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CAPRISCA WINS CN WADIA GOLD CUP (GR2) IN STYLE

By Mahendra Mallya | 10 Mar 2019 | MUMBAI


Mr K H Vachha leading Caprisca (A Sandesh Up), winner of The C. N. Wadia Gold Cup (Gr.2)

Caprisca (Steinbeck – Xisca, Usha Stud) showed his class while carrying top weight to victory, clinching the CN Wadia Gold Cup (Cup) with surprising ease. Staying off the pace and in the last position, detached from the four in front, Caprisca was confidently ridden by jockey Sandesh to finish full of steam and canter away to another glorious win. 

B Fifty Two led for a long while and then passed the baton on to Selfie Star after the half-way mark with Mathaiyus keen to race alongside the front runners. Vulcan stuck to the rails while Caprisca was another two-and-half lengths behind in the rear. Mathaiyus could not quicken once they turned for home and was a pale shadow of his past self and will take a while to return to his best. Selfie Star looked spent turning for home and had little to offer. Vulcan progressed well and just when he was about to take charge, Caprisca moved up powerfully and simply stormed past them all and showed her staying prowess combining it with the dazzling speed she has shown so often in the past. She proved just too good for the opposition and the fact that she was giving weight to the runner-up Vulcan – a good eight kilos, made it even more commendable. All Vulcan do was to watch Caprisca swish his tail and gallop away mean and fast. His spotless performance would have given great joy to his trainer Imtiaz A Sait was recovering in a hospital following a heart attack recently. Team Indiarace wishes a speedy recovery to the veteran trainer who is among the popular professionals on the circuit. Caprisca’s smooth victory without causing any anxiety would have done a lot of good and should speed up his master’s return to office. 

Bateleur (Western Aristocrat – Al Khazneh, Nanoli Stud) thrilled his large number of supports with a clinical start-to-finish essay and none of his rivals could even sniff his tail. The Vishal Gaikwad ward galloped in fine rhythm right from the start and maintained a safe distance from his rivals all the way through. He stepped up the pace once they turned for home and was drawing away from Eyes For You, the second in demand after Bateleur.  Eyes of You never looked in the hunt and surrendered even the runner up berth to Grand Accord, who improved from the last position to beat the rest. Bateleur was notches ahead and won the Mulraj GoculdasTrophy with ridiculous ease. 

Iron Age (Strong Suit – Intrigue, Manjri Stud) was another gem from Imtiaz Sait’s yard who brought delight to the camp. Jockey Zervan seemed to be well on course to victory and he was indeed. Iron Age had a sizable lead coming into the straight, with neither early companion Wild Fire nor Pokerface making any impact on Iron Age. The bay gelding galloped on mindless of the goings-on behind him and was a good four lengths in front when Excellent Gold started to warm up. Excellent Gold picked up speed and arrived with a short burst of brilliance, but was too late to topple Iron Age. He did cover considerable ground and was easily the fastest of the two in the final 100, however, he had too much to do and too little ground to do it in. Iron Age held on grimly to pocket the KN Munshi Trophy with a narrow margin. 

Vishal Gaikwad’s Castilian (Power – Oyster Reef, Nanoli Stud) scored a splendid win on debut, with jockey Akshay doing a good job in the saddle. Favourite Belenus was knocked a few times by Bait And Switch at the turn and that could have ruffled his rhythm. Courageous Star was badly checked after finding himself on the rails, with Black Cherry weakening right in front of him. It was a rough ride alright up in front. However, Castilian moved up nicely early in the straight and was well away from all the rough jostle among the rookies in the front. Castilian picked up good speed and just a couple of cracks got her to accelerate well to zip ahead in the final furlong to win with something to spare and bag the Nadia Mary Homi Wadia Trophy on debut. Bait And Switch was also a bit green and did rough up the favourite, yet he managed to race ahead until done in by the speedy finish of Castilian. Mirabilis ran on to take the third spot.  

Fleur De Lys (Arazan – Priceless Memories, Poonawalla Stud) notched up her second victory, this time over 2000m to win the Jayaramdas Patel Gold Cup with a measure of comfort. The Imtiaz Sait trainee followed early leader Rousseau all the way into the straight and then took charge early in the straight. Jockey PS Chouhan had her on tight reins all the way into the straight and as he asked her for an effort, Fleur De Lys responded with a strong gallop to stay ahead of Brazos and Its A Deal who were the closest behind her. Fleur De Lys kicked on gamely ad never gave even a whiff of a chance to her rivals and won sparing two lengths to Its A Deal. Brazos finished third. 

Kingsman (Phoenix Tower – Marquisa, Manjri Stud) veered outward slightly and that had him race in the rear of the seven-horse field, all the way until into the straight. Relentless Pursuit led them in but soon had Western Front challenging him. Pablo was not too far behind, when Kingsman started to rally from the outside. Jockey PS Chouhan had it under control as he knew he was gaining on the trio in front. Kingsman picked up momentum inside the final furlong and collared his opponents with ease and drew away in the final 100 meters to score a facile victory. Western Front edged out Relentless Pursuit for the runner-up berth. 

Ten to One shot Pulverize (Saamidd – Feminine Touch, Hazara Stud) chalked his maiden win on his 12th start as he galloped on stubbornly all the way in the straight. Red Carnation did apply pressure as did Ebony in the final moments, but the Karthik trainee was resolute until the last stride to carve out a much needed and memorable first win. Ebony doesn’t seem to have the luck on her side and yet again finished close behind the winner. Red Carnation too missed out on good chance while finishing a close third. 

For the professionals, trainer Imtiaz Sait saddled a fine treble, trainer Vishal Gaikwad and jockey PS Chouhan scored a double each.