Secret Memory was the firm favourite, with Holding Court next in demand.
There were many who believed that Jet Fire, who had run a brilliant
second to Haunting Memories, would be able to benefit by the pull in
weights while others supported the seven year old Coral Gables to
benefit from his vast experience. In the event, Secret Memory who took
charge of the proceedings mid-way through the race, came in clear of the
field and in a trice, established a winning lead. Holding Court showed
out on the wide outside and covered lot of ground to be an impressive
second ahead of Coral Gables. Jet Fire faded out after being prominent
till the bend. May be he is better off over shorter trips.
Born Free had found one better on innumerable occasions but this time out,
things fell in place in the Sir M Visvesvarayya Memorial Cup (Div I)
where the top weight got strong close home to get the better of
Classical Dancer. Southerner, who was expected to make things difficult
for the favourite, was off to a poor start and finished dismally.
Southerner had been in the eye of a controversy as he had failed as a
favourite but had smashed the opposition next time out. Southerner does
not seem to like the pressure of expectation. Firestone made amends for
his last start failure as a favourite, with a facile win in the lower
division. Alinski ran on to finish second.
Pied Harrier who received inspired support in the ring, ran true to
expectations, with a successful start to finish mission in the Own
Opinion Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year olds. Good Heart,
who had run two decent races back home at Hyderabad, covered ground in
the straight to be a notable second ahead of Snow Ranger. Hyderabad
challenger Bold Blast was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the
lower division but the Young Senor progeny, who dropped the jockey en
route to the starting gate, was withdrawn from the fray and it was left
to Constant Wonder to make a strong presence and win quite capably from
Winning Rays and Starry View.
Madam Rich obliged at longer odds as favourite Mill Fontaine’s run was
below par. Mill Fontaine reared up at the gates and the horse was passed
fit to race but the progeny of Major Impact was not inclined to raise a
fluent gallop. It was Luckynumbersleevin who posed a challenge to the
lesser fancied runner. Tatler did not make much impression when
finishing a faraway third.
The small made Faction Leader came up with a spirited burst of speed in
the final furlong after being pulled out of the rails and got the better
of Dhanush to win at lucrative odds.
The Force looked outstanding in the 1600 metres Mamma’s Mink Plate and
he justified the favouritism with a smashing win over Free Glider and
Sun Zone. Fancied Royal Tsarina lost all her chances at the gate while
Oro Neiro who expended his energy in setting a furious pace, finished a
tame fourth.
