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ST ANDREWS MAKES A SMASHING DEBUT

By Mahendra Mallya | 30 Jan 2016 | MUMBAI


Trainer Bezan Chenoy leading St Andrews (Colm O Donoghue Up), winner of The Harvard University Trophy Div-1

The opener of the day was a true scurry to the wire, with as many as 4 runners looking like landing the spoils in the straight. Upon jumping out Amazon Cat led the field at a decent clip with Polar Zone and Noble Lady in chase. Round the turn Amazon Cat took out the running with Polar Zone mounting a serious challenge and grabbing the lead as well! Noble Lady (Noverre – Noble Excellency, Rolli Stud) had elected to make a rail run and with C.S.Jodha ever persistent, the filly gathered momentum and galloped resolutely to a gritty hard-fought victory within the last furlong. The winner was trained by Imtiaz Sait.

Rehanullah Khan trained Resilient (Ontario – Vetsera, nanoli Stud) made full advantage of the bottom weight and a confident ride given by A.Sandesh, to pick up the 2nd race of the day. Golden Glory jumped smartly and led the field till the bend in this 7 furlong handicap, while Resilient was second last but constantly improving throughout the race. Sandesh chose to virtually sling shot the field and that probably was an indication that he was confident that the horse had plenty in the tank when he began to ask for a winning acceleration. Though the winner hung-in a bit in the closing stages, he was always travelling the best of the lot. Terrific ran a forward enough race to finish second, and as such is one for the notebook.

Shades of Glory (Arazan – Mazeej, Poona Stud) was the shortest priced winner of the day but never gave her backers a single anxious moment. She jumped smartly and allowed the speedy Electra King to lead her into the straight while herself travelling on the bit. At the top of the straight Electra King shifted off the rails and in a trice Trevor had shot through the gap and got the filly to spurt victoriously! The winner could have extended the margin at will, but was eased up in the last furlong which allowed Seacrets' second placed effort to look more flattering than he deserved. Shades of Glory, trained by Altaf Hussain,  may repeat if smartly campaigned.

M Narredu trained Quattro (Royal Applause – Zagrah, Nanoli Stud) was the beneficiary of a ground saving ride provided by Yash Narredu, which would surely have been praised by his trainer. The early pace was fast with Nigella and Speed Magic almost bolting through the first few furlongs, which allowed Yash to settle in about 6th hugging the rails. Logically the front runners dropped out round the bend, and Yash then guided Quattro through an almost imperceptible gap with a furlong to go, to dash ahead and establish a winning lead. Samurai galloped stubbornly to keep the second slot and should find a winning bracket within this season.

Good Thing (Win Legend – Ray of Sunshine, Dashmesh Stud) provided P.S.Chouhan the first of what was going to be a highly lucrative quadruple on the day. Good Thing jumped smartly, and was right up with Silken Star disputing the lead in the early part while the favourite Anteros settled back in 4th. Round the bend, Silken Star cried halt, and Chouhan readily spurted and took over the running. Debutant Anteros in the meanwhile looked reluctant to take a gap between tiring horses and Trevor had to pull the son of multi-classic winning filly Moonlight Romance off the rails, and almost to the centre of the track where he finished on full of running to be a neck shy at the wire. The old adage, 'benefit of a run' resonated in the result. While Good Thing was the winner, Anteros impressed most, and is a highly back-able proposition in his next start.

Romantic Lass (Varenar – Oh So Romantic, Equus Stud) provided A. Sandesh with his second winner of the day, and was a humdinger of an affair! Sandesh and Yash Narredu fought out every inch of the last furlong with Sandesh prevailing by the proverbial short-head at the post! Travelling in 4th and 5th position respectively they chose contrasting routes in their quest to the wire with Yash sticking to the rails and Sandesh travelling wide but having identified the horse to beat from a long way home. The 2 fought out the last furlong with every sinew, and it was a bob of the head which determined the winner. Dancing Prince should make amends whenever campaigned next.

Korol (Whipper – Khaliyna, Hazara Stud), trained by Faisal Abbas, pulled off an easy win attempting the six-furlong sprint start to finish. Korol had his main rival Shining Melody tagging alongside until the turn. Once they straightened up for home, Korol, taking advantage of the five-kilo allowance apprentice jockey G Amit enjoyed, galloped on resolutely and soon left Shining Melody behind. He looked the winner approaching the distance post as none from behind was looking dangerous. Korol duly won easing up. Shining Melody ended a tame second while Magical Dancer improved to end third.

Jockey PS Chouhan was on fire through the day winning all his four engagements, some from almost improbable positions to make a grand appearance at the business end.

B Prakash trained Hirohama (Roi Maudit – Evia, Country Stud) fought his way up and thwarted the spirited challenge put up by Shivalik Story in the closing stages. Niabrara led them into the straight but didn’t last long. Star got past to lead briefly with a pack of horses hounding him. Shivalik Story moved up fast to grab the lead briefly when Chouhan produced Hirohama on the outside. The duo battled for the lead, but Hirohama always looked to be in control. He surged ahead in the last fifty to clinch the issue with a little bit to spare. Undisputed finished on a tad too late to claim the third spot. Multiglory was the leading market fancy at 18/10 with Kandinsky enjoying steady support at threes. Draco fell out of the punters’ favour and drifted to 5/1 at race time.

Multiglory was quick to go into the lead with Draco and Cha Cha Cha in tow, Kandinsky held the rails with Ellipsis alongside, the rest following on, Holy Bull last by a distance.

Multiglory was steady coming into the straight but Draco was not finding much. Cha Cha Cha moved up to challenge the favourite and surged ahead. Chouhan brought Kandinsky to the outside and got the Vishal Gaikwad trainee going into top gear. Kandinsky responded with a scintillating gallop and within strides breezed past the two in front to clinch victory in a convincing manner. Cha Cha Cha did well to finish second and Multiglory a tame third.

St Andrews (Phoenix Tower – Machrihanish, Manjri Stud) posted a fluent and impressive victory on debut and surely is one with a bright future. The Bezan Chenoy trained colt, sailed smoothly into the lead soon on coming into the straight and drew away, blowing off the opposition with authority. Colm O’Donoghue went easy on the colt and enjoyed the proverbial ‘armchair’ ride to victory. On this performance, St Andrews should score again as he looked a good candidate for the more important races. Domination did well to move up in the straight and take the runner-up slot from Negara. Temerity was the one who finished on late, just failed to finish in the money and is one for the notebooks.

Chouhan pulled off a dramatic win in the concluding race of the day atop B Prakash trained Grand Vitesse (Oiseau de Feu – Candela, Samra Stud) at longer odds beating another long-shot in Night of Stars on the post. Favourite Excelonce looked good in the early half of the homestretch as he took charge, but failed to sustain. Night of Stars arrived with a fast run to collar Excelonce, but his joy was short-lived as Grand Vitesse simply flew towards the end to snatch victory on the last stride. Excelonce faced further agony as His Highness moved up on the rails and stealthily pipped him for the place money.

For the professionals, trainer B Prakash saddled a lucrative double, while PS Chouhan was the star of the day winning all his four engagements. A Sandesh chipped in with a double.