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KHALEELS PRIDE MAKES LIGHT OF TOP WEIGHT

By Mirror Image | 02 Sep 2009 | HYDERABAD


Trainer and Owner Leo D'Silva receiving the Mysore Race Club Cup from Mr.Amarnath Gupta, Steward,H.R.C.

After a brief lull over the last few meetings Leo D’Silva began to display his supremacy at this racing centre, by pulling out three winners. Vittal Deshmukh who has been enjoying a very successful season so far, also recorded a treble along with his retained rider, R.Roopesh. Jockey Harish was the only other professional to score a double.

Seven year old Khaleels Pride took the rest of the field for a ride in the Mysore Race Club Cup, the feature event of the day’s racing today. Betting was mainly centered on Champ Forever, who garnered all the support, closing at 10 to 6 on. Khaleels Pride drifted out in the betting, closing at sevens. Going into the race, Khaleels Pride preferred to carry the top weight of 62.5 kilos ahead of the rest and considering the underfoot condition to be on the softer side ( penetrometer reading – 5.01 cms), everyone expected him to pack up. Taking every one by surprise, Khaleels Pride kicked on gamely to claim the cup in style. Champ Forever raced in the rear during the early part of the race and lost all the steam while brushing up to get to the front. Hurricane Bay raised some hopes on the straight but that was for a few strides only. Vijayraaj passed the tiring Hurricane Bay and Champ Forever to finish second. 

D’Silva picked up both the divisions of the Delage Plate through Gallant Prince and Above the Line. Gallant Prince completed a hat trick of wins this season when he won the higher division. After taking a good jump, the ‘Prince’ was shown the daylights early in the race and nullified the sustained effort of Palace Affairs in the last 100 metres. Above the Line was ridden in check, in fourth position, till the final bend, letting Chestnut Charmer do all the running in front. On top of the straight, in a swift move, Harish unleashed a run on Above the Line and the winner was sighted long way from home. Chestnut Charmer held on in second while Greek Fire improved to finish third. Global Emperor who received a lot of support on the basis of his runaway victory in his earlier outing, was never in the hunt.

Vittal Deshmukh and Roopesh combined to complete a fine treble. Hide and Seek lifted the Con Amore Cup with authority. Having settled in about third or fourth position till the horses turned for home, Roopesh guided Hide and Seek to a nicety, returning to the winner’s enclosure. Jaan Baaz who was taken aback by Hide and Seek, made a vain bid towards the closing stages.

Vijaysarathi triumphed in the very next race, the lower division of the Fire Haven Plate. Starting as the favourite, Vijayasarathi, drifted out to 7 to 2, during race time, as Hundred Flowers garnered most of the support. While Vijayasarathi made it look easy with a five length victory, Pygmallion impressed in his first run of the season, finishing second, after a forward run. Royal Tune was withdrawn after he refused to move into the gates.

Vijayrath tracked the early leader, Clever Ploy till the top of the straight and drew away for a comfortable win, in the P.G.Reddy Memorial Cup. Nano War rallied on to finish second while Rudolph Valentino pushed the tiring Clever Ploy to forth spot.

It was a runaway victory for Southern Rose in the lower division of the Ongole Plate, the trainer Shamsuddin pulling off a quite gamble. Blue Magic, who probably would have been the only threat to Southern Rose was slowly away at the start and lost all her gas as she brushed up to be in contention. First Solar was permitted to be withdrawn.

Faiyaz Shaikh’s Spinthemall pulled off a deserving win in the higher division. Debonaire flashed on from nowhere to finish second, ahead of Golden Orage. Merirorious let down her supporters with a feeble run.

Prasad Raju’s Arabian Dancer won the opening race with authority, by a big margin. In spite of sporting blinkers, drop nose band and adding the tongue strap, Pavarotti continued his hanging habit and finished second.