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TOUCH OF GREY RECORDS HAT-TRICK

By Ikram Khan | 25 Feb 2023 | CHENNAI


Trainet S Narredu leading Touch of Grey (Suraj Narredu up), winner of the Guindy Grand Prix (Gr.3)

Among the jockeys, it was Yash Narredu and the promising apprentice Sah Farid Ansari who stole the limelight at Guindy this season. And Adhirajsingh Jodha and Deepesh Narredu topped the trainers' list leading in half-century of winners among them. B Dharshan was one other apprentice, who made a fine impression booting home more than a dozen winners and young Vishesh enjoyed a fine run with 11 winners to his credit.

The Bangalore raider Touch Of Grey from Satish Narredu's yard picked up the final plum of the season, the Guindy Grand Prix and in the process completed a hat-trick of wins. The talented grey was touted a `moral certainty' in the mile long event and Touch Of Grey proved that right cantering home without unduly being extended to maintain his winning streak and earn the required rest before he starts his summer campaign at his parent-centre. A confident Suraj pushed the half-money favourite to the front, the moment the five runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip toying with another hopeful from Bangalore, True Faith from Neil Darashah's yard. Touch Of Grey, it must be mentioned has improved most and is likely to make his presence felt against good juveniles at home in summer. 

Earlier, the public choice Miss Allure failed to justify favouritism in the Cavallo Veloce Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. Twice second from her last two starts, Miss Allure on form and performance looked the best, but much to the chagrin of her supporters, the filly performed below par and failed to save even money in place. Stablemate Golden Warrior shocked the followers of form making every post a winning one in the hands of SaiKumar. The 20 to one shot, who was withdrawn in his maiden start, hit the front soon after the 11 juveniles jumped out and dashed home, while sending out a strong message that he is a goodtype of youngster who will climb up the ladder in the months ahead. Sparkle N Shine from Anil Kumar's stable secured the runner-up berth thanks to Srinath who stretched every sinew to help Sparkle N Shine edge out the bred in  the purple Lionel close home. 

The Fazal-Ul-Rehman's Trump Baby garnered the maximum support in the final event of the season, the Champion Jockey Trophy, but the public choice met a tartar in Star Of Liberty who in the hands of Farid Ansari unleashed a good turn of foot in the final furlong to peg back the public choice. The topweighted Wisaka from Saddam Iqbal's yard finished third ahead of Rwanda, who finally hit the board after four lacklustre performances this season. 

Ansari who guided home Star Of Liberty, earlier packed punch on the seven to one shot Angel Heart to reign supreme in the upper division of the Leading Owner Trophy run over a sprint. The winner, who failed to gain a favourable position early on in the event, produced a stunning gallop in the run in home to assume command in the final furlong before putting the race to bed in the final 100 metres. Magical Wish finished second ahead of the topweighted Renegade, who edged out the second in demand at the betting ring, Pirate's Love to save money in place. 

The lower division of the event was claimed by rankoutsider Namak Halaal who made every post a winning one in the hands of Ramandeep Bal. The 15 to one long shot who had failed to earn a winning bracket from his five starts this season appeared to have fitted a pair of wings in his final campaign on the final day, sprinting ahead from the word go to earn his cornbill, gallantly snuffing out the belated effort of Full Of Surprise who sneaked through on the rails to extend the shock winner. The favourite Beauty Of The Turf from Rupa's yard partnered by leading pro Suraj Narredu failed to raise a winning gallop and eventually finished in the ruck. 

The well-backed King Roger justified his top billing in the Champion Trainer Trophy run over a sprint. The winner from the stables of Anil Kumar confidently piloted by veteran Dashrath Singh was handily placed all through the sprint trip before he assumed command when the race came on a boil and from that juncture it was all over bar the shouting, the strong public choice sailing home ahead of the second in demand at the betting ring, Thrill Of Power. 

Sparkleberry from Vishesh's yard was strongly supported in the opening event, most big bettors making big investments on the Vishesh trainee in the Fort St.George Handicap run over a sprint, but all that the five-year-old mare do was take a lot of good money down the drain, never in the hunt all through the six furlongs contest. Lesser fancied Danny's Girl from Parmar's yard piloted by Kamble gained the day and it will pay to again support this `Girl' in the months ahead. Wood Art followed the impressive winner home ahead of Touch Of Fury, while Sparkleberry finished down the field.