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PUNTERS RETURN HOME WITH PINK BAGS FULL

By Ikram Khan | 27 Jul 2019 | BANGALORE


Trainer B Prithviraj leading Spirit Of London (A Sandesh Up), winner of The Elusive Pimpernel Cup

On a day punters returned home with pink bags full, the topweighted Aine from Pradeep Annaiah's yard, who had disappointed on a couple of occasions when her connections fancied set the favourite trend in the opening event, the Aureole Time Plate run over 1100M dash. The public choice in the hands of leading pro Srinath hit the front and showed a clean pair of heels to her seven rivals to the delight of the railbirds, back after a good day at the Pune races on Friday. Sun Power from Imtiaz Khan's yard gained the runner-up berth ahead of Genuine Star while Areca Angel filled the frame. 

On the strength of his eye-catching second behind Galvarino in a sprint dash, Colonel Harty from Narayan Gowda's yard was rightly fancied to score in the Astronomic Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The favourite did that in style providing Rajesh Kumar an easy pillar to post ride. Sharp Response from Darius Byramji's yard finished second ahead of Stars In His Eyes, while the topweighted Raw Gold followed the Satish Narredu ward. Now That Colonel Harty has entered the winners' circle he is set to provide an encore taking into account that he has the ability to make his presence felt against higher rated rivals. 

After failing to justify favouritism in his last essay on Derby-day, the Neil Darashah schooled Electra, who encountered rough passage and had to rest content with the third spot behind the winner Crack Of Dawn and runner-up Musterion, was wisely asked to display her true potential in less than a week in the Baraloy Plate run over a mile. Neil chose to entrust the task to apprentice Chetan Gowda, confident that his charge would beat this moderate set. He was proved right, Chetan Gowda driving home Electra to a convincing victory ahead of the lesser fancied Radiant Treasure and the facile last start winner Smile Of Joy who too was strongly fancied by the Dominic camp. 

The favourite trend continued, punters enjoying a fine run while doubling their investments and merrily cashing in. Spirit Of London from trainer Prithviraj's yard was strongly fancied in the Elusive Pimpernal Cup and the favourite powerfully piloted by Mumbai-based leading pro Sandesh produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to gain the day ahead of the fast-finishing Reczai and Tokyo Rose. San Bernardino, who had assumed command at the top of the straight and raised hopes among her supporters packed up the moment she came under pressure and failed to even make the frame. 

After the favourites came up tops in the first four events, it was the turn of the Sharath Kumar-trained Dreams United to maintain the streak in the next event, the Sha Tin Plate run over a mile and the public choice donkey-licked his eight rivals to romp home by a widening margin of six lengths from Phoenix Reached. The winner piloted by Irvan Singh streaked ahead at the distance post and without being unduly extended raced home to the joy of the railbirds. Silent Ruler finished a tame third ahead of Shaktiman. Dreams United on the strength of this victory is certain to repeat when saddled next if his connections judiciously place him in the weeks ahead. 

To make it a rare all favourites day, the onus was on the overwhelming favourite Schafenburg from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard in the final event, the Divine Light Plate run over a sprint. And the top gun Trevor Patel fresh from his popular treble recorded at Pune on Friday had no problems guiding home the public choice to a resounding victory to make it a memorable day for the punters, all six first choices hoisting the winning flag high and proud. Debutant Magic Stream from Darius Byramji's yard caught the eye while finishing a creditable third ahead of Rorito while the second in demand at the betting ring, Blue Bliss after making all the early running ran out of gas in the final two furlongs and eventually finished in the ruck.