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Notredame Sprints to Victory

By Mirror Image | 22 Aug 2011 | HYDERABAD


Trainer L D Silva leading Notredame (Ch K Chary Up), winner of The Nawab Khaja Moinuddin Khan Memorial Cup

L. D’Silva’s Notredame (Caption Rio-Prima Marta) made light of the penalty imposed on her for her resounding victory over six furlongs early this monsoon, and lifted The Nawab Khaja Moinuddin Khan Memorial Cup, the feature of Monday’s races at Hyderabad. Notredame led from the start, over the five-furlong sprint and picked up speed to move away from the others inside the final furlong, when jockey Ch. K. Chary rode the filly with vigour. Orient Glory started to bridge the gap rather late and had to settle with the runner-up berth, half a length behind Notredame. Jewel in the Crown finished a tame third.

Gary Carter opened his account at Hyderabad on Laxman Singh-trained Naughty Gal (European-Gaslight), in The Democracy Plate but created a flutter en route, as the filly ran true to her name on the home straight. Twentyfive Pips was the first to show up on the straight and Naughty Gal was beginning to make her move on the inside while Ponte Verdi finding a wide gap along the rails decided to go for it. Twentyfive Pips veered right all of a sudden and leaned over Naughty Gal, who in turn had to move right due to which Ponte Verdi had to be checked. Jockey Chary pulled Ponte Verdi out, to make his run around the two in front but met with interference from Naughty Gal, who ran green and drifted out alarmingly. Twentyfive Pips and Ponte Verdi followed the path of the ‘Gal’ with the second named managing to beat the other for the second place. Jockey Ch. K. Chary lodged an objection against the winner and it was overruled by the stewards.

There was more to come in the concluding race, The Khammam Plate. Jockey R. Umesh, who had a chance ride on D. Netto’s Welcome Baby (Storm Trooper-Willy Nilly) breezed past from the rear to win the race. In doing so, he lugged in violently and caused severe interference to Palace Affairs and Sprint Champ in the last 100 metres. The race favourite Standing Ovation was in front while Sprint Champ and Palace Affairs were readying for a final assault, the last-named moving the best of the lot. Standing Ovation finished second ahead of Sprint Champ and Palace Affairs. The jockeys of the affected horses, Sprint Champ and Palace Affairs lodged an objection against the winner and that was also turned down after prolonged deliberations by the stewards.

There was resentment among many race goers about the outcome of the objections in the two races and they were openly venting their displeasure over the way the concerned authorities read the race. Jockey Ajit Kumar, who rode Twentyfive Pips, was suspended from September 1 to 12 for careless riding and R. Umesh, the rider of Welcome Baby was stood down from September 1 to 12, both days inclusive, for careless riding, according to an official communiqué.

K. Satheesh’s Modest Bride (Warrshan-Rainbow Flash) upset the apple cart of the much fancied Exquisite Delight, in The P.R. Khade Memorial Cup. Stable-companion Spectacular Falcon had got the better of the leader Cheetah Hi Jeetha while negotiating the final bend and brought the field into the straight. Exquisite Delight tried to move ahead but started to veer out and lost valuable ground while Modest Bride kept a straight course and galloped to be well in front of the favourite at the finish.

Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju had a welcome break when his ward Fine Racer (Sussex-Fine Glance) proved to be a class better than the rest in The Elusive Hero Cup. Imran Khan had Fine Racer in second behind Part Time Lover, till the top of the straight and sped past to register an authoritative win. Jockey Gary Carter forced his way on Oscar Royal to take the second spot, ahead of Carson Troy and Chayanandan, in a close finish. Imran Khan was the only professional to score a double on the day. He had ridden Faiyaz Shaikh-trained Handsome Hawk (Hymn-Sevilla) in The Starsky Plate, the opening race of the day. The second in demand, Vijaysjyothi was planted at the gates and refused to jump out and that left Handsome Hawk to complete the formality over the remaining two. Nano Storm kept the race live briefly on the straight but weakened to finish second.