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PRICELESS GOLD WINS KANTEERAVA TROPHY

By Ikram Khan | 11 Dec 2021 | BANGALORE


Trainer Rajesh Narredu leading Priceless Gold (Yash Narredu Up), winner of The Kanteerava Cup

On Friday, it was Prasanna Kumar who stole the limelight recording a treble and Rajesh Narredu hit the high road the next day. The youngster cornered glory leading in three and with papa Satish Narredu dropping a bombshell, the (20/1) shot Wonder Wench recording a shock victory in the Sun Absolute Plate run over a mile, the Narredus won four of the seven events including the feature event, the Kanteerava Trophy.

Priceless Gold from Rajesh Narredu’s yard was fancied most to win the plum. The winner on the strength of his impressive victory last week was backed to the exclusion of his five rivals and he readily justified the confidence of his supporters romping home in style. Yash Narredu, who partnered Priceless Gold in his last essay confidently guided home the Rajesh ward, who is certain to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next. Arch rival Bellator followed the leader home, while the topweighted Psychic Warrior finished a tame third ahead of Velocidad.

Earlier Rajesh opened his account through the public rage Recall Of You. The bred in the purple youngster was touted one safe bet in the seven-event card and the filly proved it right cruising home in effortless style, while providing Suraj a comeback win. Ocean Dunes expectedly gained the runner-up berth ahead of Raven Rock who was strongly fancied in place.

Back after his success on Recall Of You, Suraj had it easy on the money-back favourite Knight In Hooves who proved too good for his seven rivals in the upper division of the Toroloco Plate run over a sprint. Now that the talented Knight In Hooves is back at his best, he will be a force to reckon with in listed events in the months ahead. Baltimore and Flamingo Road from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard finished second and third respectively and it will not be long before the former earns her cornbill.

It was good to see trainer Padmanabhan lead in a winner this winter after a couple of his fancied wards had failed to flash home first early on in the season. The lesser fancied Kings Speech piloted by Neeraj Rawal edged out Eco Friendly by the shortest of margins in a humdinger. Dream Chaser from Prithviraj’s yard was not really extended, while finishing a noticeable third and is one for the notebook. The favourite Cinco De Mayo performed below par and is best left ignored until this son of Green Coast shows some spark in the months ahead.

Alexis Zorba from trainer Neil Darashah’s yard was fancied most in the three-year-old maidens event run over a mile. Lantana from the stables of Darius Byramji and the Neil Devaney schooled Devils Magic who let down large following in his last effort too were fancied strongly to shed the maiden status. But all three remained maidens at the end of the mile event. Wonder Wench from Satish Narredu’s yard piloted by Rayan Ahmed stunned the followers of form winning by close to five lengths from Limited Edition, while Lantana and Alexis Zorba failed to even make the frame.

The Irfan Ghatala-trained Griffin and Regal Music from Inayathullah’s yard were fancied most in the Cielo Rey Plate run over a sprint before Griffin piloted by apprentice Salman Khan closed firm favourite. The top fancy didn’t disappoint his followers producing his best at the all-important end to power home a convincing winner. Regal Music finished second ahead of Donna Bella while the topweighted Hokkaido found the sprint trip too sharp for his liking.

The good word doing the rounds in the Dominic camp was that Caracas will easily score in the concluding event, the Agostini Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The favourite, who opened at (6/4) was backed down to even money before he was easily being offered at (2/1), the moment betting gained momentum on Tenali. But Dominic camp’s rating proved right, Caracas winning easily in the hands of Akshay Kumar.