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DRAYTON DRUBS THE FIELD IN THE FEATURE EVENT

By Mirror Image | 15 Jan 2013 | HYDERABAD


Ms K.Rama Krishna, Wg.Cdr.D.S.Gill (Retd.) & trainer D Netto leading Drayton (P Venkat Up), winner of The Ch.Satyanarayana Rao Of Itkyal Memorial Cup

The bottom weighted Drayton (Epicentre-Crystal Beauty) from the stables of D.Netto came up with a sparkling run in the last 250 metres to lift the Ch.Satyyanarayana Rao of Itkyal Memorial Cup, which featured the day’s races at Hyderabad on Tuesday. Drayton was held up in the last position till entering the home stretch while Royal Shaan set the pace in front. As the race got to a boil in the last 250 metres, Drayton got into a terrific gallop under P.Venkat and swept past the entire field and drew away to win by three lengths. Blazing Asian finished second while the favourite Vijaykeerti was third, ahead ofGolden Palace.

Trainer Donald Netto had a profitable day saddling three winners. The other two wins came with Rajkumar and Elenor, both ridden by A.Imran Khan. Imran also piloted Shamsuddin’s juvenile, Alastor to victory, to earn a treble for himself on the day.

‘On Money’ favourite Alastor (Ikhtyar-Dancin With Bertie)from the stables of Shamsuddin, who was on the race track for the second time, went on a start to finish bid in the lower division of the Northern Dancer Plate, a five and a half furlongs sprint for maiden 3 year olds and comfortably pulled it off. Proud Image and Fair And Square were in futile chase of the winner throughout the straight but could only finish second and third respectively.

L.D’Silva schooled debutant, Sherman Oaks (Multidimensional-Amstel) displayed remarkable dash inside the final furlong to win the higher division. Fairy Boy was out in front from the start and Sherman Oaks was in about fifth position till the top of the straight. Making steady progress on the extreme outside, Sherman Oaks streaked clear of Fairy Boy, 100 metres from home. The favourite finished a tame third, another two lengths adrift. Elora was withdrawn before the race.

R.H.Sequeira trained Asta La Vista Babe (Hurricane Centre-Herecomesthebabe) went to the front from the start and made every post a winning one in the Jockey V.Rajasekhar Memorial Cup, the opener of the day. This is the second successive win for the 4 year old filly. Fortunate warmed up late and came up strongly towards the closing stages but fell short by a ‘head’ at the wire. Kohinoor Revanta finished third beating the tiring Custodian.  

An unstoppable Elenor (Mathematician-Chesterford) from the stables of Donald Netto won her fifth straight victory in the higher division of the Mountain Lily Plate. Tracking the leader Kohinoor Supreme till the last 250 metres, Elenor surged ahead to take over. Vijays Best started to get closer inside the last 100 metres but jockey A.Imran Khan kept riding out Elenor to stay in front by a ‘head’ at the finish. Kohinoor Supreme finished third.

The lower division was bagged by M.Sathyanarayana trained Street Magic (Mathematician-Galway). The 4 year old who has been punching in at the winner’s enclosure in regular intervals was sent into the race as the firm favourite, against its seven opponents. Rushing from the rear to be in about fifth position as the field passed the 800 metres, Street Magic picked up momentum on the home stretch when jockey P.S.Parmar reminded him of the task and galloped resolutely to take charge and win.  Vijaysheel and Power Planet rallied along to finish second and third respectively.

Netto’s Rajkumar (Eljohar-Tia), who had never hit the board in the six runs of its career, came good under A.Imran Khan to win thelower division of the Best of Fun Plate. Tracking the leader Lady of Grace closely, till the final bend, Rajkumar surged ahead to take over the running and was never really in danger by the rest of the field. Khabza improved towards the closing stages to beat the rest and finish three parts of a length behind the winner. Nano Tribute and Classic Crown filled the frame.

Anupam Sharma trained Chitrangada (Ivory Touch-grand Ceremony) pulled off a fine encore in the higher division. Chitrangada headed the field from the start with Deccan Queen and Exclusive Lady in close attendance. Rounding the final bend, Deccan Queen decided to go to the front and Carlos Henrique, the rider of Chitrangada didn’t seem to be perturbed and rode his mount in check. Passing the distance post Henrique started to work his way on Chitrangada and the filly regained the lead from the tiring Deccan Queen. Exclusive Lady inched closer towards the closing stages but failed to get the better of Chitrangada by a slender margin.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Montego Bay (Sussex-Acaress) just managed to pull it off in the Might is Right Plate. Ground Crew set out on a start to finish mission and was kicking on showing no signs of surrendering the lead inside on the home stretch. Montego Bay, who was about three lengths behind the leader, passing the distance post, started to get closer. Ground Crew was unrelenting but with jockey Nilesh Rawal working hard, Montego Bay just about managed to put her nose in front on the last stride. Guiding Spirit ended up third.