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GALIAT SLAMS THE AIR COMMAND CUP

By Madhukar Bhagawan | 02 Aug 2015 | HYDERABAD


Trainer D Netto leading Galiat (Akshay Kumar Up), winner of The Air Command Cup

Trainer Donald Netto’s Galiat (Mull of Kintyre-Brazilia) won the Air Command Cup, a mile race for horses in the highest category that featured Sunday’s card of seven races at Hyderabad. The 5 year old gelding who has never stepped out of Hyderabad managed to pull it off from Tintinnabulation, a multi-classic winner who is also the highest rated horse at this centre.  Galiat was sent off at 6-1 while Tintinnabulation was the raging favourite at 11-10.

Galiat settled nicely in third while Plenipotent set the pace followed by Tejaswini. Sheer Genius was in fourth and the favourite Tintinnabulation was biding his time in fifth. Entering the home stretch Galiat sneaked in along the fence and was swiftly in the lead passing the 300 metres board. Tintinnabulation started to throw a challenge and looked to be catching up but the ‘Champ’ was under pressure with Galiat kicking on under Akshay Kumar. Plenipotent finished third ahead of Tejaswini.

Laxman Singh trained Vijay Vidhata (Gaswar-Blue Sonata) whose career graph is a picture of brilliance, having won four races and finishing second in three, from seven starts added one more to the list of winners while wrapping off the Shivkumarlal Memorial Cup. Vijay Vidhata tracked the early leader Win And Enjoy till entering the straight and surged ahead to take charge inside the last 400 metres. Veloz, who garnered the maximum support in the betting, being sent of as the on-money favourite was in hot chase right through the final furlong but failed to collar Vijay Vidhata. SAventus and Alameda finished third and fourth respectively.

Trainer K Satheesh and apprentice N S Rathore combined to win a double through Wine And Dine and Happy Guy. Wine And Dine carried the public purse to lift the Turf Club Cup in a photo finish. Racing in about fourth till turning for home, Wine And Dine pursued the front running Roi’s Cruise strongly and forged ahead inside the last 100 metres. Kalinda improved gradually from the last position and came tearing down towards the closing stages but Wine And Dine managed to hold on by a ‘head’ at the wire. Roi’s Cruise was third a length away.    

Happy Guy (Slickly-Ladyfish) showed good speed to lift the Mirza Ghalib Plate. Brilliant Twist shot to the lead within the first half a furlong and tried to stay ahead all the way. Happy Guy picked up momentum to rally strongly passing the distance marker and surged ahead to win it by a length. Atlas Star and Amazing Power filled the judge’s frame in that order.

S.S.Faisal Hassan schooled Tokyo Bloom (Arazan-Intrinsic Value / Poona Stud) won the higher division of the Silverado Plate, an 1100 metres scurry for maiden 3 years old. The filly was the smartest out from draw one and lost no time in taking the lead. Inside the last 200 metres Tokyo Bloom continued to hold on to a good lead with the favourite only managing to end up second with a late surge from behind. Columbus and Sivangi finished third and fourth respectively.

Princess Hina (Royal Gladiator-Camarero) from trainer Anupam Sharma’s stables on her eighth start managed to shed her maiden ranks in the lower division. My Choice was speedy at start and set off to lead the field. Princess Hina was in chasing in second all the way into the straight and surged forward to take it up with a furlong left. Limitation made a valiant bid towards the last 100 metres but fell short by three parts of a length while My Choice finished third, a similar distance away.

Laxman Singh trained Naamdhari (Hurricane State-Alflora) who was winless from 14 starts finally came good to end the draught in the Elegant Plate. Racing third behind Beauty Flash and Walloper, Naandhari started to make a move mid-way up the straight and took charge near the distance post. While the winner stretched out by a good 4 3/4 lengths, Beauty Flash stayed on in second. The favourite Chocolate Greedy beat the tiring Walloper for the third place.

For the professionals trainers Laxman Singh and K Satheesh scored a double each while jockeys N S Rathore and Akshay Kumar rode two winners each.