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Guiding Light Shines Bright

By Mirror Image | 25 Dec 2011 | HYDERABAD


Trainer M V Narayana Rao leading Guiding Light (P S Chouhan Up), winner of The R Raghupathi Reddy Memorial Cup

M.V.Narayana Rao trained Guiding Light (Itaquere Power-Courbette) romped home under P.S.Chouhan in the G Raghupathi Reddy Memorial Cup, a race for horses in the highest category, which featured Sunday’s races at Hyderabad. Kohinoor Mystic set a fast pace over the six furlongs trip and brought the field into view on the home stretch. As the race progressed into the final furlong P.S.Chouhan hoisted the sails on Guiding Light and the filly produced a brilliant gallop to breeze past Kohinoor Mystic.

P.S.Chouhan booted home three winners while Imran Khan rode two, both for trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju. Chouhan started the day with a victory on Habeebullah trained Mukhtar (Duja-Athelon) in the Grand Parade Plate, the opening race of the day, beating Sparkling Sapphire close to the winning post. Sparkling Sapphire set out in front from the start with the race favourite Ache For Love in close attendance. Mukhtar travelling in third position till the final turn made a quick move to pass Ache For Love and charge towards the leader Sparkling Sapphire. The two went all out in the last furlong and Chouhan’s persistence paid dividends towards the closing stages. Nano Star warmed up late to finish third ahead of The Himalayas while the favourite Ache For Love finished a poor fifth.

The third win for Chouhan was astride L.D’Silva’s Garcia Marquez (Quest Star-Friendly Type) in the lower division of the Malakpet Cup. Garcia Marquez who has hit a purple patch won his fourth successive start. Vijay Kiran was the first to make a move on entering the straight but turned out to be a no-match when Garcia Marquez rallied along the rails. Transformation and Precisely That filled the frame.

D’Silva completed a double through Golden Palace (Quest Star-Groves Iesis), in the higher division of the Cup. Golden Palace was ridden confidently by apprentice Kuldeep Singh to justify the favouritism and score an encore. Racing in about sixth position as the field rounded the final turn, Golden Palace made a swift move 300 metres from home and drew away from the rest. Qinghuandao and Young Sapper finished second and third respectively.

Imran Khan rode a back to back double, both first timers from K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s stable, to claim the two divisions of the Flirting Vision Plate. Hawk Spring (China Visit-Adulate) won the first division from Pakat Pakat Pakat who was running green all through the straight. Strides Of Glory (Burden Of Proof-Saddle Star) got off to a promising career, winning the second division in stylish fashion. Racing Tycoon rallied late to beat Symbol Of Beauty for the second place.

Sk.Kassam’s Aneres (Kly Green-Music In Motion) was the biggest upset on a day dominated by horses in the money. P.Venkat started to work his way on Aneres towards the leader Cheetah Hi Jeetah and surged ahead by a length at the finish, to win the higher division of the Nelston Plate.     .

Ananth Vatsalya’s Buck Knife (Hurricane State-Nationwide) ridden by C.Henrique scraped through by the shortest of margin, to win the lower division from Fopping. Quick at start Buck Knife went on a start to finish bid. Fopping started to close up inside the last 100 metres but failed to collar Buck Knife by a short head.

K.Satheesh trained Price Warrior (Sunday Doubt-Integrity) jumped out the fastest from the gates and led all the way to win the Dynamic Dancer Plate. The favourite Invincible India chased Price Warrior all the way to finish second by three parts of a length.