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SOFAST SLAMS THE F.K.IRANI MEMORIAL TROPHY

By Mirror Image | 17 Sep 2015 | MYSORE


Trainer M Eshwer leading Sofast (Suraj Narredu Up), winner of The F.K.Irani Memorial Trophy

Micheal Eshwer trained Sofast (Phoenix Tower-Shiseido / Manjri Stud) slammed the F.K.Irani Memorial Trophy with a scintillating grand stand finish. The favourite Pentagram grabbed the lead quickly on entering the straight from Castle Stuart and jockey Irvan Singh who had replaced an unwell P.S.Chouhan started to ride out to keep Ungoogleable at bay. The two were involved in a keen tussle when Sofast sporting the Manjri Colours covered plenty of ground from behind and with Suraj Narredu going for it, literarily flew in with 5o metres left to down Pentagram by a neck at the wire. Ungoogleable was third another head away.

Suraj Narredu was on a high, winning all the three trophy races of the day. His second winner of the day was on Darius Byramji trained Real Steel (Royal Kingdom-Margaret’s Fancy / Manjri Stud) in the division I of the M.B.Appaya Memorial Trophy. Real Steel was settled well in about sixth or seventh till taking the final bend while Blue Zone and Diamond Quest disputed the lead about four lengths in front. Real Steel made a quick forward move on top of the straight between horses and charged ahead to get to the front. Yellow Zone came with a strong run widest of all but Suraj had kicked clear to pack his double. Next Move and Solitaire Royale finished third and fourth respectively.

Suraj had a much easier task on G Srinivas Babu trained Rare Emerald (Hammerstein-After Glow / Krishna Stud) in the Mysore Jewellery Mart Trophy. The bay filly on her second start of the career showed plenty of speed at start to rush to the front. Always travelling well ahead of Roi Junior and Western Fleet, the closest rivals till turning for home, Rare Emerald broke away to extend the leeway to 7 ½ lengths on the straight. Western Fleet, Country’s Charm and Silver Prince filled the board in that order.

Vishal Yadav trained Campeon (Black Cash-Eka / Equus Stud) completed an encore in taking style in the lower division of the M.B.Appaya Memorial Trophy. Suraj Narredu looked to be going good on the race favourite Cool Hand approaching the distance marker but Ajit Kumar weaved his way through the field on Campeon and the 5 year old gelding outclassed the rest. Cool Hand held on to the second place from Manta Ray who came in very late from the rear.      

A good gamble by the connections of P.C.Tejaswi trained Sunspirit (Diffident-Mary Bankes / Poonawalla Stud) paid dividends in the Jaganmohana Palace Plate. The last Sunspirit had won was on the last day of the year 2010 at Bangalore under Richard Hughes. The 8 year old had not touched the board after shifting base to Mysore and had come down considerably in handicap. Sunspirit tracked the leader Peppr till entering the home stretch and taking charge without any fuss stretched out easily to extend the lead to over eight lengths. Ice Weapon, Chelalee and Char And Dream filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Trainer Imtiaz Khan saddled his first winner on Mysore track through Love Is Life (Gaswar-Kilspindie / Lingwood Stud) in the Secunderabad Plate. Lad Lady on a start to finish bid was close to the fence as they straightened up. Zagato, Star Mountain and Always On Top closed up to challenge and Cannes was locked up for room behind the bunch. Jockey Arshad Alam brought Love Is Life with a clear run from the outside and with a rattle swooped on them and drew clear. Cannes wriggled out of the mess and came in late to take the second spot ahead of Zagato. Star Mountain finished fourth.

Triumph (Ivory Touch-On The Dot / Mare Haven Stud) from trainer R.R.Byramji’s stables pulled it off in the Allies Serenade Plate, the opener of the day. Androstos was the first to take the initiative as they came into the last 400 metres and Triumph began to get stronger from the outside. The favourite Mystic Music raised some hopes on top of the straight but fizzled out early. Triumph fought strongly from the outside and matching strides with Androstos throughout the last furlong, got its nose ahead at the wire.

Trained by S.Britto, Zulu Fantasy (Mathematecian-Sayonara / Sans Craintes Stud) scored an upset in the higher division of the J.Tyrell Memorial Plate. The Jaguar was on a start to finish bid over the 1200 metres sprint and was looking good with a furlong left when Zulu Fantasy came with a rattle from behind and sped past in the shadow of the winning post. Sunday Cruz and Saturday Affair finished third and fourth respectively. The favourite Topsonsie who was backed as the day’s certainty put up a dismal show, racing towards the rear all the way and never in the hunt.  

Britto deputised for his brother S.Dominic and led in Fruit Prince (Royal Gladiator-Walk In The Park / Pratap Stud) in the lower division. Racing in about fifth till turning for home, Fruit Prince saved ground along the rails and came to challenge the favourite Churchill who was up in front right from the start. Rallying strongly under Nirmal Jodha, Fruit Prince collared Churchill and surged clear by a length. Zaalim was also up there in the fight to take the third place ahead of the late finishing Wear The Hat.