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Diamond Hunter Springs A Huge Surprise

By Pearcey | 03 Sep 2010 | MYSORE


Mr. Chaduranga Kanthraj Urs, Chairman & Senior Steward Mysore Race Club Ltd presenting The H.H.Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup

Seven year-old Diamond Hunter sprang a huge surprise by winning The HH Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup at Mysore on Friday. The oldest horse in a field of 15 starters came with gigantic strides in the final furlong, and strode away from Sprint Star and Magnanimity. With trainer Michael Eshwer serving out his suspension, this brilliant chestnut was saddled by Britto. Diamond Hunter has toppled many strongly fancied runners in his successful career, and has a record of picking up an important top-class race every season.

Although his Summer form was quite encouraging, Diamond Hunter's chances of scoring against the likes of Sprint Star on Friday were considered to be extremely remote, and he was accordingly allowed to start as a rank outsider. The multi-classic winner ridden by Suraj Narredu was an overwhelming favourite to land the spoils in the day's feature. There was a bit of jostling at the start before the 15 runners sorted themselves out and settled down to race in the backstretch.

A bunch of no-hopers, led by Originality, showed the way into the straight. Diamond Hunter was seen racing prominently in fourth position while Sprint Star was just behind him. Imran Chisty realized that Diamond Hunter was travelling really well, and he did not waste any more time. He moved on the outer portion of the track and pressed the accelerator. His mount responded gamely and bounded forward. The pair of them was soon clear of Sprint Star and a late finishing Magnanimity.

Suraj's desperate urgings failed to elicit any further response from the favourite, and he could do no better than finish a tame second. The champion jockey tried to reverse the result in the Stewards room. His objection against the winner on the grounds of interference was thrown out in quick time. The Safi Darashah Memorial Trophy, a sprint for horses in Class II, was split into two divisions.

The upper division saw JS Pillay's Youre A Legend completing a hat-trick of victories. This speedy horse has the ability to go to the front, and his trainer has been good enough to train him accordingly. Youre A Legend, who had been penalized for his back-to-back wins, was bidding to make it three in a row. Pillay decided to use the services of apprentice Kiran Rai, as he knew that the four kilos could prove to be decisive.

The young man rode a competent race while guiding his charge to finish ahead of a hard-ridden Rugged Beauty and favourite Lads Gladiator. This was incidentally the first win for the apprentice boy. The lower division went to Sharat Kumar's The Spartan. The withdrawal of public choice Romance In The Air, saw money being wagered on the ultimate winner. The Spartan was known to be comfortable over a sprint, and with John riding at his best in recent months, the pair of them climbed to the top of the betting charts.

Imran Khan ridden last outing winner Grand Topaz looked like the only challenger, and this was confirmed during the running of this race. The two market fancies broke away from the rest and made it into a "match race". The Spartan grew stronger in the last furlong and got the better of Grand Topaz. Third placed Ansonia plodded along to finish a distance behind the first two. This victory enabled John to complete the only professional double for the afternoon.

He had posted a popular victory in the opening event of the day. Arjun Mangalorkar-trained three year-old Sky Empress confirmed her on-money favouritism by scampering home ahead of unheralded Star Gleam and Rainbow Rising. It is difficult to read much into this performance as it was achieved amongst a group of horses in the lowest category. Prithviraj-trained Bala's Glory posted an easy victory over a strongly supported Smart Ways in a sprint race for horses in Class III. This winner started as an even-money favourite, but was soon displaced at the top of the betting boards by the Ganapathy-trained Smart Ways.

This Imran Khan mount was backed with a lot of confidence. Those who had wagered on Bala's Glory in morning trade, were taken by surprise. However, their confidence wasn't misplaced, as they saw their choice cantering away to an easy victory. PS Chouhan was a picture of supreme confidence while guiding this winner. He could have extended the winning margin beyond the official "three lengths" declared by the judge.

Smart Ways was more than six lengths clear of the third placed Born Beauty. The upper division of this race saw another ward from the Ganapathy stable biting the dust. Well-fancied Moves Goodenough had no answers to the strong pace set by Flying Tricolour and Portatone. The Babu Rao stable's decision to gamble with a lesser jockey was the reason for the defeat of Flying Tricolour. S Ramesh wasn't a match to the forceful riding of Suraj Narredu.

He was able to rouse Dhariwal's Portatone with some forceful riding. Suraj was able to generate a little bit "extra" from Portatone near the finishing line. The short neck separating the two runners tells the complete story. A couple of "gambles" that failed to materialize on Friday were those with Defiance and River Glory. The withdrawal of Sharat Kumar's Southern King resulted in Defiance getting a bulk of the support. This four year-old gelding was totally at sea while trying to tackle a mile. He floundered under pressure and finished off the board.

The race was won by 30/1 outsider Collateral. In a blanket finish, this Monappa-trainee managed to pip Star Presence and See The Truth. The last race witnessed unusual support for a horse recently relocated from Mumbai. River Glory had joined the Rakesh stable only a couple of months ago. The China Visit-Anagram filly was entrusted to apprentice Santosh Kumar. Those who were privy to some inside information backed her down to odds-on favouritism. They soon came to grief, as she refused to break level from the gates. She was unable to improve thereafter and finished in the ruck.

A lot of good money went down the drain. The race was won by the Bobby-trained Greek Ship, who got the better of Rising Queen and River Man.