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Fine Trebles for Kadam, Imran

By Epsom Ace | 22 Sep 2010 | KOLKATA


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After Sangoma won the Elusive Study Handicap on August 11, the review on this website read as follows: “Trainer Deepak Karki needs to be complimented for turning out Sangoma in the pink of condition. The hat-trick horse of last monsoon season made it a one-horse race despite the top-weight. The favourite Andeana was seen to struggle all the way. In the kind of condition he is in, Sangoma may well pick up a race in the highest category if placed judiciously.”

On Wednesday, Karki did just that. He entered the horse in a Terms race (at level weights with Nitrous) and gave it a good forward race. In a handicap race on Wednesday (The Court Minstrel Cup), he was far better placed at weights than Nitrous despite the 4-kg allowance that the latter’s rider was claiming. All he had to do was to get the better of Aemelia. Kishore Kadam had performed a hat-trick on the front-runner last monsoon and he added to that tally on this occasion. Aemilia did pick up a late gallop but that was not sufficient. Sangoma was available at 8/1 in a four-horse race.

History repeated itself for Kadam again when he piloted the filly Shanghai Gal to triumph in the Silver Dawn Handicap. The twice-winner of last monsoon was neglected in the ring (7/1) as it was her first outing but the Imtiaz Sait runner had been given a thorough preparation and she reproduced her track trials with aplomb. The two fancied runners Black Falcon and High Roller were never in the race. The latter was in fact left at the gates. For reasons best known to their connections, the rest of the 12-horse field (barring Big Thrillz) were not in the least interested.

If trainer Arti Doctor’s intention was to confuse punters with a triple-entry in the Winfree Handicap, she was partly successful. There was considerable betting on Torrential but the frequent flyer never took off. Vijay Singh-trained Arielle was penalized 1.5 kg despite finishing over four lengths behind Mrs Jones while Bayberry was kept at the same mark on the same day despite the verdict being less against Rebellious. Arielle thus paid the penalty and went down narrowly to Bayberry who was available at 5/2. Southern Angel disturbed her sufficiently up front to make things easier for the stablemate who completed Kadam’s treble. A Rs 100 roll on his three winning mounts would have fetched over Rs 15,000!

Jockey A Imran Khan’s treble was not so high priced but nevertheless, there were no on-money winners on this afternoon. He started with Star Infinty, who was given a free run as another frequent flyer and second favourite Mafia Chief raced in the rear.

Imran had to fight it out with Swiss King astride All Diamonds in the Retort Handicap and finally gave a peach of a ride to Regal Classic in the Maid Of Athens Handicap. In this race, the favourite Runjeet was poorly handled by apprentice Srinivas Rao. Runjeet is known to be a fairly forward animal and keeping him dead last till the bend (when the straight is pretty short) is not a very wise manoeuvre. By the time he opted for the rails and made his move, the race was as good as over. To make matters worse for him, the experienced Imran closed the gap.

Imran, however, blotted his copybook on Desert Image in the Dancing Leaves Cup. He was content to sit in the rear while bottom-weighted Zafir set a good pace and ultimately went down to the favourite Avesco on whom Christopher Alford rode a hard race. The fashionably bred three-year-old is likely to turn out a good stayer.

The gamble of the afternoon was on Royal County Down in the Bright Hanovar Handicap. The demoted runner was taken to the front by Delhi jockey Gurpreet Singh. In the straight he crossed Ebony Princess’s path without being sufficiently ahead. The filly had to change direction which may have cost her the race. As for A Imran Khan on the favourite Ocean Dancer – the less said about it the better.

A double for jockey Shailesh Shinde on Arti Doctor’s wards Pocket Rocket and Royal Saga meant a treble for the trainer. Pocket Rocket lifted the Royal Mantle Cup with considerable ease. The handicap horse Cyclades was outpaced by Rithambhra initially, other than which she may have been nearer at the finish. The roguish Royal Dance left all his chances at the gates once again while Moment Of Love finished full of running.

Royal Saga, the 16/10 favourite, won the last race of the afternoon with a degree of comfort. The speedster allowed Cromwell and Thousand Stars to cut the pace till the straight and then made his move to leave them standing. Twelve-year-old Magic Mantra once again earned his oat meal by placing a good second. Good for him!