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FAITH WINS RASHID BYRAMJI MEMORIAL CUP

By Ikram Khan | 16 Jul 2022 | BANGALORE


Trainer P Shroff leading Faith (PS Chouhan Up), winner of The R. R. Byramji Memorial Cup

Punting on the eve of the betway Bangalore summer Derby proved to be a disaster.  Forseti  apart , none of the six favourites displayed the determination and enterprise to get into the winners' circle before a thunder shower curtailed the programme, the stewards of the club deciding to cancel the last two races in the nine-event card, realising that it is wise to save the track for the blue riband on Sunday.

The half-money favourite Crown Consort from Satish Narredu's yard was touted  a `moral certainty' in the plum event, the Rashid Byramji Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs. The talented filly after making a smashing debut had produced a satisfactory effort in the first classic, the Fillies Championship Stakes, finishing a close fourth. On the strength of her two impressive efforts and with the in-form pro Suraj Narredu fresh from his two victories at Mysuru on Wednesday, guiding her fortunes, Crown Consort  was backed to the exclusion of her five rivals, but the public rage in her attempt to make every post a winning one failed in her mission to match strides with the Mumbai hopeful Faith from Pesi Shroff's yard, who produced her best in the hands of leading pro Pradeep Chouhan to romp home a deserving winner. Crown Consort in fact had  beaten Faith over a mile long Fillies Championship trip by more than three lengths and in their next head-to-head clash on Saturday, she finished close to three lengths behind the topweighted Faith despite enjoying a three kilo advantage in scales. The below par effort proved to be a knock-out blow for the punters, who took a lot of punches on the chin before going down in the ring. Fortunate Son finished third ahead of Yukan, while facile last start winner Fortunatus from Padmanabhan's yard after tracking Crown Consort for most part of the seven furlongs trip retired even before the race came on a boil.

On the strength of his smashing victory in smart time, Kensington Court from trainer Irfan Ghatala's yard and the Mumbai hopeful Pride's Angel from Imtiaz Sait's yard, who had finished second behind the classy Miracle on the opening day of the season were fancied most in the Chennai Trophy run over a sprint. But the red hot `Jodi'  much to the chagrin of all the big `Jodi' punters went out of the window. The lesser fancied Tactical Command from trainer Prasanna Kumar's yard produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to snuff out the challenge of Star Glory and Kensington Court who could have gained the day had Trevor Patel gained a favourable position early on in the race and later packed the desired punch at the all-important end.

Earlier, Prasanna proudly led in Forseti, the only public choice to score in seven races. Astride Forseti, Trevor rode like one possessed to drive the overwhelming favourite home. The top pro partnering Forseti in the Kolkata Cup pulled out all stops in his endeavour to triumph and the effort to accomplish the mission one got to see on Forseti was not really on show on Kensington Court. The Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled Moon's Blessing, back after a long seven-month lay-off caught the eye gaining the runner-up berth and it will not be long before this filly earns her corn bill in the weeks ahead.

The Arjun Manglorkar schooled Winmylove was strongly supported in the opening event, the upper division of the Sports Authority Of India Trophy, but the favourite after raising hopes at the top of the straight lacked the gas in the tank to make a race of it and eventually finished in the ruck. The second in demand at the betting ring, Divine Ray from Darius Byramji's yard confidently piloted by leading pro Akshay Kumar produced his best after failing to justify favouritism in his last essay. The winner is in good nick and is likely to record his third success when saddled next . Dr Logan caught the eye while edging out Clever Hans in the last few strides to gain the runner-up berth and is one for the notebook.

The lesser fancied Shubankar provided jockey Srinath his first win of the season. The leading pro who only donned silks a couple of weeks ago pushed Shubankar ahead soon after the eight contestants came under the starter's flag for the nine furlongs trip and never let the initiative slip, easily pegging back Lycurgus after the strongly backed Konabos piloted by Suraj Narredu retired from the scene before negotiating the final curve. Star Comet from Ganapathy's yard at one stage threatened to overhaul the winner but at end had to rest content with the third spot, not producing the desired acceleration required to take home the Delhi Cup.

On the strength of her pleasing performances in the morning trials, Capriati from Arjun Manglorkar's yard was fancied to make a winning debut, but the public choice lacked the initial speed to gain a good front position early in the race and to the disappointment of large supporters finished a poor fourth. Lesser fancied Montelena powerfully piloted by Chouhan edged out Star Admiral to the delight of the Ghatala camp, while India Strong from M K Jadhav's yard made his presence felt ,finishing a suggestive third

The four to one shot Mark One from trainer M R Singh's yard came up tops in the Chivas Cup run over a sprint, making every post a winning one in the hands of promising apprentice Vivek. Stunning Beauty followed the winner while Dedicated Boy managed to save money in place. After Mark One's victory the stewards rightly chose to cancel the two remaining races taking into account that the blue riband of the season is scheduled, next day.