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Ice Weapon Freezes the Opposition

By Mirror Image | 14 Dec 2011 | MYSORE


Trainer Rakesh leading Ice Weapon (I A Khan Up), winner of The Dr M N Doreswamy Memorial Cup

The racing fans literarily had to run for cover, at the races on Wednesday, as fancied runners took a back seat and rank outsiders striking at will. The biggest upset of the day was Ice Weapon (Black Cash-Willy Nilly), a first timer from Rakesh’s stable, emerging victorious in the Dr.M.N.Doreswamy Memorial Cup which featured the eight race cards. Real Potential and Alabama, both from Darashah’s school shared the favouritism in a field of nine runners. Fricka and Stardom Girl followed the list on the bookmaker’s board. With lesser known jockey I.A.Khan given the mantle, one could write their own card on the eventual winner Ice Weapon. That was how the money flowed before the race.

Real Potential went ahead to lead the field as the nine runners were dispatched from the gates, with Alabama deciding to track the stable companion close behind. Inside the last 400 metres Real Potential started to tire out and Alabama took over the running. Fricka and Ice Weapon started to move closer and Rakesh’s ward travelled the best of the lot as the winning post neared and surged ahead to win by three parts of a length from Alabama. Fricka and Real Potential filled the frame. Those who had ventured to wager on Ice Weapon reaped rich dividends, collecting over sixty six times their investment at the totes.

Trainer P.C.Tejaswi who was packing his bags for a ‘holiday’ (he has been suspended till 1st of March 2012) sent out a hard hitting double. Tejaswi led in Magnifique (Serious Spender-Zerbilla) in the Common Grounds Plate, the opening race of the day. There was spirited betting on Prezzie before the race, pulling the odds down to 8/10 ‘on’ from 5/2. Magnifique jumped out smartly and grabbed the rails to lead the field. Trafalgar Square was in close attendance. On the home stretch Magnifique started to kick on under apprentice R.Vaibhav and Trafalgar Square ran on to retain the second post. Prezzie was an utter disappointment finishing fourth behind Artisan.

The second win for Tejaswi was through Golden Tricks (Don Micheletto-Scholarship), in the higher division of the Chitradurga Plate. The seven year old entrusted to jockey Harish made every post a winning one over the 1400 metres distance. Time Secret came under pressure when asked for an effort and finished second. The hot favourite Azita disappointed her supporters with a below par performance. Azita who loves to set her own pace failed to hit the front on start and raced towards the rear throughout.

R.Vaibhav picked up his second win for the day with a power packed ride on C.D.Monnappa trained Time To Time, in the lower division. Time To Time, a failed favourite in his previous run, finishing in the ruck, after an apprentice who was riding his first race could not provide any assistance, made amends to justify the renewed support. Racing in about fifth position as the field turned for home, Time To Time moved strongly in the centre of the track to score a point over Queen’s Cruise. Manthara, a last outing winner was seen finishing on to take the third spot.

Ranjeet Shinde trained Queen’s Colour (Brave Act-Kariba) a moody grey who had remained a maiden even after eighteen runs finally got to the winner’s enclosure, in the Shillong Plate. Queen’s Colour braced the rear for most part of the mile trip, as Pearl of Bangalore set the
pace. Turning for home, jockey Vivek started to push Queen’s Colour vigorously to get into striking distance and slipped through gap in the centre of the track. Win Pretty Baby and Prince Norbert took the second and third positions respectively in a close finish.

Mr Sunrise (Sizzling Melody-Translucence) was the only saving grace for Zareer’s stable. The odds started to ease out on Mr Sunrise before the race while the flow of money was towards Swiss Queen, who ended up as the favourite at 2 to 1. Swiss Queen chased the front runner Just Great till the top of the straight and surged ahead to lead till beaten by Mr Sunrise close to the winning post.

C.V.G.K.Kishore’s Hurricane Bay (Young Senor-Annella) emulated his previous run to lift the Bijapur Plate. Ridden by Vinod Shinde, Hurricane Bay moved strongly inside the last 200 metres and surprised everyone by winning the race from Lotus Pond. The favourite Alizadeh was never in the hunt and disappointed a hoard of supporters. Forbes List was withdrawn before the race.

Vishal Yadav’s Dare Don (Case Law-Catcharainbow) won the Lalbagh Plate, the concluding race of the day. Creeping up steadily on the stand side, Dare Don flashed ahead to win. Bullish Luck edged out Caterina for the second place.