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Abriella Romps Home in Style

By Epsom Ace | 26 Sep 2012 | KOLKATA


Mr. Subir Dasgupta & trainer Vijay Singh leading Abriella (Neeraj Rawal Up), Winner of The Sir Aali Cup

It was an afternoon to remember for trainer Daniel David and his retained rider Sreekanth. The former led in four winners for his patron-in-chief Dr MAM Ramaswamy. Three of these (Irish Connection, Roman Centurion and Ashwa Prabir) were piloted by Sreekanth and the other (Sea Of Kisses) by Kadam.

The main event of the day, The Sir Aali Cup, was annexed by Vijay Singh-trained Abriella (China Visit-Allaire) who gave substitute jockey Neeraj Rawal a regulation ride. The 10-to-7-on public choice sat at the tail of pacemaker Sangoma before taking over the running at the top of the straight and drawing away from the field. The surprise package was Shershah who finished runner-up. As jockey Christopher Alford was indisposed during the afternoon, he was replaced by several others on all his declared mounts. Alford’s nearest rival for the championship, Shailesh Shinde, failed to take advantage of the situation and drew a blank during the day.

Trainer Vikash Jaiswal set the ball rolling when his eight-year-old Requite (Neeraj Rawal up) who came with a great gallop to sail past a rudder-less Emerald Queen who was travelling sideways after showing the way till the distance post. 

Trainer Jaiswal suspended: The win of Requite proved to be a reprieve of sorts for the trainer who has been suspended by the Stewards for an ‘inadvertent’ switch of his runners Quentin Derward and Harness Free. These two runners have been disqualified from all their races thus far this season and will have to be re-handicapped before they can take part under new names. This virtually means that the horse which won on the opening day was not Harness Free but Quentin Derward! Take a load of that!

As a result of their enquiry, the authorities concluded that there was no skulduggery or conspiracy involved in the ‘switch’ but sheer negligence on the part of the trainer for which he has been suspended from October 2 – October 13. Thus, the monsoon champion trainer of last year is ruled out of the Trainers’ Championship race.

Trainer Daniel David’s strong bid for the championship began with a top-weight win of the three-year-old filly Irish Connection (Mathematician-Eros Royal Bell) in the race for the Heiress Handicap. She got the better of the hapless Hurricane Andrew close home. The latter continued to play second fiddle and looks like a good colt to follow for SHP punters. Much-touted Tinkerbell finished in the ruck while Iconic was outclassed. Bold Star ran a forward race and will be worth keeping an eye on.

David and Sreekanth next combined to bring home the bacon with Roman Centurion (Royal Gladiator-Temple Tune). Despite shouldering 62kg, the gelding got the better of Imperial Star and Bavaria with a degree of comfort. His improved gate manners on this occasion helped him attain his goal.

Kadam was declared astride the bottom-weighted Sea Of Kisses to avoid the over-weight that Sreekanth would have carried. Kadam’s new-found attitude is helping him notch up winners this season. Gracing the wrong end of the field till the straight while Topkapi and Alderson showed the way, Kadam brought six-year-old Sea Of Kisses (China Visit-Stolen Kisses) with a stupendous run opposite the grandstand.

Torch of Life was backed to the exclusion of all other runners in The Sunbird Handicap but despite Shinde’s best efforts, the colt failed to accelerate at a crucial juncture. Ocean Sunrise was on a start-to-finish mission but was overhauled near home by Ashwa Prabir  - the last win on the day of the David-Sreekanth combo. After finishing second to Flightning, the gelding had been on a weight-reducing mission and was given a free rein at the right mark. Full marks to the stable and kudos to Daniel!

Trainer Bharath Singh kept his championship hopes alive with a solitary winner. His Fairy Girl (Hymn-Activa) was ridden with a fair degree of confidence by apprentice Ajoy Roy who had to survive an objection from the favourite Shivalik Shakti.