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MULTITUDE OUTCLASSES ELITE OPPOSITION

By Epsom Ace | 01 Jan 2015 | KOLKATA


Trainer Vijay Singh leading Multitude (Suraj Narredu Up), winner of The Kunigal Stud Indian Produce Stakes

An eighteen-thousand plus crowd of well-attired visitors were witness to some thrilling action at RCTC on New Year’s Day. Racing was by and large clean and a few close finishes brought the fun-seeking audience to the edge of their seats. The main event, The Kunigal Stud Indian Produce Stakes, saw Vijay Singh-trained Multitude (Multidimensional - Haedi/ Usha Stud) produce an effortless encore in the experienced hands of Suraj Narredu and looks to have greater things in store for him. Tracking pace-setter Cool Hunter till the straight, Multitude simply sailed ahead and could be spotted as a winner a long way from home. The Bharath Singh-trained pair Captain Cook and Stevalena had all the chances but failed to make any impression on the winner who simply left the field cold.

As he is wont to do on New Year’s Day, trainer Vijay Singh notched up a popular quadruple, his other winners being Flavius, Setaflame and Amorino. The first named, a five-year-old by Noverre out of Flavia (Sohna Stud) won the Religare Private Wealth Cup in  great style. He obviously showed that he is more suited over the mile trip and none of the other eight runners posed any threat to him. It turned out to be an armchair ride for Christopher Alford.

Vijay’s next winner was the three-year-old colt Setaflame (China Visit – Set Aside/ Usha Stud) who bagged the Friends FM New Year Cup with Sandesh in the saddle. Though challenged by Kanya Kalyan in the straight, the colt was never under any threat as he appeared to have quite a bit extra in the tank.

Christopher Alford completed a double and Vijay’s quadruple by pocketing the Tiger Dundee Cup with Amorino (Chevalier-Arnatta/ Ruia Stud). The gelding made it a start-to-finish affair with Fire Angel and Conquest in close attendance. The rest were never really in it.

The Eveready RCTC Gold Vase was an interesting race which saw the wild-card entrant Acrider (in the highest category for the first time after a 37 point hike in rating) close as the favourite. But the youngster was badly outclassed as stablemate Ademaro, fought with eventual winner Striking (Multidimensional- Dazzling Skill/ Usha Stud) in the straight. Captain courageous finished a good third and is one for the notebook. Trevor Patel rode a forceful finish to land the spoils for trainer Attaolahi.

There were two winners at very high odds during the day. These were Bharath Singh-schooled Malibu (Lord Admiral-Celesta / Sans Craintes Stud) and Manvendra Singh’s Law Lord. The former made the mile race for the Telegraph Cup his own as Trevor Patel took him to the helm as the gates opened. He shrugged off the favourite Beyond Expectation quite easily but was strongly challenged by Aculeus midway up the straight. It was Trevor’s persistence which paid off in the end.  After watching his last two runs, it’s quite possible that Aculeus may prefer a seven-furlong trip as indeed would the winner Malibu.

Law Lord (West Virginia-Shades Of Beauty/ Nakul Stud) won the Silverina Cup start-to-finish in the hands of apprentice Hindu Singh. His sheer speed knocked out Kabini from the fray while Agatta made a late bid for honours after being slow off the blocks. Favourite Azienda put up a lacklustre show.

Trainer Manvendra Singh’s Chimeric (Burden Of Proof – Chimerique/ Kunigal Stud) was available at cramped odds in the upper division of The Zara Shah Cup and had no problem whatsoever in making every post a winning one in the hands of B. Mahesh.

The curtain came down with Patrick Quinn’s Silver Silver landing a good gamble in the hands of apprentice Zarar Alam while the favourite Elusive Hurricane looked happy to be an onlooker.