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Ave Maria Finds No Opposition

By Mirror Image | 11 Oct 2010 | HYDERABAD


Trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju leading Ave Maria (Imran Khan Up), winner of The A.P.Race Horse Owners Association Trophy

Trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju had a mighty day at the races on Monday, leading in four winners, one of which shared the top spot in a dead-heat. Ave Maria was sent into the A.P.Race Horse Owners Association Trophy as the firm favourite, after her success in her previous outing. When the four runners were dispatched, Exclusive Monarch and Orochi disputed the lead till almost the half way stage over the 2000 metres distance. Approaching the final turn, Ave Maria improved to be second and took charge when they straightened up, to emerge clear. La Lapitus finished second, about six lengths behind, while Orochi and Exclusive Monarch finished faraway behind. Exclusive Monarch was found to have come back lame after the race.

Green Mist, Aspiring Star and Fine Racer were the other three wins of Prasad Raju. Green Mist (Kly Green – Showering) dead-heated with Yippee in The Candy Man Plate, run over five furlongs. Green Mist led from the start, tracked by Alpine Girl and Yippee, as they approached the final 200 metres. Yippee, who had preferred to make his run along the rails decided to change course and was pulled out. Devouring ground in the last 50 metres, Yippee joined Green Mist and the two sped past the winning post together. The judge not being able to separate them when he referred the photograph, declared a dead-heat. Palace Affairs finished third ahead of Alpine Girl.

Fine Racer (Sussex – Fine Glance) was believed by all and sundry to be the best betting proposition of the day. Jockey P.S. Chouhan took the filly to the front from the start and just cantered home, in the higher division of the Prince Regent Plate. Southern Spice finished second while Max Baby, who was loitering in the last position till the distance marker, made it to the third spot.

Aspiring Star (Greensmith – Alterezza) was another close winner, just managing to hold on from the well-backed Aadya Aadya Aadya, in the higher division of the P. Antony Memorial Plate. Aspiring Star assumed command as the field entered the straight and was well in front by over two lengths inside the last 100 metres but started to drift out and Aadya Aadya Aadya began to close the gap rapidly. The winning post came to the rescue of N. Rawal and he held on by a short-head.

The lower division of the P. Antony Memorial Plate was bagged by Sk. Kassam trained Bold Brigade, who turned out to be the biggest upset of the day. Bold Brigade (Kly Green – Bold And Beautiful) made every post a winning one while Ziglar followed in futile chase.

Paymaster (Flitch – Ride With Pride) positioned himself alongside Democracy, Striking Gold and Rosemead as the field entered the straight and shot clear to claim the Charminar Trophy. Smarty Prince got the better of Striking Gold to take the second spot.

A good gamble on Jingles (Senure – Karinae) paid dividends in The Camino Cup, run over 1,600 metres. Jockey Ravinder Singh had the M. Sathyanarayana-trained filly in front from the word ’go’, closely followed by Auburn Star and Proviso. Inside the final furlong, Auburn Star started to hang out and fell back to finish fourth. Try Me Today emerged from a hopeless position to beat Proviso for the second place.

Faisal Hassan’s Queen of Hebashe (Kly Green – Machiavelli) took charge early in the lower division of The Prince Regent Plate, the opening race of the day and raced away to a facile victory. Retro Magic moved in to take the second spot ahead of Pluto Queen.