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SANTOSH BOOTS HOME FOUR WINNERS

By Ikram Khan | 24 Feb 2022 | CHENNAI


Trainer R Karthik leading Historian (Santosh G up), winner of The Chief Minister's Trophy

A week before the Invitation Cup week-end at Guindy, promising saddle artiste Santosh stole the limelight booting home four winners including three favourites and one 15 to one long shot Excellent Phoenix. It proved to be the day to make hay and Santosh displayed fine temperament and neat judgement to corner glory. The star performer first struck through the well supported on-money favourite Constant Variable in the Claim To Fame handicap. The winner from trainer Adhirajsingh's yard, who is enjoying his maiden stint at the Guindy campus, was backed to the exclusion of his 10 rivals and the public choice justified the confidence of his supporters producing a sprakling gallop at the all-important end to power home a deserving winner. Glorious Symphony did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Bay Of Naples, while First Empress completed the frame.

Next astride the Fahad Khan schooled Excellent Phoenix in the Master Craft Handicap run over a sprint, not many fancied Santosh to score. The Fahad Khan nohoper was not even fancied to place. Bohemian Grandeur from Robert Foley's yard garnered the maximum support ahead of Esteva and Papparazi. But none of the top three on the betting board made an impression on the winner, who unleashed an astounding gallop to overhaul the lesser fancied That's My Class and Papparazi to score in style. The favourite Bohemian Grandeur raced in patches and eventually finished in the ruck. 

In line for a treble, Santosh looked very confident while getting a leg-up on the even-money favourite Historian in the Chief Minister's Trophy, the plum event run over a mile. Santosh pushed Historian to the front soon after the relatively small field of six runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative  slip, packing punch in the final furlong to help the public choice record a hat-trick while posting his third success. it simply was a top class effort and it warmed the hearts of many a lover of sport, who apart from making moolah on the Karthik ward enjoyed Santosh's run under the blazing sun. Emelda finished second ahead of Glorious Destiny while Priceless Ruler took the fourth spot. 

If  three was not enough, Santosh astride Dangerous in the Mrs.D Meenakshi Dhevanathan Yadav fancied his chances to add one more to his tally and he did it without any sweat or fuss guiding the top fancy home in emphatic fashion. This filly from Adhirajsingh's yard, who made a smart winning debut is a goodtype of youngster and it will pay to follow her progress in the months ahead. Stablemate Golden Kingdom followed the winner ahead of the second in demand at the betting ring, Wonderful from Deepesh Narredu's yard. 

Deepesh and Yash partnership came home tops in the next event, the Golden Grace Handicap, Yash gaining the day in a blanket finish. It really was one of the best finishes of the season and all four contestants and their riders who flashed past the post locked together deserve a big pat on their back , stretching every sinew in what at end was a humdinger. Yash astride the favourite Alexander beat Sir Baffert piloted by Gauran Singh by a 'short head' and Sir Baffert  'nosed' out Rhiannon in turn who edged out MS Boss,a 'head' separating the two to take the third spot. The punters, be it the many who had backed Alexander and the some who lost out fancying Rhiannon and Sir Baffert  applauded the sublime effort of the top four performers  while providing a standing ovation. 

It looks like Ramandeep Bal has decided to give the railbirds a shock treatment at the start. On Wednesday, Bal booted home the 50 to one shot Sea Script which stunned the followers of form and back again on Thursday, Bal delivered a 'sucker punch' on the Uthaiah-trained Autumn Shower who floored the followers of form in the opening event, the Moment Of Love Handicap .And Ashhad Asbar who recorded a double on Wednesday added one more to his kitty partnering Katahdin, one of the fancied contestants to enter the winners' circle in the Hammerhead Handicap run over a sprint. Golden Strike who too had her fair share of supporters finished second ahead of Royal Pearl while the favourite Lakshanam failed to even save money in place.