Right Again trounces Silver Print in Cal St.Leger
By Aalibaba (indiathoroughbreds@hotmail.com)Kolkata
Mar 20, 2007
Trainer Daniel David's treble, on Saturday, which also included the thumping victory of Right Again, in the 2,800m Calcutta St Leger, signaled his return to winning ways after lying low during the S. Ganapathy-dominated Invitation Cup weekend. At the championship table, the trainer is presently six points behind Vijay Singh but the kind of stock he possesses, it's almost certain he would climb the ladder in the remaining six fixtures to snatch the lead.
Right Again's Leger victory hardly came as a surprise as Vijay's Silver Print looked a tired and tucked-in filly during the paddock parade, not surprising as she had given her all just a week ago when running third in the Invitation Cup.
Yet the Oaks' winner tried her utmost, running in close up with the leader, Active Asset, till the 600m marker. However, it turned out to be a no-contest once jockey Imran Chisty sent Right Again in to the lead. In the three-horse field, the Steinbeck-Artwork son was always a close third before making his winning run. He won drawing away from the field, leaving a struggling Silver Print to surrender the second slot to Active Asset in the last 100 metres.
Daniel's Imperialism scored a back-to-back win to suggest that his win during the previous weekend was no fluke. In the 1,400m Burning Fire Cup, the 7-10 favourite was happily settled behind stablemates Tomahawk and Roofer till the last furlong before unleashing a good turn of foot to overhaul them for a shade under five-length victory.
Chisty was also associated with Daniel's third winner, Retained Asset, in the 1,400m Madras Race Club Cup. The Waarshan Autumn Affair son was ideally handicapped but his recent form was hardly encouraging. Nevertheless, he came in for a good support after Noble Desire and returned a facile winner, though his stablemates, Samarrah and Wizard Of Oz, also made strong bids to win from the start.
Vikash Jaiswal's Shining Example never needed to be pressed to win the opener, the 1,400m Mother's Boy Handicap. Running close to the leader, Lusitania, till the final turn, the 4-1 fancy drew away for a facile win.
Trainer Harvinder Bath's Accountable won the 1,100 INS Hooghly Cup almost from the start. The Stavros son was running after nearly 18 weeks and he complimented his trainer for keeping him in a good shape.
Golden Image, trainer Richard Alford's well-nursed horse at the handicaps, had an easy measure of his four rivals in the 1,600m Navy Cup. Lying a handy third behind a runaway Mozart and the favourite Dancing Storm, the aged son of Young Senor made a good progress nearing the final turn to score easily from a late finishing El Cid.
Vijay's Athymia scored her third win from five career starts to lift the Acorn Stakes. Galloping a handy third behind Galaxy Girl and EnergeticBabe till approaching the turn, the Major Impact daughter handed a good beating to her rivals.
Live It Love led from the start and buried hopes of a heavily backed Rainbow Run in the 1,100m Royal Double Handicap. A heavy impost of 62kg was, perhaps, the real reason behind the favourite's 'neck' defeat.
