Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

JERSEY WONDER RECORDS FINE HAT-TRICK

By Ikram Khan | 10 Feb 2017 | BANGALORE


Leading trainer Suleiman Attaollahi  chose to field three from his yard in the Stayers Trial Stakes but none could stop the Prasanna Kumar-trained Jersey Wonder from recording three in-a- row. The in-form Prasanna ward who registered his earlier two wins in the hands of Trevor Patel beat Trevor astride Cameron while s John packed a punch to help Jersey Wonder complete a hat-trick of wins and book his passage to contest in the Stayers’ Cup on the eve of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup on the first Saturday of March.

Sporting owner Jairam Kimmane was delighted. He was confident that Jersey Wonder would complete a hat-trick of wins taking into account that the late bloomer from the Kunigal Stud Farm had blossomed under the care of Prasanna and more importantly was at his best. John produced a copybook performance on the winner, tracking the two market leaders Booker Jones and Cameron before he timed his final challenge to a nicety.

“Most old hats in the game were of the view that my horse would find it tough in this class but I was confident that Jersey Wonder will come up trumps. He won his two earlier starts coming from way of the pace and now that he was going over an extended trip which suited him most, I fancied my horse to win and I’m happy that he justified the confidence reposed in him,” said Jairam Kimmane.

The principal added attraction, the Manasa Sarovara Trophy split into two divisions saw the eight to one shot Amazing Redd from Kishan Thomas’ yard edge out the lesser fancied Cool Baby in the upper division. The favourite Noble Flaire after raising hopes at the top of the straight flattered to deceive and finished a poor fourth behind Top Striker.  

The lower division also produced a shock result, the Britto schooled Dream Star pegging back his brother Dominic’s ward Havelock Princess close home. The on-money favourite Reference from Darius Byramji’s yard  was touted  a `moral certainty’ on the strength of his performance in his last essay but the public rage raced in patches and only managed to take a lot of good money down the drain.

Prashanth Dhebe who piloted Amazing Redd, booted home Wild Wild Angels, the only favourite to oblige in the eight-event card. Competing in the Dharmasthala Plate  run over a distance of seven furlongs, the Prithviraj ward was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals and the public choice justified his top billing storming through in the final furlong to romp home a deserving winner. Little Love gained the runner-up spot by the shortest of margins from the Inayathullah schooled Tea Wid Me who lost her big chance to score, the moment apprentice Chetan Gowda swung her wide entering the straight. Tea Wid Me was the most impressive runner in this event and it will pay to follow her again next time out.

 Fjord was another hot favourite from Darius Byramji’s yard who bit the dust much to the disappointment of the followers of form. The public choice competing in the Suresh Kumar Sharma Memorial Plate was never in the hunt and eventually finished in the ruck. The Neil Darashah schooled Natanza won the event from Siyouni. Jagadeesh piloted the winner in style, driving home the Neil ward after streaking ahead in the final furlong. Royal Serenity back after winning in the opening week of the winter season was tested for fitness and is one for the notebook.

The Sulaiman schooled Malawi made a smashing debut, winning the February Plate for juveniles in resplendent style. The Padmanabhan-trained Mauritania was the prime favourite but he just could not match strides with the winner who is a goodtype of youngster. Apache Sunrise tops the list of youngsters so far this season and Malawi’s top drawer effort on Friday puts her where Apache is, right at the top.

Jagadeesh and Neil who struck on Natanza earlier combined successfully to win the Octogonal Plate through Tanoura who after a couple of listless efforts produced a `shocker’. The topweighted Erstklassig failed to display his true potential finishing a tame third behind Saffron Intense.

The opening event, the Doddaballapur Plate was claimed by the lesser fancied El Matador, The topweight from Mohd. Khan’s yard proved too good for his 11 rivals winning comfortably in the hands of Mukesh. The favourite Shivalik Boy finished a none-too-impressive third behind Oriental Belle.