Charlie Parker came with a long stretch run in dying moments of the race to finish runner-up ahead of stable-mate
Makramah. So Perfect wasted much of her energy by travelling on the extreme outside and was too tired to cause any trouble. The only other clear favourite to emerge victorious after Starscape was
Taanush. But punters had to wait all day long for that to happen.
Jockey T. S. Jodha in the meantime held centre stage. He rode a winning brace for veteran Saeed Shah and then had the icing on his cake when he gave some walking exercise to trainer Vijay Kasbekar, who came out to lead one of the few winners he gets to lead in each year when Annunciation (Storm Trooper – Stormy Beauty) overcame the nuisance caused by Queen Adler and sailed away for a comfortable win. Yess Boss was the darling of those who thrive on inside information but the five-year-old trainee from Faisal Abbas’ yard ended a tame fourth behind last-outing winner Summeroffortytwo.
Shah’s two winners, True Wisdom (Concordial – Chicory) and Flying Glory (Glory of Dancer – Flying Home), were both making their maiden appearance this season but appeared fighting fit.
True Wisdom was hard-driven by Jodha to prevent rookie Y. S. Faizan ridden Incomparable from landing a big upset. Naill McCullagh piloted Old Flame failed to shoulder the burden of the public’s purse and ended a very poor fourth behind Pleasure Zone, whose runaway tactics failed close home. Shah’s decision to do away with the blinkers on Flying Glory helped the filly immensely as she went streaking into the lead when the gates opened and won warding off the mild threat posed by favourite Demolisher towards the end. Arzano once again seemed to have saved his best for some other day as he completed the judges’ frame without any real intent.
Earlier P. S. Chouhan steered second favourite Heart of Danger (Conquering Hero – Double Starlet) won from end to end but had to deal with a severe challenge from rank outsider Babita. Eventually a neck separated Babita from the winner. Sheen Falls was always in the vanguard and finished to be in the money ahead of favourite Simply Red, who warmed up to his task late. The seven-furlong journey seemed short for Simply Red’s liking and should be a different prospect over a mile and further.
Colm O’Donoghue ridden Priceless Place (Placerville – Priceless Moments) made most of Vikram Jodha’s lacklustre show on the on-money favourite Strategic Moves and helped trainer Dallas Todywalla saddle a winner for Dr.M.A.M. Ramaswamy. Priceless Place travelled close to the inner rails as no-hoper Discover dragged his rider Faizan to the front. After calling his bluff, Priceless Place surged ahead and went on to win sparing three-part of a length to Strategic Moves. Activisto and Love And Be Loved laboured hard to finish on the frame.
Bezan Chenoy trained Taanush (Tirol – Progressing) made ample use of his handicap advantage and romped home in the hands of Malcolm Kharadi. Supreme Act called a merry tune till the heads turned for home and surrendered without much fuss when Taanush came into the picture. Supreme Act was happy to relinquish the runner-up slot to Douglas, who came with a flourishing run towards the end. Crown Court, who was making an appearance after nearly a year, ran without any hope and ended fourth.
