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STARLIGHT WINS GHULAM AHMED MEMORIAL CUP

By Mahendra Mallya | 02 Dec 2018 | HYDERABAD


Trainer M Satyanarayana leading Starlight (G Naresh Up), winner of The Ghulam Ahmed Memorail Cup

Starlight (Royal Gladiator – Rainbow Fog) trained by Satyanarayana produced a sizzling stretch-run to smash the opposition to pulp while claiming the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup, the feature event of the day. When Mr Baahubali led them into the straight, Starlight was at the tail end of the field. Mr Baahubali soon faded out as Leading Legend word up good speed to storm ahead purposefully, Meritocracy was struggling to keep up as was Amazing Script as they went in chase of the new leader. It was all over when Starlight came charging in and struck like a bolt of lightning midway in the straight to pick up terrific momentum and he swooped upon them all in a trice and the race was all but over inside the final furlong.  Starlight, with jockey Naresh in the saddle, trounced the opposition and bounded away to score with authority. Leading Legend was overwhelmed, but galloped on take the runner up berth ahead of Magical Skill and Meritocracy.

Prasad Raju's Staridar (Oath – Starynessey) claimed the supporting event, the Artillery Cup in a close finish involving That's MY Magic. Staridar with jockey Suraj Narredu in the saddle was off to a good start and galloped at a good clip with Golden Fortune in second, just ahead of Hailstorm.

On entering the straight, Staridar showed no signs of relenting and soon both Golden Fortune and hailstorm came under pressure. That's My Magic lit up approaching the distance post and started to inch closer. Staridar however, kept the momentum going and skipping away with the winning post getting closer with every stride. That's My Magic had little time and he hurried off to set up the chase. He picked up good speed and arrived with an electrifying run, but Staridar pushed on grimly to smother the attack and stay ahead at the wire to win by a head.  Solar Heights too improved towards the finish and did well to beat Golden Fortune for the third place. Hailstorm's run was disappointing.

Just Like That (Eljohar – Sea Sand) from the stables of Anant Vatsalya, showed never-say-die attitude to deny a good effort from Dance All Night while clinching the first race of the day. Just Like That, ridden by Sai Kumar, had led them into the straight and built a handy lead. Blazing speed was not up it and squandered the good position he was entering the homestretch. Diesis Dream, Yogastha, Dance All Night and Maahishmathi were going all out, but were finding it difficult to catch up with the leader. Dance All Night warmed up nicely into the final furlong to close in on Just Like That, who started drifting out under pressure. Just when it looked like Dance All Night would get it, Just Like That produced a strong effort to quell the challenger and score an exciting victory by a narrow margin. Yogastha ended a tame third, while Maahishmathi did well to finish in the frame considering she had lost some ground at the start.

Popular fancy Hope is Eternal (Soldier of Fortune – Haskilclara), trained by LVR Deshmukh and ridden by Kuldeep Singh, obliged her large number of supporters with a determined gallop and come up trumps in a closely fought race. Reach the Heights had a good lead coming into the straight, but he folded up with a furlong still to go as City of Sails cruised past him. Hope is Eternal rallied along the rails and picked up speed in the last 150 meters or so and was getting closer to City of Sails at a quick pace. Royal Hero too started to rev up and arrived with a big finish. Hope of Eternal caught City of Sails just in time to dash past the wire, winning it by less than a length. Royal Hero just failed to pip City of Sails and ended a good third.

Trainer LVR Deshmukh struck again in the very nest race with Et Voici (Varenar – Sayuri) to bag a popular double. Et Voici led for a while and the settled in second as Limousine took charge until they turned for home. Limousine galloped on gamely with Et Voici about two lengths behind him, the rest were far behind and the crowds braced for a two-horse race in the homestretch. Et Voici took her time to find the top gear and get into the rhythm but once she did, she got better with every stride and eventually zipped past Limousine to win by two lengths. Limousine looked good until beaten. Lancashire was badly off yet managed some recovery to finish third.
Trainer Satyanarayana's ward Crimson Fire (Crimson China – Friendly Type) set the turf on fire with a blistering stretch-run that left the opposition dazed. He took off at a brisk rate with jockey Kuldeep Singh astride and built a handy lead inside the straight and kicked on relentlessly all the way to shut out any challenge from building at any stage. Top Sprint tried hard to make a race of it, but all his attempts fell flat. The fight was on only fir the minor placing as Top Sprint, Southern Meteor and Golden Xanthus finished closely in that order.

City of Akira (Lucifer Sam – Guiding Light) was backed with confidence and he obliged his backers with a scintillating gallop to come from behind and win, beating Silver Dollar close home. Silver Dollar had done all the hard work leading them well into the straight. His finishing effort too was a good one as he held sway for most of the stretch leading to the winning post. Handsome Duo warmed up late and just when he began his charge, City of Akira unleashed a powerful run, devouring ground briskly. Jockey Naresh got the filly to accelerate and they flashed past Silver Dollar to score an emphatic win. Silver Dollar ended a good second well ahead of handsome Duo.

For the professionals, trainer M Satyanarayana saddled a fine treble, while trainer LVR Deshmukh and jockeys G Naresh and Kuldeep Singh scored a double each.