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A SMASHING VICTORY FOR HEATHER IN THE GOLCONDA OAKS

By Madhukar Bhagawan | 04 Jan 2016 | HYDERABAD


Trainer P Shroff leading Heather (P S Chouhan Up), winner of The Golconda Oaks (Gr.2)

Nanoli Stud bred Heather (Champs Elysees-Mooring) slammed the Golconda Oaks – Gr.2, the third classic of the monsoon season at Hyderabad in a fascinating manner on Monday. Heather was at Malakpet for the ‘Ladies Derby’ after successfully completing two long distance assignments at Mumbai and was the second in demand while the ‘Lady’ from Mysore Star Formation garnered the popular support after her impressive second behind Myrtlewood in the Indian 1000 Guineas.

Amazing Charm went to the front early in the race and set the pace. As they headed past the half way stage Nostalgic Memories was in second followed by Chal Dhannu Chal, Star Formation, Let There Be light, Heather, Woman O War, Multi App and Carolina Moon. Amazing Charm held on to the lead till midway up the straight but it was seemingly clear that she would soon give up. Star Formation stormed ahead to grab the lead approaching the last furlong and Let There Be Light was manoeuvring her way from the shortest way to put up a challenge. Heather was in sixth at that stage but the daughter of Champs Elysees burst on to the scene with a terrific turn of foot when jockey P.S.Chouhan urged her and flashed past to be a length ahead of Star Formation at the finish. Let There Be Light finished third and Woman O War closed in to be a close fourth.

M.Srinivas Reddy trained youngster Prospero (Burden Of Proof-Cherika) won the richly endowed Byrely Turk Million – Gr.3. The filly who had won her only start was the short priced favourite among the four horses for the six furlongs sprint. Jockey P.Trevor took Prospero to the front as the race started and kept her in the lead with Aika Aika Aika in chase. Prospero led all the way and won impressively in a smart timing. Aika Aika Aika who was in second all along finished that way. Dancing Leaf was third.

It was an upset in the Hyderabad Juvenile Million, a terms race for 3 year old horses. D.Netto schooled Gorgeous Lady, a debutante pulled that upset over the seven furlongs distance. The filly raced close to the fence in second while Montana Sky called the shots. Approaching the 200 metres board Gorgeous Lady made way between Dragonstone and the leader and forged ahead. Iron Cross came charging from behind but the winner was clear home and he had to settle for the runner-up berth ahead of Erstklassig.

K.Satheesh trained King Of Pop (Noverre-Atmosphere) scored an encore in the Raja Bahadur Venkatram Reddy Memorisl Cup, division I. Taking charge before approaching the last 800 metres, King Of Pop carried on well till the winning post. Magical Spell came in late to take the second spot and Military Belle third. Kohinoor Thunder finished fourth.

Trainer K.Satheesh and jockey N.S.Rathore combined to complete a double with Columbus in the higher division of the Musical Morn Plate, the concluding race of the day. Columbus (GAswar-Stunning Rose) shot to the lead as the gates opened and made every post a winning one. The Blue came with a long stretched run from behind inside the last 200 metres but Columbus was safely home unperturbed and The Blue finished second a length away. City Of Wonders and Kohinoor Punch finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey P.Trevor rode his double through K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Strengthandbeauty (Multidimensional-Burooq) in the lower division. Strengthandbeauty was held back to race in about fifth position till turning for home while Rocking Racer led the pack. Vijay Sakhi grabbed the lead approaching the last 200 metres and Strengthandbeauty who made a bid from the outside came up well and surged past with fifty metres left to spare a length at the finish. Delta Force was third many lengths away.

S.S.Faisal Hassan’s Tokyo Bloom (Arazan-Intrinsic Value / Poona Stud) went on a start to finish bid in the Banarsilal Gupta Memorial Cup and just managed to scrape through from Gangadhar. Tokyo Bloom got to the front from the start with Golden Angel and Time Is Luck in close attendance. As they came into the last 400 metres Tokyo Bloom increased the lead and looked to be clear. Picture Perfect was getting closer from the inside inside the last 200 metres and Gangadhar started to cover ground fast from the outside. The lead of Tokyo Bloom began to diminish even as jockey Imran Chisty was riding out and the winning post came to the rescue before Gangadhar could collar her. Picture Perfect was a close third.

Trainer D.Netto led in his second winner of the day through Parade Queen (Captain Rio-Romancing) in the lower division of the Raja Bahadur Venkatram Reddy Memorial Cup. Jockey A.Imran Khan took the filly to the front as the gates opened and led all the way to win uncontested. The favourite City Of Dreams could only manage to beat Camborne close home for the second place. Rosemonde filled the judge’s frame.

Zoheb Shaikh trained Wonder Star (Varenar-Hi Fi) justified the favouritism in the opener of the day, the division I of the Salarjung Plate. Tracking Save The Nation till the last 600 metres, Wonder Star went ahead to lead and won easily from Green Olive finishing late. South Lake also beat Save The Nation to be third.