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STUNNING FORCE WINS MIR FAZILATH HUSSAIN MEMORIAL CUP

By Mahendra Mallya | 26 Dec 2021 | HYDERABAD


Trainer S S F Hassan leading Stunning Force (Mukesh Kumar Up), winner of The Mir Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup

Sunday races at Hyderabad came alive with a good number of races going all the way to the wire. The feature event too panned out to be a thriller with Stunning Force (Lord Admiral – Czarina), trained by Hassan, putting in a truly stunning effort to pip Kingston on the last stride and clinching the Mir Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup on the last stride!

Her Legacy bowed out after leading them into the straight. Kingston shaped well as he surged into the lead with a furlong and half to go. He accelerated well and looked on his way. However, Stunning Force, with Mukesh in the saddle, came alive with a spirited challenge. The duo fought hard going stride for stride and ultimately it was the bob of the heads which went in favor of Stunning Force by a short-head. Intense Approach got closer towards the end to finish third beating House of Diamonds by a length.

Sacred Lamp (Royal Gladiator – Lamplight) trained by Ravinder Singh, too carved out a similar win to claim the division I of the Sangam Plate. Rhythm Selection further increased his lead on turning for home and shaped well approaching the distance post. Sun Dancer took a couple of strides to launch into the super drive mode and when he did, he closed in rapidly on Rhythm Selection. Just when it looked like either of the two would nose the wire first, Sacred Lamp, with Abhay Singh up, charged upon them with a terrific burst of speed to get the nod right in a blinding finish. The winner was inseparable to the naked eye. Sacred lamp won by the shortest of margins from Sun Dancer and Rhythm Selection finished a neck behind the runner up.

Linewiler (West Virginia – Shades of Beauty) did most things right to justify the all round support the Laxman Singh trainee garnered. He was up in the front bunch and made his move at an opportune time to zip ahead of Sheldon who led them all the way. Jockey Mukesh Kumar urge Linewiler and the gelding responded with a fluent gallop to surge further away from Sheldon. Circumin, who was in the second last position, made a dash for it in the final furlong. He covered a lot of ground but he did well to finish on the haunches of Linewiler the latter winning by less than a length. Sheldon too ended a close third.

Ravindra Singh trained Able Love (Sedgefeild – Lopamudra) put up a stiff fight to notch up a well-deserved victory, fighting off two fancied runners in Lifes Song and Angelita. Hard To Toss led them into the straight with Indian Glory in chase, but Able Love quickened well to grab the lead with a furlong to go. Lifes Song took a while to warm up, while Angelita arrived with a good gallop a tad too late. Able Love, with Nikhil astride, drove home the slight advantage she had coming into the final furlong and warded off her two rivals to win by a neck from Lifes Song. Angelita finished another half-length away.

Ten to one shot Royal Girl (Ravel – Graffiti Girl) from trainer Narendra Singh’s yard, picked up her maiden win on her 19th start creating a flutter in the opening race of the day. She got a lovely rails run which jockey Santosh Raj took full advantage off and goaded the filly hands and heels to come out clean in the final 100 meters to run away from Prime Gardenia to open her account though late, but handsomely. Destined to B finished on with a late burst to finish close behind Prime Gardenia to pick up place money.

Castlerock (Whatsthescript – Covent Garden) trained by Shehzad Abbas, made a dramatic late entry to wallop the front runners and clinch a narrow half-length victory. Rising Queen was fighting off Silk, Above the law and Top Diamond and just as she got the measure of her rivals and seemed on course to win, Castlerock, with Ajeeth Kumar in the saddle, arrived with a terrific burst of speed, homing in at a cracking pace to topple Rising Queen a stride to the winning post. Castlerock came from the rear and notched up a commendable victory. Rising Queen was dazed on the last stride, while Above the Law ended a close third.

For the professionals, N Ravinder Singh trainers was the star performer of the day with three winners, while jockey Mukesh Kumar scored a double.