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Dandified Completes Hat-Trick Formalities

By Epsom Ace | 22 Sep 2012 | KOLKATA


Trainer Vijay Singh receiving The Stewards’ Cup from Mr. Ram Gupta

The eight-event race card on Saturday produced some edge-of-the-seat finishes but Dandified lifting the Stewards Cup was not one of them. The prized property of Mr Deepak Khaitan, by Rebuttal out of Dandoona, was in fifth slot till the top of the straight while River Blitz and Clear Mandate chose to show the way. The former took over the running at that point while Christopher Alford atop the favourite smoothly slid into the box seat on his outside. From then on Alford rode his mount out hands-and-heels to win quite comfortably from River Blitz at the end of the day. The latter, who ran a great race, has been penalised 7.5kg for finishing second to a horse rated 127 - whose rating has remained the same; not that it matters as he is unlikely to run a handicap race in the near future.

The Unknown Warrior Cup saw Arti Doctor-trained Batista shoulder 61.5kg and make every post a winning one in the hands of Shezad Khan. The five-year-old horse had to stave off a strong challenge from the course favourite Star Empire who was receiving 4.5 kg from him. Though Batista (Glory Of Dancer – Kilshannig) shifted off a straight course, he held on to his advantage without any serious threat. The hapless Oakdale was again outclassed in this Class II field.

The other cup event of the day, The Defence Forces Cup, produced an absolute thriller. Petaloid and C.Alford shot out of the gates like a scalded cat and tried their utmost to take the shortest route home. However, he began to drift out in the final furlong and Lake Leader on his outside switched to the rails to issue a strong challenge. In the meanwhile, Royal Scots (Mull Of Kintyre-New Europe), who was in mid-division, once again took the bend wide but had enough steam in him to overhaul Petaloid in the last stride. The favourite Cider With Rosie needed the run.

The afternoon commenced with Javed Khan-trained Mistletoe (Don Micheletto-Powerofcommitment) winning a power-packed finish from Credit Swap. She however had to survive an objection from the last-placed Avon Creek who also had the misfortune of bursting a blood vessel. Though Md Islam on Mistletoe forced a passage between Avon Creek and the front-running Credit Swap in his eagerness to challenge the front-runner, one is not quite sure what purpose the objection served. That it would be overruled was a foregone conclusion.

Trainer Christopher Gleich has done well with his limited lot. His six-year-old Apyrous (M Ali Khan up) picked up his second race of the season by getting the better of Swiss King. The other runners were never in it.

Likewise, Deepak Karki’s Arisen Star (Royal Kingdom-Romantic Pleasure) made every post a winning one in the seven-furlong race for the Active Asset Handicap. Frequently raced Empress Of Persia looked a burn-out case while Requite seemed to be outpaced by a younger and fitter horse.

Trainer Jasbir Singh pulled off a smashing win with Tasveer (Home Affairs-Cedarzeen) in the race for the Ex-Serviceman’s Handicap. The favourite Knight Of Romance was looking dismal and ran a pitiful race. The other fancied runner Saisoku was a shade better while front-running Isle Of Capri seemed to find the trip of 1800 metres out of her compass. Tasveer, with apprentice Srinivas Rao up, gradually improved her position on the wide outside to ultimately pull away in the straight.

Veteran trainer Richard Alford landed the gamble of the day with Burst Of Stardust. Jockey Harish thus opened his account at this centre with a start-to-finish victory over Calypso Girl. A couple of cracks from Harish’s whip sent the sprinter by Burden Of Proof out of Soviet Song, into top-gear in the straight and she won hands down.