Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

ANTONY RAJ RECORDS GRAND TREBLE

By Ikram Khan | 06 Oct 2022 | MYSORE


Mr Sarosh Modi & trainer Imtiaz A Sait leading Endeavour (Antony Raj S Up), winner of The Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship (Gr.3)

Fresh from his success in the Deccan Derby at Hyderabad, Antony Raj won the hearts of the racing buffs recording a popular treble. The talented saddle artiste, who produced a sublime effort astride Salento in the blue riband at Malakpet made another big splash booting home the second in demand at the betting ring, Endeavour in the Dasara Sprint Championship after he guided home the on-money favourite Angel Bliss from leading trainer Arjun Manglorkar's yard in the W T Craig Jones Memorial Trophy. And in line for a treble, Antony astride another on-money favourite Kensington from Arjun's yard had it easy, stealing a march before negotiating the final curve in the Fleet Indian Plate and cruising home without unduly being extended in the 2000 metres test.

Ascoval from trainer Pradeep Annaiah's yard on the strength of his brilliant performances on the trial track garnered the maximum support in the Dasara Sprint. Trevor pushed the public choice to the front the moment the creditable field of half-dozen contestants came under the starter's flag. Ascoval moving nice and easy called the shots till the final furlong before Antony Raj, who had wisely chosen to tail the public choice, packed punch on the Imtiaz ward and the second in demand at the betting ring responding gamely to his master's call streaked ahead and quickly put the race to bed to the delight of the Mumbai camp. Ascoval, who tamely surrendered the moment Endeavour challenged the speedy Pradeep ward finished second ahead of Star Glory, while Golden Quest completed the frame.

Despite the fact that most big bettors had lost a fortune, placing big bets on Kensington in his last start, the brave and bold again punted big on the Arjun Manglorkar ward and this time out, the public rage who had benefited most from his last effort proved too good for his five rivals, powering home to help Antony maintain his winning streak and register a grand treble on the eve of the 2000 Guineas. Stablemate Silvarius followed the winner home ahead of Crescendo
.
Earlier, on the consistent Angel Bliss competing in the Craig-Jones Memorial Trophy, Antony tracked the leader Tycoonist for most part of the mile long trip before he asked his `Angel' to assume command, but the public choice started to hang before Antony exercised control and the moment the on-money favourite was back in rhythm, it was all over bar the shouting, the public rage galloping home in emphatic fashion. Tycoonist hung on to gain the runner-up birth ahead of Thunderstruck. Mystic Mountain who was tipped to run Angel Bliss close opted out before the 11 runners lined up, but mention must be made that on this day the Michael Eshwer filly would have found it tough to match strides with the winner who is set to provide an encore.

The Urs Kar Trophy split into two divisions produced contrasting results. In the upper division run over a distance of seven furlongs, the strongly supported Eridani from Azhar Ali's yard justified the confidence of her supporters gamely lasting out to peg back the late challenge of the lesser fancied Serdar from Aravind Ganapathy's yard. The runner-up would have earned his cornbill had he not shifted out at the distance post. But as luck would have it, Eridani and Azhar gained the day and so did most followers of form who made no secret of their opinion that Eridani who had finished a game second behind the talented Artemis Ignacia in the Bengaluru summer season would be hard to down in this event. Earlier in the lower division, the public rage Stamford Bridge from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard met a tartar in Gold Multiplier from Parvati Byramji's yard. The 10 to one long shot in the hands of Ajinkya displayed good poise and grace, making every post a winning one. Stamford Bridge took time to get into top gear and had to rest content with the runner-up berth ahead of Odin. Gold Multiplier, it is clear is on top of her game and it will pay to follow her again when next saddled.

Johnny Bravo was backed to the exclusion of his dozen rivals in the concluding event, the Autumn Blue Plate. The game galloper from Bobby's yard piloted by Nazer-Ul-Alam hit the front approaching the straight and then quickened well to romp home a deserving winner. Second in demand at the betting ring, Achook from leading trainer Rakesh's yard was withdrawn at the gates,down on his knees in the box before the start. Last start winner Sir Calculus finished second ahead of Aurele, while Circus Queen failed to make an impression after briefly heading the field before Johnny Bravo seized the initiative and donkey-licked his rivals without raising a sweat.

The in-form Capital Gain from Dominic's yard recorded her second straight victory, coming up tops in the opening event, the Chirapunji Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The Response from Sharath Kumar's yard on the strength of his impressive second behind Elusive Girl in his last essay garnered the maximum support in the betting ring, but the public choice found Capital Gain too hot to handle. Dr Logan produced a suggestive effort to finish third ahead of the last start winner Bramastram and it will not be long before this Irfan Ghatala trainee enters the winners' circle.

The six to one shot Kingofthejungle from Appachu's yard confidently piloted by Kiran Rai proved too good in the One Life to Love Plate run over a sprint. The favourite Amazonia from Rakesh's yard raced in patches and eventually finished in the ruck. Jabbar in line for a hat-trick found the winner a hard nut to crack, while The Strength slowly yet surely is coming into his own and is likely to stand tall at the podium when saddled next.