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Southern Regent is the Maharaja!!!

By Sharan Kumar | 03 Jul 2005 | BANGALORE


Southern Regent (B.Prakash up) winner of the Maharaja's Cup being led in by trainer Mr.Ganapathy

In the end, there was very little to choose between Southern Regent and Andreyan as they were locked in one of the closest finishes in the Gr.2 Maharaja’s Cup. What mattered most in the end was the experience and superiority of jockey Prakash which ensured that Southern Regent was crowned the 'Maharaja' with Andreyan, the vanquished too receiving applause for the gutsy fight that lasted almost the length of the home stretch. Jockey C.Alford cannot be faulted for his ride on the runner up as he made the right moves and got everything right except getting the horse to put its head ahead in the bobbing of heads which decided the fate of the coveted race. The Maharaja’s Cup had always favoured horses placed well by the terms and barring Classical Act in the recent past, the race has been won by those falling short in the classics and enjoying the subsequent pull in weights. However, this time out Southern Regent was not too much disadvantaged, conceding four kilos to Andreyan instead of six, as Andreyan had incurred a penalty of two kilos for his last win. This four kilos concession was well within Southern Regents ability. Aperitivo has always been a consistent performer and the battle was confined to these three top ranked horses. Full Speed does not have the wherewithal to last out this trip though he is even more ambitiously being planned to be run in the Leger by his connections. Good Luck to them! Randsberg finished fourth and if only he was blessed with a good turn of foot, he would have been an achiever. Seasoned performer Adolfito hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the 11 furlong trip. Formidable Force who was assigned to cut pace with the front-runner, did not have the class to do so and in the act perished well before the half way stage. Randsburg was in third position, with Aperitivo, Southern Regent and Andreyan racing in close attendance in the mid-bunch while Full Speed and the rest were behind, running without hope. Prakash made his move approaching the final bend and had his mount quickly in front even as Alford tagged on to him and essayed his challenge on the outside. The duo fought the length of the home stretch and at one stage it appeared that Andreyan would have the better of the exchange but the persistence and the greater experience of Prakash in handling tough situations helped him to pull it off in a thriller. Aperitivo was third. Southern Regent will next race in the St.Leger to be held in a fotninght's time and he will once again clash swords with Andreyan, if he stays sound after this race, Aperitivo and the other pretenders. Southern Regent will have the terms in his favour to have a decisive say. This was the first graded race success for trainer Ganapathy during the current season which hasn’t run too kindly for him. After his eye-catching run in his last essay, Alcindor looked a cinch in the 1400 metres Broadacres Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 45. When Alcindor broke level from the gates, the race ceased to be a contest as the son of Flitch was traveling well within himself and then left the field stranded in the straight. Last year’s Gr.1 Fillies Trial Stakes winner Lindsay who had dropped form, showed some signs of returning to winning condition when she moved from behind to pip Space Craft for the second spot. Greenlawn had impressed in a mock race and the daughter of Green Forest who had some good wins to her credit in the past, won at nourishing odds, the Brig R.C.R. Hill Memorial Cup where Rivendell once again finished second best. Greenlawn raced in mid-bunch and got stronger in the final furlong and went away for an effortless win. Diamond Caves managed to save place money. Imtiaz Sait trained Oprah was not hard-pressed to come out of the maiden’s ranks, easily accounting for the opposition in the 1200 Smart Chieftain Cup. The daughter of Glory of Dancer took time to get into her stride but once she picked up momentum, there was no looking back. Step On the Gas who led till passed by the eventual winner, was pipped to the second spot by a late-finishing Brave Bheem. The blinkers appeared to have helped Crown Charter tremendously as the daughter of Tejano brought off an upset in the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Plate. Ladyfeelgood came up with a late dash only to miss the bus by a whisker. There was a game of musical chair of sorts in the Kranji plate (Div.II) where Marvelous Star displaced stablemate Star of Treasure as the favourite. But in the end, Marvelous Star too was displaced from the winning position by Goli Master who prevailed in a three horse finish over Pine Forest and the favourite. In the upper division of the race, Puttanna trained Global Agenda justified the big volume of money that he attracted in the betting ring by getting the better of Ikon Brown close home. Fancied Summerland was never in the hunt. In the day’s other action, Cartouche won the mile and a quarter race with comfort from Pick Me Up. Fancied duo of Gem Of A Lady and Epic put up a poor show. Gem Of A Lady looked good on the basis of her last run but the filly looked poor in the paddock and ran true to her looks.