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STAR NIJINSKY WINS THE DECCAN DERBY

By Madhukar Bhagawan | 02 Oct 2016 | HYDERABAD


Ms Amita Mehra & trainer Hidayat Khan leading Star Nijinsky (YS Srianth Up), winner of The Deccan Derby Gr.1

It was a befitting finish to the Blue Riband of the Monsoon season at Malakpet, the Deccan Derby (Gr.1) on Sunday afternoon. Jockey Y.S.Srinath was at his best while driving home Hidayat Khan trained Star Nijinsky (Multidimensional-Allaire / Usha Stud) to beat Aster Rose in a pulsating finish. For trainer Hidayat Khan who started his career in 1994 it was a moment to cherish, being his first Derby triumph.

“I would like to thank my brother S.K.Habib Khan and B.K.Arshad under whom I was an assistant” said an excited Hidayat Khan speaking to Indiarace. “My father A.N.Sardar Khan had won the Bangalore Derby on His Majesty way back in 1963 and a second Derby comes home now” he added.  

Star Nijinsky is co-owned by Mr.S.Saleem Shah, Mr.M.Masroor Alam & Ms.Ameeta Mehra and bred at the Usha stud. Mr.Saleem Shah incidentally is son of veteran trainer S.M.Shah. Usha Stud is on a high having won the Calcutta Monsoon Derby on Whomakestherules a day earlier and bagging the one-two positions at Hyderabad.

The fancied Accolade was fractious at the gates and despite the best efforts of the handlers refused to move in. Accolade had to be withdrawn and six of the remaining lined up for the start. King David took the onus of setting the pace and led the pack. Aster Rose settled well in second with Star Nijinsky in close attendance. They were followed by Aika Aika Aika, Leading Legend and Elysian. The order was almost the same for most part of the race. Turning for home jockey S.John lost no time to rush ahead with Aster Rose. Srinath began to work his way on Star Nijinsky and the filly creped up to get closer to Aster Rose. The two got to a fight in the last furlong and Srinath using all his skills rode out the 20-1 long shot Star Nijinsky to get the better of Aster Rose by a head. For the record Aika Aika Aika and Leading Legend finished third and fourth respectively.     

Laxman Singh trained The Healer (Lord Shanakill-Brutta E Cattiva) that boasts of an outstanding record of having lost only twice in nine starts added one more success in the higher division of the Turf Authorities Cup. Symbol Of Choice in the lead from the start brought the field into view on the straight. Baashagar was quick to make the move and took over the running on top of the straight. The Healer that joined up from the outside began to lean in but Srinath did well to keep him on even keel and drew clear by a length and a half. Happy Guy was a faraway third with Morning Miracle filling the frame. The rider of Baashagar raised an objection against the winner for interference but the Stewards overruled the same.

L.V.D.Deshmukh trained Vijays Joy (Stern Opinion-Jia Yoh Jia Yoh / Lumbini Stud), the highest rated among the nine runners for the sprint event scored an impressive victory in the lower division. Claiming an allowance of five kilograms Vijays Joy showed plenty of early speed to get to the lead within the first furlong. Vijays Joy came into the straight clear by two lengths and strode out impressively till the winning post. King Of Pop did well to stay in second from Parushram and Vallee Secrete.

Three Years old Awesome Approach (Abbeyside-Terra Nova) from R.H.Sequeira’s yard kept her record clean with a third straight win from as many starts in the Mumbai Cup. Awesome Approach was held back in third position while Legacy Machine tried to first at every post. As they straightened up jockey Trevor started to work his way on Awesome Approach and the filly galloped resolutely to shoot into the lead passing the distance marker and win comfortably. England, Aragonda Princess and Exclusive Wind filled the frame in that order in a close finish.

K.Satheesh trained Always Together (Noverre-Racy Description) managed to pull it off in a thrilling four horses finish in the division I of the Bangaluru Cup. Passing the final furlong marker Flower Roll Up and Rock Heights were involved a duel. Queen Of The Stars came up strongly and headed the duo from the outside. Always Together manoeuvred its way from the rear and with P.S.Chouhan riding out started galloping strongly from the outside. The four went past the winning post in one frame and the favourite Always Together had edged out Queen Of The Stars by the proverbial whisker. Flower Roll Up and Rock Heights finished third and fourth, a neck and a short head behind respectively. Aware was withdrawn near the starting gates.

Jockey Arshad Alam rode M.Sathyanarayana trained Red Express (Sedgefield-Fort Knox) in the lower division. Red Express racing in about sixth position as they straightened up for home started to improve and with a fast gallop shot between horses inside the last 200 metres to wrap it up. Altruist finished second. Green Jewel and the favourite Aston Doulton finished third and fourth respectively, in a close finish.

M.Srinivas Reddy trained Market Leader (China Visit-Only Royale) bounced back to winning ways in the Mrs.K.Lakshmi Bhupal Reddy Memorial Cup. The 4 years old filly jumped out smartly from an outward draw and with a speedy gallop moved inwards to get to the lead. On the straight Market Leader still enjoyed a good lead and kept it up till the winning post even as Shivalik Bird made a futile bid in second. Hard Fought was third all the way.

Trainer Deshmukh saddled his double through Paprika (Tariq-Encouragement) in the Tenacity Cup. The speedy Paprika was taken to the front by P.S.Chouhan as the gates opened and the filly showed up first on the straight. Paprika continued to dictate terms on the straight and extended well to run-away from the rest. Bharat Queen beat the rest followed by Amazing Venus and Rose Eternal.  

Anupam Sharma trained Dolce (Hymn-Ivona) won the higher division of the Bhagyanagar Cup. Dolce settled well in third behind Racing Ruler and Dancing Flora. Into the last 400 metres Dancing Flora surged ahead to take over the running but was soon passed by Dolce who stretched out and won by a length and a half. Azazil beat Dancing Flora for the second place. True Pearl finished fourth.

Suraj Narredu opened the day’s account with Sk Kassam’s Silver Dollar (Rebuttal-Ridawan) in the Commanche Cup. The grey colt shot to the front as the gates opened and made every post a winning one. Mahathi was hard at work on the straight but failed to collar Silver Dollar. Handy Man finished a close third. Darakhshan Setarah was withdrawn before the start.