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HIGHLY ACCLAIMED WINS TRHOA TROPHY

By Mahendra Mallya | 16 Feb 2020 | HYDERABAD


Trainer S Srinivas Ready leading Highly Acclaimed (Surya Prakash up), winner of The Telangana Race Horse Owners Association Trophy

Deshmukh-trained Highly Acclaimed (Phoenix Tower – Play That Tune) showed that he had worked his way to top form after a stretch of patchy performances in recent times, to score an emphatic victory after a long wait of one year. His recent morning gallops had been eye-catching and he showed his fitness levels in the race rallying well when collared by Isabella to fight back and snatch victory close home.

He was out quickly from the gates and when they entered the straight, Isabella was right by him. Apprentice jockey Surya Prakash got to work soon and hard to work harder when Isabella drew level with him inside the final furlong. Isabella even headed him briefly but a never-say-die effort from the jockey ensured that Highly Acclaimed dug deeper to fight back strongly to hit the wire with a neck to spare. Favourite Agni just could not match up and ended a tame third.

Kesariya Balam (Kinghts Tour – Brindisi) saddled by Sequeira, romped home to an impressive victory to claim the Nagarjuna Cup. Hot favourite Ruletheworld ran out of gas after racing up with the pace until deep into the straight. Alliston set a steady pace and entered the straight with Ruletheworld on his tail. Once into the straight, Alliston couldn’t last long. Ruletheworld had barely gone past when Kesariya Balam cruised along on the outside to simply draw away from the field. Ruletheworld was listless and could not even hit the frame as Artistryy, Gazebo and Miss Marvellous all got past to settle for the minor slots. Kesariya Balam won untroubled and it was pleasing to see jockey Ashhad Asbar make timely progress to emerge from the mid=bunch and launch an all-out attack in the homestretch and pull off a bloodless win.

Trainer Sequeira had earlier led in three winners taking his tally for the day to four with Kesariya Balam. His winning role started with House of Diamonds (Smugglers Cove – Choice House) in the first race of the day.

Capriconia had a slender lead turning for home with Chuckit and Beautiful Luv moving up alongside. House of Diamonds arrived with jockey Suraj Narredu waiting to pounce on the trio in front. Once house of Diamonds got into the groove, the debutante accelerated fluently to surge ahead easily and then started to eat up ground to bounce away from his rivals. House of Diamonds won easing up and had a couple of lengths lead passing the winning post registering a fluent win on debut. Saffron Art came in with a steaming gallop too at the finish, ending a good second although well behind the winner. Chuckit saved the place money.

Sequeira’s next success came when Curcumin (Charmo – Hele) put in that scintillating burst to come from nowhere and shock the field in the last 50 meters. Wood Bridge looked on his way when he took charge passing Takisha and Gladstone approaching the distance post. He was in full flight and once he went clear of the front runners, he was hailed as the winner. But that was premature assumption as Curcumin burst on to the scene and covered ground at terrific speed and managed to pip Wood Bridge on the post, a task that looked improbable if not impossible just a few seconds back. Jockey Afroz Khan could not have timed his run any better. A dead-heat too looked possible, but Curcumin got it by the shortest of margins. Blazing Speed improved to peg back Gladstone for place money.

In the very next race Sequeira’s Staridar (Oath – Starrynessey) held on the charge of late finishing Dandy Man to carve out a narrow win. Staridar was off to a slow star but jockey Suraj Narredu improved positions steadily, yet was in about seventh at the turn. Those in front were weakening and when Staridar made his move, he got past them all with ease. The issue was to hold on to the lead all the way to the post. Suraj worked his way to stay ahead and Staridar too was up to the task. It looked a close call when Dandy Man warmed up and started to cover ground briskly. Lockhart too was gaining on Staridar and the race came to a boil in the last 100 meters. Staridar however, never slackened and in the end prevailed by a neck from Dandy Man. Lockhart finished third beating The Special One by just half a length.

S Sreenath’s Destined Dynamite (Charmo – Desert Dynamite) had missed out last time by a thin margin but made up for that loss with a fine showing to win with a measure of comfort.

Golden Hope led them into the straight with Bayrd, Big Brave, Dancing Dynamite and Top Contender all ready to step on it. NRI Heights, had to make a lot of ground after falling to the last position approaching the final turn. It was Dancing Dynamite who flashed past to go into the lead and then picked up momentum to steer clear of the others. He galloped away to score a convincing victory with a decent margin. Bayrd finished second just ahead of Top Contender and Big Brave.

L D’Silva trained Aintree (Green Coast – Coco Chanel) produced a sweet run in the homestretch to prevail handsomely, looking the winner the moment she took off. Beauty on Parade, led them into the straight and had Lightning Pearl gaining on her. Aintree took the turn wide but got going instantly. She quickened well and soon surged ahead of the front runners and then galloped on at a good clip to shut the opposition out. Lightning Pearl kicked on well and just about held on to grab the runner up berth. Crazy Horse was the one to catch the eye, finishing on from a long way back to nearly pip Lightning Pearl, but did very well to finish in the money.

Starboy (Knight’s Tour – Watch) put his one run experience to good use and held his nerve in the straight to score his maiden win on his second start. Vallee Ikon led them into the straight with Negress Princess close behind, Star Boy start to quicken past the 400 m and assumed command. Star Boy was ridden out by apprentice Surya Prakash and he had a handy lead coming into the final furlong. Brush The Sky arrived with threatening strides in the final stages of the race, but Starboy kicked on gamely to score by one length. Brush The Sky ended a good second ahead of New State.

Let It Be Me (Chinese Whisper – Oceanic Wisdom) saddled by L D”Silva held on precariously to deny Jo Malone victory in the concluding race of the day. On a start to finish mission, Let It Be Me galloped fluently all the way and had a handy lead entering the straight. He kept the momentum going but then when Jo Malone and London Bridge started to close in, Let It Be Me started to drift out under pressure, taking Jo Malone along. The trainer of Jo Malone lodged an objection, but the stewards overruled it. Let It Be Me won by half a length from Jo Malone and London Bridge.

Trainer RH Sequeira was the star of the day saddling four winners, L D’Silva landed a double. For the jockeys, Suraj Narredu and Surya Prakash scored a double each.