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AMYRA WINS VASUDEVA REDDY MEMORIAL CUP

By Mahendra Mallya | 04 Feb 2022 | HYDERABAD


Trainer L D Silva leading Amyra (Afroz Khan Up), winner of The G Vasudeva Reddy Memorial Cup

Leo D Silva trained Amyra (Leitir Mor – Pandora) created a flutter in the G Vasudeva Reddy Memorial Cup, with a fine start-to-finish victory at longer odds. Jockey Afroz Khan spurted the gelding to the front soon on start and then led all the way. Amyra increased her speed and her lead after they galloped into the straight. Favourite Kingston moved to second and also raised some hope, however, Amyra proved too good on the day. He skipped further ahead past the distance post and stayed well ahead of Kingston to secure a comfortable victory. Menilly rallied a bit too late, but covered considerable ground in the final furlong to finish close behind Kingston. Shazam improved positions to finish half a length behind Menilly.

A race earlier, D Silva had struck another bolt with Sandown Park (Green Coast – Coco Chanel) who paid return at over 40 to 1 in much the same fashion. Jockey Afroz made an early dash to the front and worked up a handy cushion that came in very handy in the last part of the race. Sandown Park was galloping away, with Thunder Road taking a while to get into top gear. Dunkirk was right there, but could not step up on her speed.  Sacred Lamp was improving on the wide outside, but was too far behind to raise much hope. Sandown Park was focussed, with her sights right on the winning post, waiting to get it over with. Thunder road sprang to life inside the final furlong and put everything into it. The winning post however, came a stride too early for Thunder Road as Sundown Park escaped to victory by half a length. Dunkirk survived the late onslaught of Sacred Lam by a head to finish in the money.

Char Ek Char (Smuggler’s Cove – Exemplary) etched out a very close victory in a thrilling three-way finish.  The melee began midway down the straight after Dream Jewel  surrendered the lead to Sye Ra. Soon Paladino moved up to challenge Sye Ra, while Char Ek Char poked through between horses. Favourite Pacific Command also raised hopes, but when Paladino sped ahead and took charge, the favourite could not muster well enough and his challenge petered out sooner than expected. Paladino seemed on course until Char Ek Char picked up momentum to catch up. Southern Act caught the eye as she arrived with a scorching finish and she was definitely the fastest of the lot in the final 50 meters.  These three flashed past the post locked together and commentator Shivaprasad rightly called Char Ek Char the winner, in what may have been just a whisker short of a dead-heat. Southern Act lost b a nose, but had beaten Paladino by a ‘head’ in a pulsating finish. Sye Ra completed the frame.

Nolan (Surfrider – Dancing Jessie) from the Sunderji stables had it easy in the lower division of the Falaknuma Cup, easily prevailing over the prime favourite Indie. Settling in second after leading briefly, Nolan travelled well behind Quality Warrior and Indie on his quarters.

Once into the straight, Nolan didn’t take too long to surge past Quality Warrior from the inside and soon skipped away in the hands of in-form jockey Ajinkya. Indie tried hard to stay in contention but didn’t find it easy with the top weight he was carrying. Nolan pulled away in the final furlong to win by three lengths. Mireya improved well in the final furlong to pip Quality Warrior for the runner-up berth.

Shashikanth trained Ashwa Morocco (Ampere – Bee Quick) put up a splendid show on her debut run, an all-fillies affair for three-year-olds.  She was out quickly and worked up a nippy pace from the start and led the field into the homestretch with Lights On and Bellagio close behind.

Once into the straight, Ashwa Morocco stepped up speed and started to draw away from Bellagio. Ashwa Morocco galloped fluently all through the straight and looked the winner long way from home. Bellagio just could not match up and the on-money favourite simply could not measure up to the winner. She was completely outpaced and beaten neck-and-crop by Ashwa Morocco by a good margin. Barbet after a shaky start, she veered out taking Lights On with her on the jump, but steadied herself to finish a decent third, well ahead of Meridia.

True Icon (Sedgefield – Saporelli) trained by Ravindra Singh, cantered to his maiden victory fashionably on his second start. True icon was backed down to cramped odds and fully justified the strong support. He was off in a flash from the gates with jockey Gaurav Singh in the saddle and led comfortably throughout the first half of the race. He only grew stronger in the homestretch leaving the others far behind to win by about five lengths, without trying too hard. Carlisle, who chased the winner into the homestretch, didn't find much within and even lost the runner-up berth to the late finishing Great Guns.

Rhythm Selection (Gusto – Complaining) scored a facile victory providing rich returns to his backers without causing them any anxiety. Jockey Ismail settled the Faiyaz Khan trainee in the second spot behind early leader Golden Forza until the turn. Rhythm Selection picked up soon on straightening for home and showed fine acceleration to build up a decisive lead approaching the distance post. It was clear that the others were in a futile chase as early as half-way into the homestretch. Rhythm Selection strode away impressively to win it by three lengths. Sun Dancer followed the winner home, Royal Pal improved to finish in the money.

Hip Hop and Blazing Jupiter provided another nail-biting finish in the concluding race of the day. Loch Stella did most things right but could not add the finishing touch. She was well ahead coming into the straight and had a margin over both Hip hop and Blazing Jupiter coming into the final furlong. Hip Hop (Corporate Jungle – Allys Glory) started to accelerate well and Blazing Jupiter too was finishing on with a lot of steam. These two caught up with Loch Stella with less than 100m to go. Jockey Bopanna rode vigorously as did Deepak Singh atop Blazing Jupiter and they both beat loch Stella and zipped past the winning post, with Hip Hop snatching victory by a nose.

For the professionals, trainers L D Silva and Faiyaz Khan saddled a double each and jockey Afroz Khan too scored a double.