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SHIVALIK SHOWERS WINS A CLOSE CONTEST

By Epsom Ace | 30 Nov 2019 | KOLKATA


Trainer J E Mckeown leading Shivalik Showers (P Vikram Up), winner of The Delhi Race Club(1940)Ltd Cup

In a nail-biting finish to the Delhi Race Club Cup at RCTC on Saturday, eight-year-old warhorse Shivalik Showers (Dancing Forever-Sun Showers) got the better of piping hot favourite Shivansh at the wire. Apprentice P. Vikram took the James Mckeown-trained winner to the helm of affairs from the word ‘go’ and held on by a neck after Shivansh had drifted to the outer rails under pressure. Heavily gambled Capricious made a bold bid along the rails and ended up just a neck behind the runner-up.  

The BOL Publication Cup saw Shafiq Khan – trained Beatrix (Decado-Brilliance) complete a hat-trick with considerable ease. The filly had won a race last monsoon and subsequently won both her outings this winter. With Dhanu Singh Deora in the saddle, she left her eight rivals standing after allowing Yuvan to set the early pace. The Mckeown pair of Avellino and Alpheratz filled the minor berths.

The afternoon commenced with Arti Doctor-trained Simply Soaring (Air Support-Sabre Dance) winning the Coppelia Handicap effortlessly from the second favourite El Mulano. Public choice Artiste Royal ended up fourth. Apprentice RS Bhati gave the well-bred three-year-old filly from the renowned stable of Manjri Stud a perfect ride and there are more races in store for her.     

Trainer Bharath Singh and his trusted knight Dashrath were seen back in action after some time. The pair opened their account with Kantai (Ravel-Minnie Mouse) who had to be hard ridden to get the better of the tote favourite Surf Romance. It was a poor field of seven runners and the rest of the field were also rans. The trainer-jockey partnership completed their well-earned brace with Tia Queen ( Eljohar-Real Queen) who produced a stunning gallop in the straight to sail past the favourite Moskova. Iconia seems to be getting back her form and she ended up a creditable third.

The withdrawal of The Hound and Mystic Senora left only eight in the field for the two-year-olds’ race named the Sylvana Plate. Trainer Vijay Singh had the numbers in his favour and his best prepared sprinter Copacabana (Stardan-Moonscape) won with a degree of comfort as Nikhil Naidu took no chances and headed the field from the outset.

The final event, The Sound Of Cheers Handicap, showed the local lot in poor light as the three runners in the betting were all recent imports from western India. The 11/10 favourite Double Nine did well to collar Lesrel near the distance  post but had no answer to the thunderous gallop unleashed by top-weight Riquewihr ( Phoenix Tower-Cocoanut Squeak) in the hands of Neeraj Rawal. The four-year-old filly from Javed Khan’s yard seems to be on an upward graph and will be worth keeping an eye on.