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Unleashed pulls it off

By Epsom Ace | 13 Oct 2011 | KOLKATA


Trainer Darius Byramji Leading Unleashed (Neeraj Rawal Up), Winner of The Monsoon Cup

The dice was heavily loaded in favour of the Khaitan stable in the Monsoon Cup as four of the six runners sported the famed red-and-gold colours. The expectations of punters were fulfilled as the pair of fancied runners from that yard (Unleashed and Arktouros) finished one-two in the day’s feature. Arktouros predictably set the pace, followed by Rising Hero, Silver Fox, Unleashed (along the rails) and Hall Of Glory. After the turning for home, the others called it a day while Neeraj Rawal on Unleashed slipped into second slot and engaged the top-weight in a keen tussle as he had done earlier in the season in the Tangiers Trophy. However, on this occasion he was on his guard for the ‘fight-back’ from the big-hearted Arktouros. As Unleashed passed Arktouros, the latter came back at him along the rails but Neeraj never released the pressure on his mount. That piece of alertness won him the day for the Darius Byramji ward. While Unleashed was great in victory, the runner-up was equally great in defeat. Arktouros is the centre’s most versatile horse with a never-say-die attitude. No wonder, he is Christopher Alford’s favourite horse.

Rank outsider Star Impact (Major Impact-Starafar) from the stable of John Stephens caused a furore among turfites as leap-year jockey Russell Xaviers powered the six-year-old to a surprise victory in the No Regrets Trophy. Heavily fancied Cayenne and Zillionaire were up front till the distance post, from which point onwards it was a neck-to-neck battle between Mission Chief and Star Impact. The Class I veterans brushed aside the well-backed runners. Star Impact prevailed by a neck.

Jockey Christopher Alford sent a strong message to Suraj Narredu on how Imperial Delight (Oath-Watercolours) should have been handled on that fateful afternoon when he went down to Accardo for no apparent reason. Alford had him racing a handy third behind Rithambhra and Swiss King, and took over the running in the straight. Jockey Srinath on much touted Mesmerizer was quick to issue his challenge and placed his mount under immense pressure by repeatedly using his whip. Meanwhile, Alford was going hands-and-heels on the Vijay Singh-trained colt. At the wire, the winner had three lengths to spare.

The afternoon commenced with Srinath riding a copybook race on second-favourite Ardent N Graceful (Black Cash – Dasahara) from Imtiaz Sait’s yard. The filly jumped out smartly and always had her neck ahead of the public choice Calsin. In the straight, Calsin found the pace too hot and dropped back, which is where Royal Blue Star ran on impressively to occupy the runner-up berth.

The day’s biggest flop was Rock The Stars from Darius Byramji’s yard. She was backed as if defeat was unthinkable and her performance belied the build-up she got to her maiden venture. She was lethargic at the start and improved a little to be an unimpressive fourth. Trainer Bath’s Priceless Pearl made it a start-to-finish affair and held on by the skin of her teeth from a fast finishing Passion N Flames who may well have reversed the verdict with a little more help from the saddle.

The curtain came down with the day’s most impressive winner – Silver Sands (Ontario- Extreme Contact). The five-year-old chestnut mare relished the extended trip and won as she liked after being given a wide berth by Shailesh Shinde to avoid any kind of traffic problems. There was a Stewards Enquiry as Alacrity dropped his rider at the start.