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SEA LION RUNS AWAY WITH 2000 GUINEAS

By Epsom Ace | 12 Dec 2021 | KOLKATA


Trainer Neil Darashah leading in Sea Lion (A Sandesh up) winner of the Bookmakers Association Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Gr.2)

Trainer Neil Darashah’s bay gelding Sea Lion (Phoenix Tower – Tropical Blue) ran away with the Bookmakers Association Calcutta 2000 Guineas at RCTC on Sunday. Ridden by ace jockey Sandesh, the joint property of Rohini Thuppal and Manjri Stud left the nine-horse field standing after the turning for home. The on-money favourite Jake was not sighted after the bend, while the minor placings were occupied by unfancied runners Eastwood and The Protector. The MAM pair of Legendary Striker and Monsoon Derby winner Oasis also finished in the ruck.

In his post-race comments, Neil Darshah thanked the Almighty and Dr. Mirza for the remarkable recovery made by his ward after a major setback. Jockey Sandesh, for his part, said that after a mock race in Bangalore, he knew that this youngster was something special.

Trainer Neil Darashah thus completed a brace, having led in Vanguard (Tenth Star- Eliza Gilbert) in the opening race of the day. That too was a remarkable triumph, considering it was the maiden start of the gelding. Jockey Chetan Gowda had him racing in the rear of the field while Lightinthesky set a good pace followed by the favourite Arrow. The latter took over the running in the straight but was soon collared by the eventual winner who may win again in the near future.

In the Bengal Sub Area Cup, HS Bath-trained Adornica (Sedgefield-Another Start), with Nikhil Naidu in the saddle,  fought a keen battle with Creation Of God before prevailing in a tight finish. The ante-post favourite Nishk finished a bad last after showing out early while Script was a faraway third.

The Eastern Command Cup saw Vikash Jaiswal-trained Fenicia Mist (Saamidd-Yamuna) land the spoils despite veering out a little in the straight under the whip. Jockey Neeraj Rawal rode her out hands and heels in the final furlong and staved off a strong challenge from fast-finishing Sitara. The ante-post favourite Court Jester was never in it while Exotic Queen shot her bolt at the distance post after showing some early promise.

Jockey Akshay Kumar recorded a double during the afternoon. The first of his winners was Vijay Singh-trained Dandi Satyagraha (Chevalier-Salt) who won the Army Services Corps Cup. Front-running Louboutin held on o the runner-up berth while Yuvi was a close third. There was some support for Taimur’s Choice but she ended up a lacklustre fifth.

The curtain came down with Akshay riding a power-packed finish astride Javed Khan-trained Who Dares Wins (Win Legend-Eastern Summit) to get the better of Santana close home in the race for the Lt Gen Jameel Mahmood Memorial Cup. A minute’s silence was observed before the commencement of the races in memory of Gen Bipin Rawat and his entourage which perished in a helicopter crash few days earlier.