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AIKA AIKA AIKA SLAMS THE AIR COMMAND CUP

By Madhukar Bhagawan | 06 Aug 2017 | HYDERABAD


Trainer R H Sequeira leading Aika Aika Aika (Akshay Kumar Up), winner of The Air Command Cup

R.H.Sequeira trained Aika Aika Aika (Win Legend-Masquenada / Dashmesh Stud) treated the field with disdain in the Air Command Cup at Hyderabad. The chestnut filly a winner of its last run on the winter track here had made an un-successful bid at the North India Derby in Delhi in the month of March. Posted as the on-money favourite among the dozen runners the filly raced in about sixth as the approached the final turn even as the lead kept changing between Mr Baahubali and King Of Pop. As they came into the straight Aika Aika Aika was asked for a gallop from the outside by Akshay Kumar and she responded with an incredible acceleration to leave the field far behind. In a blanket finish for the minor places Alameda, Vijay Viraaj, and Time For Fun went past the post in that order.

The speedy Chase Your Dreams (Excellent Art-Star Goddess) from trainer Laxman Singh’s yard kept its career graph right on top with a fourth win on the trot in the Shivkumar Lal Memorial Cup. Racing a handy third behind Amorous White and Aragonda Princess till the last 400 metres Chase Your Dreams shot between the pair to take command. Pentagon started to get closer inside the last 100 metres but Chase The Dreams and Y.S.Srinath had made their ground to get the ‘public money’ safe home. Amorous White stayed on in third ahead of Southern Crown.

Donald Netto trained Bayrd (Ace-Sonic Symphony) finally made it to the winner’s enclosure in the race for maidens’ the Silverado Plate. Jumping out from the widest draw in a field of ten, Bayrd was well with the bunch in front and was tracking the leader All Star General as they approached the home bend. Inside the last 400 metres Bayrd surged ahead to grab the lead and kicked on by a good margin even as the favourite Hope Is Eternal fought on for the runner-up berth from Seven Eleven. Boca Grande finished on being fourth.

 Jockey Akshay who had ridden the winner in the main event shared the day’s honours with trainer K.Satheesh with a treble. Destined Dynamite and Composure were the other two winners of Akshay. Destined Dynamite (Charmo-Desert Dynamite) gave reasons for trainer Arjun Anne to smile while scoring an encore in a thrilling finish in the division I of the Turf Club Cup. Not finding enough speed in the early part of the six furlongs sprint Destined Dynamite raced in around sixth or seventh as Prime Time went on a start to finish bid followed by Palace On Wheels, Vancouver and others. Inside the last furlong Shandaar and On The Fire started to devour ground from the outside and Destined Dynamite was on its task the widest. The three of them sped past the winning post almost together and the ‘Dynamite’ was Destined to get the nod by a whisker from Shandaar. On The Fire and Prime Time finished third and fourth respectively in the same picture frame. Darakhshan Setarah was a non-starter in the race.

K.Satheesh’s Composure was taken on a start to finish bid by Akshay Kumar over the 1200 metres trip and the filly held on gamely to win the Nirmal Plate by half a length from the favourite Mandy. Shakesphere was in contention close behind the fighting duo but fell back slightly still in third. Chinese Thought filled the frame.

Satheesh saddled a back to back double through Sweet Story and wraped up a treble through Ice Crystal in the last race of the day. Sweet Story (Mathematecian-Four Seasons) who had fared badly in its last start after a slow start was out of the gates quickly this time out and raced in mid-field in the Vikarabad Plate while Cannon King took a long lead. Entering the straight Cannon King shortened its stride and Run Rey slipped in along the rails. Sweet Story got stronger from the outside and with the two in a keen tussle Satheesh’s filly scored a maiden win in a photo finish. War Lady and Royal Striker finished third and fourth respectively.

Ice Crystal (Noverre-Mandavilla) rallied strongly from behind to nail Hunter’s Pride on the last stride in the Mirza Ghalib Plate. Hunter’s Pride shot to the front as the gates opened and went on a start to finish bid. Even as Hunter’s Pride held the advantage into the final furlong and was looking good Ice Crystal came out of the pack and with a strong rally edged out the leader by a ‘head’. Golden Xanthus and Dhool Ka Phool finished third and fourth respectively.

Trainer L.V.R.Deshmukh and jockey R.J.Hannam had their solitary success through Highly Acclaimed (Phoenix Tower-Play That Tune)in the lower division of the Turf Club Cup. Sent off as an on-money favourite for the race Highly Acclaimed rushed to the front soon after the start and made every post a winning one since. Warrior Supreme was on a futile chase all through the straight. Celtic Queen and Supurinto filled the frame in that order.

Anupam Sharma trained Shivalik Arrow (Rebuttal-Queen Consort / Hazara Stud) opened its account in the opening race of the day, the division II of the Best Of Bold Plate. Coming from behind in the last 150 metres Shivalik Arrow sped past Ice Mummy who was on a start to finish bid. Ayur Jyothi finished third ahead of Ryuzaki.