The mishap, going, the weight and the fact that he had to cover
considerable leeway on the eventual winner ensured the upset win of
Stone of Destiny. The consistent Ashwaraaj ran on to finish third while
Flaming Glory who appears to have dropped form ran without hope.
Earlier, Mark Zahra, riding for the first time in India, created a
favourable impression when he steered Rhapsidion Snow to an exciting win
over Alandra in the 1400 metres Speaker's Cup. Alandra led the field
from the word 'go', with Rhapsidion Snow in hot pursuit. In the final
furlong, Rhapsidion Snow surged ahead but started to tire out which
enabled Alandra to fight back. The two were engaged in an absorbing duel
and they went past the post locked together. Rhapsidion Snow prevailed
by a nose in the photo. Jockey C Alford who rode the runner up was up to
his old habit of celebrating even as his horse was passing the winning
post and this is a habit that he would well to curb as quite often, this
can be the slip between victory and defeat. Alford needs to iron out
certain gimmicks of his which has caused him harm in the past. Assert
The Right who had weights in his favour, was not up to the mark though
he finished a close third ahead of My Turn who put up an improved
effort.
Karthik Ganapathy saddled his maiden winner when Reflected Glory,
despite a tardy beginning, swept past the field in the final furlong to
record a facile win. Cherika who showed the way from the start, held on
to finish second ahead of Renascent while Turf Magic who shaped to save
place money, faded out to be fourth.
The well bred Masquenada was left to tackle a poor opposition in the
Divine Light Plate (Div II) and this half-sister to the celebrated
Elusive Pimpernel had no problem in checking in by a widening margin of
eight lengths. Awesome Beauty and Crystal Music ran on to take the next
two spots on the frame. Alford, who steered the winner, was also
successful in the upper division of the race through Logans Run who won
with a similar start to finish mission. Double Emerge briefly challenged
him in the straight but the eventual winner got stronger close home to
win comfortably.
Stylish Bay who was backed to the exclusion of his rivals, justified the
favouritism. Stylish Bay was hanging in badly but the jockey did well to
correct it in the closing stages of the race and the favourite managed
to surge ahead of the front-running Sierra in the shadow of the winning
post. Artic Blast, Fanna and Char Chand finished in that order behind
the first two placed horses but did not do enough to promise of better
things to come in their next outing.
