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String Along Wears The Ladies’ Sash

By Mirror Image | 02 Jan 2011 | HYDERABAD


Trainer S Ganapathy leading String Along (A Imran Khan Up), winner of The Golconda Oaks 2011 Grade-II

String Along (Alnasr Alwasheek-Persopolis) emerged clear in The Golconda Oaks 2011 (Gr.II), to give the ‘Goldie Brown’ silks of Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy their 539th Classic Victory. The Oaks, usually referred to as the ‘Ladies Derby’ was the main attraction of Sunday’s races at Hyderabad. Eight fillies had lined up for the event, three of them coming in from Bangalore. The local lass, Vijay Damini, was installed as the firm favourite to take the 2400-metre trip. She had the best credentials having won her previous three starts with the latest being over a mile in the 1000 guineas wherein she had beaten String Along convincingly.

Moheena was fractious at the gates and reared up as the start was given thereby losing a distance at the start. Vijay Damini always loves to dictate terms and she went straight to the front right from the start. Passing the half-way mark, Vijay Damini enjoyed her run in front with Lambourn in second while Xtreme, Rich Radiant, Rosemead, String Along, Golden Quest and Moheena followed in that order. Entering the straight, Vijay Damini quickened to increase the lead and String Along made her move on the outside, passing Lambourn and Rich Radiant with ease. Coming inside the final furlong, String Along rallied along and galloped resolutely to beat Vijay Damini. Jockey Imran Khan waved his whip in excitement, as he passed the winning post. The manner in which String Along got the 2,400 metres trip will definitely support her as a hot prospect in the Golconda Derby Stakes to be run on the last Sunday of the month.

Bloody Mary (Mr.Mellon-Cats Concert) from L. D’Silva’s yard lifted the richly endowed Smt. Teegala Sulochana Reddy Memorial Byerly Turk Million (Gr.III). The ‘on-money’ favourite Celebrity took an awkward jump and lost crucial five lengths at the start. Bloody Mary, who had ended up second in both her starts, settled well behind the leader and once the field straightened up she got into the act and stretched out well to score an impressive victory. Jockey Dashrath Singh even had the luxury of looking back repeatedly before easing up towards the finish. Queen’s Craft, Aventina and Celebrity went past the winning post in a cluster to finish second, third and fourth respectively. Cortina stopped galloping on the straight after she had a fractured fetlock on her left fore and had to be put to sleep. Surya Lakshmi was withdrawn before the start of the day.

The Hyderabad Juvenile Million, run over 1,400 metres was an added attraction on a day, where seven trophies were given away in a card of nine races. L.V.R. Deshmukh’s Vijaykeerti (Aussie Rules-Cielo Vodkamartini) won the race with a terrific turn of foot in the last 150 metres. It was a sensational win for the youngster on debut, beating his nearest challenger, Silver Springs by clear four-and-a-half lengths. River Side and Star Striker warmed up late to fill the frame in a single frame with Silver Springs. Zacrandia was withdrawn before the start of the day. Deshmukh and P.S. Chouhan combination completed a double having won earlier on April Showers (Ajaad-Taxido). Tracking the early leader, Pygmalion, till the last 300 metres, April Showers surged ahead to score an encore, in the lower division of The Bonzer Cup.

D’Silva had a good day after a long time, leading in three winners. El Paso (Young Senor-Cornelia) showed his class on his way to victory in The Sri. A.S. Krishna Memorial Cup. Rapture Of Victory was backed as a certainty in the race, closing at half money. The top-weighted Mission Chief cut the wind in a decent clip and brought the field on the straight before packing up at 250 metres. El Paso took charge and stretched out clear while Rapture Of Victory was not able to match strides, ending up second. Indian Storm got the better of Greek Fire to finish third.

The third win for Leo was in the concluding race, the lower division of The Roman Beauty Plate. Zulima (Steinbeck-Cacophony) ridden by Ch. K. Chary, improved from the rear to overtake Scamper, who was on a start-to-finish mission. Zulima, who was the overwhelming public choice, gave some anxious moments to her supporters, racing second last till the last 300 metres but once she started to unleash a run she was sighted a winner long way from home.

Chary had earlier in the day ridden Faisal Hassan’s Sanjaa (Hymn-Starissima) to victory, in the higher division of The Bonzer Cup. Justifying the favouritism, Sanjaa manoeuvred her way through horses in the last 150 metres to score easily. Indradhanush finished second ahead of Amontillado.

Donald Netto’s Malabar Prince (Gaswar-Minetta) lifted the higher division of The Roman Beauty Plate, beating the long-time leader Vijay Trishul to the second place. The Leader, who was back on the track following his treatment for Hobday Operation seven weeks ago, finished third.

Juliet (Inner City-Abide With Us) won the opener, The Salarjung Cup, in taking style from Sugar Deal and Deepanjali. The top-weighted Crown Prince led till the top of the straight and fell back to finish fourth after he broke his blood vessels.