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Hard-earned Victory for Middle Man

By Parjanya | 05 Nov 2009 | DELHI


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It was not a cakewalk for Middle Man as it appeared to have been prior to the race. Actually, he had to sweat it out en route to lift the Stewards Cup at the Delhi races on Thursday. Reinmen Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Ranjeet Singh shared a brace each. Gajendra could have scored a treble had his winning mount Spicy Move not messed up with the competitors at the jump. Spicy Move was stripped off the title by the stewards in an enquiry. While chasing Enya in the previous outing, Middle Man had left an impression that he would be successful in the same class he faced. But he had to struggle to live up to the expectations. Awaiting for the departure of Shy Beauty from the top slot over the seven furlongs could have cost Midle Man a certain race. But Gajendra did put in every effort to guide the fortune chestnut gelding inside the final furlong. Despite surrendering the advantage to MIddle Man, Deepak Kamble Ashish astride Shy Beauty did try to put up a second run but that was not enough. Gajendra gave Spicy Move a long overdue victory in the following event - Meemach Plate, but he got a shot under the arm, when his mount was found guilty of hampering the path of horses soon after the jump. A stewards enquiry was ordered into the race and the outcome was a disqualification. Subsequently, Black Hawk, who was the runner-up, was awarded the top prize and accordingly the others benefited including the favourite Quand Meme who finished third. The second fancied Subroos had dislodged Sameer around 700m. However, overcoming the incident, Gajendra showed his prowess on King of The Ring in the concluding show - Internac Security Plate. Sarir, who was expected to be obliged, failed to land spoilsports due to lack of a run. Gangajal bears watching. Earlier, Ashish had displayed his calibre on Blue Lagoon while snatching away a definite defeat from the jaws of vagabond in the nick of time in the Radiant Flame Plate. Vagabond was in the fray for making every post a winning one to complete an encore. Jockey Ranjeet Singh, who has shifted his base from the southern India, helped first timer juvenile filly Dancing Beauty to show her speed in the pillar-to-post affair in the CTC Plate. In a similar way, he earned his double through Faurties in the Rapid Action Plate. Sparkling Gold, Neko and Ashwa Prisha, who finished second, third and fourth respectively, should make amends.