced
a handy second, smoothly went into the lead even as Ascot Lady who was
tracking her, was sending distress signals and falling behind. Feel Free
went clear in the final furlong and comfortably held on to win from
Woman In Charge who has been a big let down thus far. Ascot Lady
finished a tame fourth as Onegina took the third spot.
Jockey Alford, who drove out Feel Free to victory, was also successful
astride Romantic Scene who came up with a good run in the final furlong
to over haul the front-running Alyciaa and win with ease the Buck Passer
Plate (Div I). Enforced faltered in the lower division and it was left
to the Hyderabad challenger Crocodile Hunter to land a touch.
Winsons who was backed to the exclusion of his rivals, based on his
blazing workouts, won as he pleased the Guindy Plate to provide trainer
Mahesh a winner. In the day’s other action, Remarkable Stride whose win
was considered a certainty despite D Patel in the saddle, could not
profit from the big lead that he had and slackened close home, allowing
Sudden Thunder to win at fancy odds. Local Warrior did enough to suggest
that he is ready to strike.
