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Vijay’s Angel Wins a Thriller

By Mirror Image | 09 Dec 2009 | HYDERABAD


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Vittal Deshmukh trained Vijay’s Angel lifted the Prince Pradeep Cup, the main event at Hyderabad on Wednesday, in a thrilling finish. Vijay’s Angel, who is in top form, had a hat-trick in Monsoon and had finished fourth behind Ave Maria over a mile, on the opening day of Winter. This daughter of Puerto Madero was sent in as the firm favourite over the six opponents. Jockey Ashhad Asbar had replaced Choksy Ruzaan on the second favourite Nano War, as the latter’s flight from Mumbai had failed to arrive on time. The slow pace of the race helped Vijay’s Angel to settle down and Rupesh could afford to bide his time on the filly, running second last for most part of the 2,200 metres trip. As the field approached the 600 metres, Nano War made a swift move, took charge and tried to grab the race early. Rupesh made his move on Vijay’s Angel and with a brilliant piece of riding, got the Angel’s nose in front at the all important end, after a gruelling duel right up the final furlong.

Vittal-Rupesh combination turned out on top in the very next race, the lower division of the Juvenile Plate. Pathfinder, the property of Col. S.B. Nair, came out of his maiden ranks in his second outing. With the pre-race rumours doing the rounds that Sun Strikes was the ‘gamble’ of the day, Pathfinder drifted out from evens to 9-4 and the price on Sun Strikes kept shortening by the second, before landing at 6-4. Pathfinder didn’t have difficulty in finding his way in front and led through the race to win comfortably. Sun Strikes chased the winner throughout and ran a bit green on the straight when the rider asked her for something extra.

Rupesh gave a memorable double for Col. S.B. Nair, winning on Anupam Sharma trained Paymaster in the Satavahana Cup. With Imaan permitted to be withdrawn on veterinary grounds before the race, Paymaster was rightly posted as the first favourite. Winning Strides surprised everyone, looking to run away with the race having a clear six length lead in the last 100 metres. Paymaster covered plenty of ground, moving from a fourth position to fly past Winning Strides, much to the relief of his supporters. The feeble handling of Winning Strides by jockey Laxman was well noticed by the stipes and he has been suspended for a period running between 19th December 09 and 4th January 2010.

The higher division of the Juvenile Plate turned out to be a nail biting finish between the top two market fancies, Ice Mountain and Art Connoisseur. Jockey Duran Fentiman made the first move on entering the straight taking his mount Art Connoisseur to the lead along the rails. Ice Mountain too was quick to join him on the outside and what followed was a treat to watch. The two fought every inch of the ground and as they went past the winning post, locked together, one had to wait for the magic eye to separate them. The result went in favour of Ice Mountain by the shortest possible margin.

Satheesh and Imran won again on the friendless Cool Brother in the lower division of the Crack Regiment Plate beating the public fancy, Sweety Boy on the post. Sweety Boy had surged ahead on the straight, with Madho, Scorcher, Cannon Act, Siddipet Express and Cool Brother getting into contention. Cool Brother, being the widest of them all, inched closer and after a spirited fight with Sweety Boy, put his nose in front at the wire. Madho lost out in the fight to finish third.

Jockey P.S. Chouhan has already started to look for mounts outside his home stable of Shehzad Abbas, to stay ahead in the jockey’s tally. One such mount was Golden Flame, a trainee of K.V. Srinivas. Golden Flame produced a good gallop in Chouhan’s hand and went past the leader Habituated to register a win. Leo Dvij rallied in late to take the second spot ahead of Habituated.

Trainer Shehzad Abbas was a mighty thrilled man, turning out on top in the last two races of the day. Time On won the lower division of the Haridwar Plate while Manki lifted the higher division of the Crack Regiment Plate. The credit for both the wins should go to the rider, T.G. Mclaughlin, who simply sparkled on both the winners. Cefiro had taken charge on top and looked well in front to wrap up the race when Mclaughlin rode through the field and urged Time On to produce a scintillating gallop. In the concluding race, Manki travelled second last till the final bend in a field of 13 runners. The favourite Ring Master had established a commanding lead, midway up the straight and jockey Imran Khan had even looked back and seemed convinced by his position. Manki improved places with a brilliant turn of foot and stunned the grand stand, winning the race with three lengths to spare from Ring Master.

Zulima, having taken over as the field entered the straight, won comfortably in the Zurbaran Plate, the opening race of the day. King of Court ridden by Vivek was widely expected to win the race on paper and the stewards not being convinced by way the gelding was handled have opened an enquiry into the running of the race.