The Chakori Trophy, highlight of the small 6-race card on Friday, went as expected, to Shapoor Mistry’s collection. What was generally believed was that Riyasat would bring home the Trophy. As it turned out, Riyasat performed well below par and never raised a worthy gallop at any stage but the same owner’s Nitrous made ample amends by making every post a winning one.

Nitrous (Major Impact – Cinnamon Fern) has been consistent through his career. He has done all that he was asked to do considerable well. However, after his hard fought victory in the longest race – Northumberland Cup in Pune last, he got breathless and was in trauma immediately after the race. Trainer Dallas Todywalla, who has begun well this season, has done remarkably well in getting Nitrous back in shape and pulling off a convincing victory in the Chakori Trophy.
 
Nitrous hit the front as the gates flung open and never looked back. He always maintained a handy two-length lead. Elmwood, Priapus, Ming followed in close order, Kingdom Of Love came next and off the pace and detached from the bunch was the favorite Riyasat.
 
The pace quickened past the 800 and Nitrous was moving nicely indeed. Elmwood was the first to apply pressure on the leader, but could not get anywhere. Priapus looked like gather speed in the straight but did not quicken and was caught between horses. Ming was the one to warm up well towards the finish but Nitrous had enough left in him to thwart any threat.

Dallas Todywalla had earlier started the day on a winning note when jockey C Alford guided Expensive Affair (Serious Spender – Cyclonic) to a similar start to finish victory in the day’s opener. Grabbing the lead early on start Expensive Affair steered clear of the others chasing him and built on the lead once into the straight. Arabian Power went all out but could not sustain and Johnny Bravo went ahead to claim the runner’s up berth.

Astral ( Senure – Terrestrial) shook her maiden status with a thumping victory showing good potential as a future prospect. Chasing Golden Kingdom until the straight, Astral gathered a fierce momentum and breezed past Golden Kingdom to win handsomely.

The B Prakash-Karthik duo combined to strike again in the race for maiden three year olds and notched up an equally impressive victory with Our Fortune (Alnasr Alwasheek – Star Fortune). What makes this victory even more amazing is that Our Fortune was a trifle slow to jump out but was quick to recover ground and settle within striking distance. Pound Foolish led the field and the bunch around was a tightly packed one.

At the turn, Our Fortune soon joined Pound Foolish, Prime Time and Aesthetics were prominent but made little headway. Fire Streak started to warm up and tried to test Our Fortune but soon found that the leader was far too fast. Pound Foolish held on from the fast finishing Yankee Woman, who too was slow at the start. Yankee Woman had to switch course too and did well to fall just short of the third place.

Saltoro (Warrshan – Leit Motif) claimed the Sweet Memories Trophy in style.Absolute Reality resorted to run away with the race and worked up a handy lead after leading the pack homewards. Saltoro who was third behind Master Craft charged on being alerted by jockey Nirmal Jodha. The sizable lead built by Absolute Reality was only good enough for the runner’s up slot with the kind of acceleration produced by Saltoro. The Faisal Abbas trainee easily sped past and posted a facile victory with a fiery burst in the final furlong. Saltoro is well worthy following in his next outing as well.

Tattenhoe and Highland Warrior (Alnasr Alwasheek – Endorsement) had an equal share of supporters in the ring. Highland Warrior proved to be no match to his rivals and won easing up. Having led the field into the straight, jockey Appu niggled the Sunderji gelding and Highland Warrior began adding turf between himself and his rivals. Tattenhoe could only watch helplessly and was fighting a losing battle. His stablemate Tearaway showed more zest and finished on well. Watch him in the next outing over the same scurry. Red Cloud was the one to finish on fastest and needs to be noted over a longer distance.

For the professionals, trainers Dallas Todywalla, Karthik Ganapathy and jockey B Prakash scored a double each.