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KARIEGA WINS EBCO LIVSMART MILLION

By Mahendra Mallya | 01 Feb 2020 | MUMBAI


Mr K N Dhunjibhoy & trainer Vishal Gaikwad (K Nazil Up), winner of The Ebco Livsmart Million

Vishal Gaikwad trained Kariega (Kingda Ka – Smoke Ring, Nanoli Stud) had to work hard and use up almost all her resources as she got the better of a fighting Rainbow Trout who looked the winner until beaten. Hot favourite Valegro was giving his rivals way too much weight, but he rallied well in the final furlong to save the place money in what panned out to be an gripping race.

Star Appearance set off at a good pace and had Mighty Warrior tagging along all the way into the straight. Mighty Warrior got the measure of the leader and soon got past to take charge early in the straight. However, he could not stay ahead too long as Rainbow Trout picked up speed and dashed past him easily to build a handy lead past the 400 m mark. Kariega was taking his time warming up, while Valegro started to improve positions, he was around sixth to run for home.

Rainbow Trout looked good as he had stolen a march and had a handy lead coming into the final furlong. It was all up to Kariega to lift his game and get Rainbow Trout. With the winning post fast approaching and Rainbow Trout not showing signs of letting up, Kariega had to find that extra gear to cover the two-length lead Rainbow Trout had as cushion with just over 100 meters to go. Jockey K Nazil rode hard and relentlessly and Kariega started to inch closer. One may have thought there was not enough ground for Kariega, however, Nazil didn’t think so and he got the filly finishing on with determination and Kariega rallied well with a last ditch effort to collar Rainbow Trout in the nick of time to win by a head at the wire and claim the Ebco Livsmart Million in an enthralling fashion. Valegro covered good ground to finish third well ahead of the others.

Jockey A Sandesh started the day with a bang homing in on a back to back double. He started the day with a delightful victory astride fancied Tasman (Arazan – Attractress, Poonawalla Stud) saddled by Sanjay Kolse.

Walk the Talk led them into the straight; Tasman improved considerably around the turn, skirting around Thunderclap and Saddle The Wind to get the clear run in the straight. Walk The Talk went about his motions as Tasman breezed past him within strides and then unleashed a powerful burst to draw away. Tasman galloped effortlessly getting into a fine rhythm and picking up speed with each stride. He looked the winner long way from home with no challenge forthcoming. Sweeping Move improved in the straight but could not even reduce the six-length margin that Tasman piled up past the post. Big Ben added more woes to the long -time leader Walk the Talk as he finished on to pip the early leader for place money.

Sandesh next guided Adhiraj Jodha’s Golden Era (Sedgefield – Feona, Jai Govind Stud) to a facile victory. Playing a waiting game over the 2400m race, Sandesh held Golden Era in check at the rear with only Gdansk behind him. Play Safe led them into the straight with Fleur De Lys close behind. Eagleinthesky made a quick forward move to pounce the duo in front. Golden Era then arrived with a strong challenge and drew level with Eagleinthesky with a furlong to go. Eagleinthesky fought hard, but Golden Era soon strode away outlasting his opponents to compile a comfortable victory sparing two lengths at the post. Eagleinthesky ran on to take the runner-up berth, while Gdansk improved from the last slot to finish third.

Bait And Switch (Varenar – Najah, Equus Stud) showed commendable improvement over his last start victory and produced an encore with a steaming stretch-run for her second straight victory. One For The Glory led deep into the straight with Lion King taking a while to get closer to the leader. When he was about to do so, Bait And Switch arrived with gigantic strides and the moment he picked up he looked the winner. Jockey Trevor got him going approaching the distance post and the Sunderji trainee was full of running packing a punch in her finish. She won easing up by a decent margin of two lengths. It’s a Deal put in a good run to beat Lion King and long-time leader One for the Glory for the second place.

Skyfall (Leitir Mor – Classic Sky, Poonawalla Stud) graduated well after an educative outing and neat maiden victory on her second start. Skyfall showed good early speed and jockey David Egan drove him ahead to lead the field and gallop at a nippy pace. Lifetime, Endeavour Ashwa Chintz were close behind with the rest a couple of lengths further back. Into the straight, Skyfall quickened well and broke away from Endeavour and Lifetime. Endeavour tried hard to stay in contention but found the winner too good. Market King warmed up a shade too late, but when he moved to top gear he came menacingly close to Skyfall. The Dallas Todywalla trainee however, had it covered and he managed to hold on by a long neck. Endeavour ended a close third. Market King’s finish was noteworthy and it pay to wager him the next time out.

The same trainer-jockey combination of Todywalla and Egan struck again in the concluding race of the day with Golden Steal (Leitir Mor – Sorrento Steel, Poonawalla Stud), this one at much better odds than Skyfall who was at four to one. Golden Steal chose the Derby eve to bring up his maiden win on his ninth start. It did not come easy though as jockey David Egan had to sustain the charge made by Golden Steal and the more fancied Mikayla’s Pride looming large on the outside. These two pulled away from those close behind and raged a tough battle, going neck and neck in the final furlong.Mikayla’s Pride drew level at one stage but could never hear Golden Steal.  With the winning post in sight, On Va Danser started to claw his way closer and to add to the excitement Scarlet Princess also arrived with a rush. Golden Steal however, held on warding off Mikayla’s Pride and the fastest finishing Scarlet Princess. On Va Danser did well to crowd the finish particularly because he lost ground at the start and was tailing the field all the way into the straight.

For the professionals, trainer Dallas Todywalla saddled a double, while jockeys A Sandesh and David Egan scored a double each as well.