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Leo’s ‘Clever Ploy’ Clicks

By Mirror Image | 26 Jul 2010 | HYDERABAD


Trainer L D'Silva and Owner Mr. K S N Murthy leading Clever Ploy (Ch K Chary Up), winner of The Ratanlal Gupta Memorial Cup

The Ploy to take advantage of the bottom weight and have her going in the front, over the seven-furlong distance proved to be a Clever one, turning out to be fruitful for Leo D’Silva. The top-weighted Iaepetus with South African saddle artist J.G. Sampson astride garnered all the betting attention amongst the 13 contenders in the Ratanlal Gupta Memorial Cup, a race for horses in the highest category. The ten year-old Coral Cables continued to have his share of support being the second in demand at fives while the rest of the field were offered over ten times the investment.
 
As the field was dispatched, Clever Ploy, who has not been pitched over the distance for a long time, surged ahead maintaining a healthy lead of over three lengths. Once into the home stretch, Clever Ploy kicked on to score an encore while Carte Blanche, who had tracked the leader throughout finished second. Coral Gables was found amongst a cluster on the straight was pulled out to get a clear run and finish third. Had the rider shown the daylights to Coral Gables a bit earlier, he would have probably finished much closer to the winner. The public choice Iaepetus put up a very disappointing show, making no impression at any part of the race. 
 
Laxman Singh’s Napoleon with two wins from as many starts in his career kept his slate clean with another impressive win in the opening race of the day, the S. Malakonda Reddy Memorial Cup. Going by the manner in which Napoleon decimated the opposition clocking the smartest timing of the day, he may in all probability turn out to be the local challenger in the Colts Trial Stakes to be run in the first week of September. Magic Million finished second to turn out to be the best among the beaten brigade.
 
The combination of Laxman Singh and Rupesh picked up a double, winning the Aristocracy Cup (Div.I) on The Kohinoor. Yakshagana showed plenty of speed early in the race and set out on a start-to-finish mission. Inside the final furlong, Yakshagana had a three length lead but The Kohinoor started to close in while Sun Strikes unleashed a run on the extreme outside. The strong riding of Rupesh enabled The Kohinoor to poke through to get the race ahead of Sun Strikes. Yakshagana held on in third ahead of Young Sapper. 
 
D’Silva and his new found rider Ch. K. Chary were the other pair to score twice. The duo had succeeded on Lambourn in the Rani Laxmi Bai Plate. Bugatti Gabriella and Royal Shaan did the front-running followed by Juliet, Devil’s Advocate, Lambourn and Xtreme till the final bend. Approaching the last 300 metres, Lambourn stretched into the lead and held on by a head from Xtreme who devoured ground in the final stages, setting out from fifth position. Juliet ended up a tame third.
 
L.V.R. Deshmukh-trained Asleen State showed a clean pair of heels while winning the lower division of the Aristocracy Cup. Apprentice P. Venkat got the feel of an armchair ride with the opposition being no match for Asleen State. True Future chased the winner on the straight while Deepanjali had to struggle to finish third. The Beatles Angel was withdrawn after she bolted rider less on the way to the starting gates.
 
Royal Bay, ridden by Aadesh Kumar claimed the Kalamaris Plate with a spirited run in the final furlong. Pygmallion and Dartos the Muscle were the early leaders, tracked two lengths behind by Strategic Command and Royal Bay. Pygmalion dropped out on entering the straight and Strategic Command was looking very sluggish. Royal Bay accelerated well to take charge and win while Strategic Command just about managed to peg Dartos the Muscle to the third spot. Casablanca was withdrawn before the start of the race.
 
Tillcowscomehome made every post a winning one in the Cupid Plate, the concluding race of the day. Although she drifted out on the straight and moved in towards the finish the other runners could not get to her. Allegation finished second ahead of Thunder King who made a late bid. The favourite, Ice Candy, who had stumbled badly near the 800 metres after clipping Dancing Harbour, recovered to finish fourth.