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PURSUIT OF FAME WINS THE GOLCONDA ST.LEGER

By Mirror Image | 20 Oct 2014 | HYDERABAD


Mr. Tejbir Brar & trainer Arjun Mangalorkar leading Pursuit of Fame (S John Up), winner of The Golconda St.Leger - Gr.2

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Pursuit of Fame (Princely Heir-Fairytaleending) bred at the Dashmesh Stud slammed the opposition in the Golconda St.Leger – Grade II at Malakpet, Hyderabad. It has been a profitable Monsoon at Hyderabad for Arjun Mangalorkar having clinched the Derby here about three weeks ago. Pursuit of Fame was masterly ridden by S.John, passing every pole of the grueling 2800 metres trip ahead of the rest.

The ante post favourite Isn’t She Special had to be withdrawn and the Western India challenger Reynolds surprisingly garnered the popular support, sent off at 13-10. Roses in Bloom, the only local hope who had not won a race after her Golconda Derby Success early this year was the second in demand at 3-1. Sovereign Rule and Pursuit of Fame were at nourishing odds while one could write their own odds on Arrogant Approach.

As the field of five was dispatched, Pursuit of Fame shot off to the lead and broke clear to maintain two lengths from Arrogant Approach. Sovereign Rule raced in third followed by Reynolds and Roses in Bloom. The five of them travelled in a single file all through till the final bend in the same order. On the home stretch for the last two furlongs the favourite Reynolds was alighted to the task from the outside by P.S.Chouhan but there was nothing in him to trouble the leader. Pursuit of Fame kept kicking clear with jockey S.John nursing him nicely all the way, just using his hands and heels and not using the stick even once. Arrogant Approach also ran on gamely to retain the second place while the only shuffling in the entire race was Reynolds taking the third place ahead of Sovereign Rule. Roses in Bloom finished last.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan used his riding skills to the hilt while driving home Deshmukh’s Ashwa Shakti (Rebuttal-Speedwell / Hazara Stud) in the Bangalore Race Club Trophy, a 1100 metres dash for horses in the highest category. Ashwa Shakti looked to be a lost cause as the field came into the final straight, racing in about ninth position towards the inside. The grey Secret Angel was in the lead with MEG beginning to stake claim and the favourite Beau Ideal getting closer. Chouhan pulled out Ashwa Shakti from the pack and with a brilliant piece of riding made Ashwa Shakti to raise a gallop and stormed down to nail MEG close to the winning post. Beau Ideal finished third ahead of Secret Angel.

Zoheb Shaikh trained Rosemonde (Kheley-Miss Langkawi) bounced back to winning ways in the Trainer P.Pratap Reddy Memorial Cup. The filly jumped out smartly from the outermost draw and moved towards the fence to lead the field. Dear Friend and Kohinoor Thunder raced close behind till the last 500 metres. Inside the final 100 metres  Rubyonrails came through the shortest way with a late bid but Rosemonde was safely home under jockey Kiran Naidu. Go For Gold finished third in front of the tiring Dear Friend.

Flames of Forest (Mudeer-Ganga Divine), the Even money favourite in the higher division of the Blue Ice Plate made every post a winning one. Showing plenty of speed at start, Flames of Forest shot to the lead and kept up the momentum on the straight. Queen of the Stars came charging towards the leader inside the last 100 metres but the filly could only diminish the lead to a length and a half at the finish. Drum Beat held on to the third place from Emerald Reef.

K.Satheesh trained Star Player (Noverre-Sharadany Girl) pulled off an upset in the opener, the Mystical Cup. The ‘on money’ favourite Vijays Splendour took charge near the mile marker and came into the straight with a good lead. Inside the final furlong Vijays Splendour was running out of gas and Star Player rallied from behind to take it up and extended well to win by 5 ½ lengths. Killer Instinct moved ahead of the weakening Vijays Splendour for the second place.

Sk. Kassam trained Aware (Epicentre-Alero) whose last win was exactly a year ago wrapped up the higher division of the Elite Zone Plate with apprentice S.S.Tanwar astride. Jumping out from an outward draw, Aware improved gradually to get to the front within the first 300 metres. Transition challenged towards the last 150 metres but Aware stepped up the pace and drew clear. Military Belle and Flower of Timba finished third and fourth respectively. 

Anupam Sharma’s Symbol of Honour (Rebuttal-Seattle Swan) went on a start to finish mission in the lower division and managed to scrape through from Graceland and Amazing Weapon, both of whom came charging towards the closing stages. A ‘head’ and ‘Short-head’ separated the first three horses. The favourite Spirited was fourth two lengths behind.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan was the only professional to score a double on the penultimate day of the season. He rode trainer M.Srinivas Reddy’s ward Dad’s Dollar (Phoenix Tower-Dancerllon) to victory in the Cape Knight Plate, the concluding race of the day. Tracking the leader Aston Doulton closely till entering the straight, Dad’s Dollar surged ahead and kept going till the winning post. Torremolinos was in chase, trying to collar the ‘Dollar’ in the final furlong but was under pressure and ended up second. Khosgel finished third.