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DASHRATH SINGH OPENS HIS ACCOUNT--FINALLY!

By Mahendra Mallya | 13 Dec 2012 | MUMBAI


Trainer Sanjay Kolse leading Capital Attraction (Dashrath Singh Up), winner of The Au Panache Plate

Trainer Shyam Habbu-saddled Monet (Ikhtyar – Allies) came to the fore with a lively effort to win the Siachen Trophy, beating prime favourite Ice Cool comfortably.  Monet jumped out well and led briefly before allowing Alecto to dictate the early pace, but kept close behind the leader. Ice Cool appeared too keen early on, but settled in third with Home Advantage a close fourth.

Once into the straight, Monet easily got past Alecto and quickened to establish a handy lead. Ice Cool was not getting into any rhythmic force and kept struggling to accelerate to gain quality ground. Although he was inching closer, Ice Cool never looked capable of toppling the winner. Home Advantage woke up far too late, but did finish the fastest. He had a lot of deficit to overcome and ended alongside Ice Cool to end a close third. Monet, without actually dominating the final furlong, had enough to last out the distance and win by just over a length.

Okavango (Major Impact – Another Time), the shortest priced favourite on the day at 6/10 on, obliged without causing any anxiety. He took off right from the start and held his own all through the mile race. Okavango got into his strides smoothly and galloped at his own leisurely pace. Limitless Hills, White Knight and Chemin De Fer followed him in single file. There was no change in that order at any stage until they passed the winning post. Okavango toyed with the opposition and won easing up.

Rio Del Ray (Puerto Madero – Luciana) trained by Vijay Kasbekar had been knocking on the door persistently of late and jockey Malcolm Kharadi finally guided the gelding for an easy victory. Walking Tall had garnered a lot of race time support, backed to 7/4 from 5/2 ante post. The favourite, however, failed to oblige and worse--ended off the frame. Towering High led the field, while Rio Del Ray was  fifth in a front bunch of five knitted closely. Walking Tall was right with them along with The Saint and Tudor Regent.

As they turned for home, Towering High was working hard to stay in front as Walking Tall, Tudor Regent and The Saint started to get closer. With 300 to go, Malcolm Kharadi brought Rio Del Ray onto the scene. The Kasbekar trainee travelled smoothly and shot ahead to outpace all and sundry to register a fluent victory.  Blush covered considerable ground to do well, taking the second spot ahead of Towering High.

Capital Attraction (Home Affairs – Luminary) finally scored a long-pending victory after some noteworthy performances. But the victory was hard to come by and took every ounce from this Sanjay Kolse filly, and perhaps also out of the armour of saddle skills of jockey Dashrath Singh who was showing 0 for 19 going into this race.

Word of Honour set the pace and never tired. He kept galloping and at the turn when it looked like the others were catching up, Word of Honour produced renewed zest and galloped away from the challengers. Favourite Songlark tried hard to wrest the advantage in the straight, but could not wear down Word of Honour. Capital Attraction had to shift course, pulling out after being squeezed between Work of Honour and Songlark. Once she had a clear passage, she showed alacrity and started to devour ground. Capital Attraction finally managed to nail the stubborn leader, and sneak a split-second victory on the post.

Waves of Magic (Steinbeck – Wave of Bliss) stumped the followers of form with a shock victory, with jockey Amyn Merchant thumping his fist in triumph at the winning post. Adams Vision led initially before Western Angel took over, Waves of Magic was in the mid-bunch as they turned for home. Into the straight, Adams Vision continued his grind and kept up with the pace when Coquette surfaced to challenge the leader. Soon Waves of Magic started to work up a good pace and was a prominent third at the distance post.

Coquette took charge and was going well when trainer Cooji Katrak’s Waves of Magic produced a scintillating burst to sail past the new leader and romp home in style. The final burst from Waves of Magic was simply too good and the rest simply had no chance. Sizzling Love came through between horses to finish well, earning place money. Secretive too improved positions to take a place on the judge’s frame.

Katrak scored again when his ward, another lesser fancied runner Ice Affair (Senure – Amazing Senorita) leapt gracefully to snatch what looked an improbable victory a furlong earlier. Suraj Narredu timed his run to perfection when he caught the fighting duo of Ice Skates and Zidaan by surprise.

The race had come to a boil when the leader Ice Skates defied stubbornly the strong challenge posed by hot favourite Zidaan who was heavily backed. The pair fought a tough battle in the straight. Ice Affair was not sighted until they were inside the final furlong. Suraj brilliantly managed to wriggle out of horses surrounding him and unleashed a spirited gallop that was just enough to floor the fighting duo. This was an incredible victory, even better than the one sprung by Waves of Magic.

Trainer Shiraz Sunderji too had a lucrative double scoring with Flying Star (Senure – Matisse) and Hawk of the Wind (Black Cash – La Pieta). Flying Star compiled a clean start to finish triumph in the hands of in-form jockey S Zervan. He went at a decent clip chased by Jen’s Glory and after entering the straight, Zervan didn’t immediately push her to go. That proved clinching in the end as Smooth Operator came with a resourceful surge but Flying Star had just about enough to thwart the late bid. Jen’s Glory and Starry Ocean were not too far behind.

Hawk of the Wind was most impressive in the straight and held his own despite shifting out in the final furlong. He was in the thick of things right from the outset as Festival Night led, going at a brisk pace. The front bunch was closely huddled comprising Festival Night, Eskimo, Hawk of the Wind and Forest Legion. The rest including Edwina followed some distance away.

Into the straight, Hawk of the Wind waited, toying with Festival Night and past the 400, Dashrath Singh sent Hawk of the Wind sailing to the front. Eskimo took the rail route while Forest Legion came in as Hawk of the Wind began an outward drift. Fortunately, Hawk of the Wind had a good momentum going and he strode out well to post an impressive win. Forest Legion too ran well to claim the runner up slot. Eskimo held on to the third while Edwina covered some ground to end in the frame. Check Her Out too finished on fast and looked like getting into good form.