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Demanding Format Triumphs on a Day of Upsets

By Mirror Image | 29 Jun 2011 | MYSORE


Trainer Vishal Yadav leading Demanding Format (Keanen G Steyn up) winner of the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd Trophy

Vishal Yadav’s Demanding Format (Hymn-Flaming Bay) was steered to a thumping victory in The Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd. Trophy, a five-and-a-half-furlong sprint for 3-year-old maidens. It was a disastrous Wednesday for railbirds as most of the fancied runners failed to live up to their billing. Rock All was installed as the favourite in the race and she did her bit till the last 250 metres and withered out tamely to finish fifth. Jockey Keanen Steyn brought Demanding Format with a flourish on the very wide outside to swoop on the front-runners and register a fine win from the late-finishing Jeevika’s Queen who had to be pulled out of traffic problems on the straight.

  Trainers P.C. Tejaswi and Ranjeet Shinde recorded a double each. The most impressive performance of the day turned out to be from Tejaswi’s Zanzara (Glory Of Dancer-Anadem). The eight-year-old seems to have hit a purple patch towards the end of his career. Penalised nine points for his previous victory, Zanzara made light of the back-breaking weight of 67 kilos to record his third straight win in The Republican Plate. Princess Nero had assumed charge on entering the straight and was looking good when Zanzara flew from almost a last position to stun all calculations.

Earlier in the day, it was a ‘Mexikan Wave’ that spoilt the victory celebrations of the favourite Alchesaye at the winning post, in the Red Refus Plate. Alchesaye had got the measure of Fast Colours and Aaj Tak around 300 metres from home and was heading towards the winning post when Tejaswi’s Mexikan Wave (Serious Spender-Charismatic) came up with big strides under S. Sreekant to nail the favourite in the shadow of the winning post. Good Companion and Queen Of Destiny filled the frame.

While trainer Santosh Kumar’s Alchesaye failed to make it, stable companion Ziggy Stardust (Flitch-Bella Vista) scrambled to win The Loyal Prince Plate. Half a furlong from home, Ziggy Stardust was clear by four lengths and Bobby’s Golden Nymph bridged the gap with a fast gallop and failed to collar the leader by a ‘neck’. My Musketeer and Callidora flashed on late to fill the frame. The run of Hidalgo has to be taken with a pinch of salt as the favourite was tardy at the start and travelled wide throughout the trip to finish fifth.

Rakesh-trained Lake Emerald (Black Cash-Eau De Vie) justified the favouritism in the lower division of The Kodlipet Plate. The 3-year-old Lake Emerald, being the youngest in the pack, hit the front soon after the start and led all the way to win by over four lengths. Saratoga moved in the centre of the track to finish second while Sugar Gold beat Star Of Hearts for the third place. Lake Emerald now has 3 wins and 2 seconds from her five starts and that record speaks of her capability. Rakesh has groomed the filly well and she is bound to pick up more laurels for the stable.

Another prominent loser of the day was Micheal Eshwar’s Heat Haze, in The Kinski Plate. With jockey K.P.G. Appu being declared to ride, Heat Haze was lazy at start and lost valuable ground in a six-furlong sprint. Appu brushed up Heat Haze quickly and the filly had moved to be fourth on approaching the final bend. On top of the straight, Freedom Fighter and Jugnu led the fight closely followed by Heat Haze and Visual Element making gradual progress. Jugnu felt his legs and dropped out of the race while Heat Haze had nothing left in the tank passing the distance marker. Ranjeet Shinde’s Visual Element (Sir Bordeaux-Royal Tour) made rapid progress to overhaul the front-running Freedom Fighter and lift the race. Possibility and Chakravyuhabhadek covered many lengths from the rear to take the second and third spots respectively. Possibility impressed in her debut and should be a chinch if sent over a longer trip. Damgood was withdrawn on veterinary grounds before the race.

Ranjeet scored a double through Fantabulous Prince (Burden Of Proof-Supervite) in the concluding race of the day, the higher division of The Kodlipet Plate. The well-backed Fantabulous Prince brought some cheer for the die-hard patrons at the end of the day. Ranjeet’s ward surged past the leader Del Gratia inside the final furlong and won the race from the stable companion Super Sha. Yanamaria and Arabian Memories filled the frame.

Feroz M Khan trained Bahman (Inner City-Game Plan) won The Talakaveri Plate, the opening race of the day. Ridden by apprentice S.R. Santosh Kumar, Bahman headed the field from the start and made every post a winning one. Nano Blue was in futile chase of the leader throughout the race.