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IMPRESSIVE LUCAS WINS FOURTH ESTATE TROPHY

By Mahendra Mallya | 07 Oct 2017 | PUNE


Mr Sarosh Modi & trainer Nazak Chenoy leading Lucas (Santosh G Up), winner of The Fourth Estate Trophy

Nazak Chenoy schooled Lucas (Phoenix Tower – Trinity Joy, Manjri Stud) added yet another victory with an impressive performance winning the Fourth Estate Trophy, justifying the cramped odds offered on him. Celtic Prince tried the runaway tactics darting ahead soon on start and building a handy lead coming into the straight. Lucas with apprentice jockey G Santosh in the saddle, settled in second with Staristocrat for company and Magnificence in close behind.

Celtic Prince galloped into the straight with a handy lead of about four lengths with Lucas showing no hurry even as they turned for home. Once jockey Santosh gave him the go, Lucas started to bridge the gap smoothly and in the final furlong, sailed past Celtic Prince to score his third victory on the trot between Mumbai and Pune, notching up his fifth career win from nine starts.

The Chenoys had another success later in the day with Bezan Chenoy ward Pacific Dunes (Multidimensional – Dhaawiah, Greentree Stud) producing a fiery finish to slay the front-runners to score a fine victory and clinch the Pune Racing Journalists Trophy in style.

Favourite Admo was off to a good start and settled in second behind Bullion Express for most of the way. The eighteen-horse field was closely bunched up with Pacific Dunes closer to the rear end along with Tomahawk and Finest Moment, the latter named duo also doing well to finish second and fourth respectively.

Out in front, Admo barely took charge at the turn when Rising Brave started to wear him down. Rising Brave soon charged ahead and shaped well too. Admo looked defeated the moment he lost his lead and there was no fight back coming from him. Rising Brave had a good lead approaching the final furlong mark; however Pacific Dunes with apprentice Santosh astride arrived with a scorching gallop to sail past Rising Brave and score a convincing victory. Tomahawk, making his bid from the outside, finished full of steam to beat Rising Brave for the runner up berth. Finest Moment also covered considerable ground and did well to finish in the frame.    

Shiraz Sunderji trained Collegium (Varenar – Alma Mater, Equus Stud) brought about his maiden success with a runaway victory, leading on the way once the big field of 15 had settled down. Once he led them into the straight, Collegium powered his way further ahead with jockey CS Jodha in firm control. A couple of crisp cracks had Collegium bouncing away from the rest in quick time. Collegium looked the winner long way from home and this victory ought to boost his confidence for the future.  Debutante Khartoum after languishing in the rear half of the field was urged to finish on and he improved towards the end doing reasonably well to beat the fast-finishing Cool Eyes for the second.

Malesh Narredu trained Frivolous (Misremembered – Christmas Fever, Hazara Stud) exhibited fine staying ability and won the Pegasus Trophy without encountering any danger. Jockey PS Chouhan settled Frivolous in the third spot behind Caesars Star and Lord Arazan for most of the 2400 m journey and made fluent headway past the 800 to take charge early in the straight and then romp away to an easy victory. Othello tried hard to make a race of it and it did appear that he would post a challenge when he surged past Jager Bomb with a furlong to go. However, Frivolous was simply too good on the day and Othello had to settle for the turner up berth.

Trainer Malesh Narredu sent out another winner in Quixotic (Stern Opinion – Le Louvre, Pratap Stud) in the concluding race of the day. Taking off nicely from the gates, Quixotic enjoyed the early advantage and galloped briskly to lead them into the straight. Double Nine moved quickly to second and then tried to mount a challenge. Naumee who was right with this pair, could not find much but kept the others at bay to take the place stakes. Meanwhile, Quixotic with young apprentice Vishal Bunde in the saddle, galloped on resolutely to ward off Double Nine and score a well-fought victory. Double Nine was giving a chuck of weight to the winner and settled to finish a good second, well ahead of Naumee.

Record-breaking Wild Fire was expected to pick up her third victory after two impressive wins and had opened at cramped odds ante-post. After an opening at half-money at race time, the odds drifted to 80/100 at starting time. Jockey Dashrath Singh reported unwell and was replaced by the in-form jockey A Imran Khan.

Wild Fire was pushed to take the lead from Victorio and Goldie’s Pet improved quickly to be a close third. Wild Fire emerged into the straight with a handy lead, but failed to sustain as she had done in the recent past. Goldie’s Pet quickened well to zip ahead in the final furlong and then stretch further away to hand a comprehensive defeat to Wild Fire. Jockey Neeraj Rawal waited to launch his attack at the precise moment and got the Dallas Todywalla trained filly going at just the right time, guiding Goldie’s Pet to her second successive victory this season. Shaoqing saved the place money without troubling either the winner of the runner up.

Trainer Narendra Lagad opened the day’s proceedings with a fine win with Warlock (Varenar – Calorescence, Equus Stud) ably ridden by jockey Dashrath Singh. Bottom weighted Tareef shot into the lead with Bee Quirky moving quickly to settle in second, Warlock was right behind these two with Arc of Passion and Milwalkee alongside.

Bee Quirky slipped along the inner rails to march on ahead working up a nice pace to stretch well ahead. Warlock moved to second but had a gap to cover. Bee Quirky shaped like a winner inside the final furlong, but was shocked at the business end by Warlock. Warlock got going and produced a blinder in the last 150 meters to not only tackle Bee Quirky but completely overwhelm the leader. The final burst of Warlock was too good to handle for Bee Quirky, Warlock eventually winning by a good margin. Ricardus ran on to finish third.

Pricelessgirl (Noverre – A Girl, Sohna Stud) put her best hoof forward to taste her maiden success. She shot out of the gates and grabbed the lead early and then galloped away relentlessly to score her first win on her seventh start. Grappa moved in from the rails and tried hard to get at the C Rajendra ward, but could never get close enough at any stage. Pricelessgirl kicked on gamely and won with a measure of comfort. Adele improved positions in the straight to finish a tame third.

For the professionals, trainer Malesh Narredu and apprentice jockey scored a double each.