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Coral Gables stands tall

By Sharan Kumar | 05 Jun 2005 | BANGALORE


Coral Gables (Appu up) winner of the Chief Minister's Cup (Gr.3) being led in by trainer Mr. L D'Silva

Hyderabad’s champion horse Coral Gables further enhanced his reputation with a smashing win in the Gr.3 Chief Minister’s Cup, the highlight of Sunday’s races. The versatile son of Young Senor has been on the boil for a considerable period of time and has maintained an amazing consistency and trainer Leo D’Silva deserves full credit for the fine job that he has done on this wonderful specimen. Currently the highest rated horse in the country, Coral Gables who has won from sprint to mile in his amazingly consistent career, is all set to emulate another champion River God who won three Graded races on the trot during the last Summer Season. The seven furlong Gr.3 Daisy Appoo BTC Anniversary Cup, to be run a day prior to the Kingfisher Derby, appears to be at his mercy, notwithstanding the enhanced level of competition that is expected for that coveted event. In testing conditions where most horses struggled to find foot, Coral Gables literally walked past the opposition to win in tremendous fashion from the battling duo of Taurian and Amatol. All the horses which went on a start to finish mission, came back as wounded soldiers, legless at the finish. Coral Gables had blazed the track in his preparatory workout for this race and though he was carrying the heavy impost of 62 kilos, race goers did not hesitate to make him the overwhelming favourite to win. Onnu Onnu Onnu who had won this event last year, was not even considered capable of an upset. It was bottom-weighted Crown Secret who was expected to throw a spanner or two in the way of Coral Gables. It was not to be because Crown Secret, who would relish a longer trip where she can dictate her own pace, was knocked out of contention in as furiously run race as this one. Water Wood showed plenty of speed to hit the front ahead of Onnu Onnu Onnu, Rambus and Fly The Fury even as Crown Secret was squeezed out to fall back to the last position. Jockey Appu on Coral Gables was not perturbed by the fast pace as he sat behind, almost in the rear of the field, before improving on the wide outside. It was evident at the bend itself that Coral Gables was easily travelling the best of the lot and the front-runners were fast running out of steam. Coral Gables flashed home on the wide outside and was getting better at the finish as he checked in by a widening margin of over three lengths over Taurian who nosed out Amatol. Gaslight was fourth ahead of Fly The Fury. The winner clocked a time of 1 minute 16.65 seconds in soft underfoot conditions. The Badami Cup was won by rank outsider Rubik with effortless ease despite not having won over a sprint in the past. The light framed Rubik, flashed home through the middle to win a time of 1 minute 17.9 seconds which was good considering he was running over an unsuitable trip. Splendid Smith, who cornered the lion share of the betting, showed up prominently at the top of the straight but had no gas under pressure. Laguna Blue and Corsican Gal were disputing the issue when Rubik shot through the battling duo. Corsican Gal was sluggish at the start and this perhaps affected her chances. Tribal Fantasy sat down in the gate at the start and was pulled out and re-loaded. Though she did the front-running, she had expended all her energies at the gate itself. The controversial Freebee, who had been seen running to her potential during the winter season, dragged herself to a fighting position in the M H Raju Memorial Plate (Div I) and won quite easily from Refreshing who flattered to deceive. Silva made free use of the whip and the daughter of Bee’s Prospector won in a good time of 1 minute 31.9 seconds considering the dead going. Turbo Shot, who was off to a tardy start, was full of running at the finish and was a close third ahead of another slow starter Glorious Spirit. The lower division of the race went the way of Powerthrust in a comparatively slower timing. Powerthrust lost a prominent position mid-way through the race possibly losing his rhythm and despite being held up on the rails and placed in a hopeless position, the son of Placerville flew home to edge out Wingnaprayer for a thrilling win. Powerthrust should relish longer trips and make his presence felt as he matures into a strong performer. Darius Byramji who has been enjoying a good run, led in a winner through Shaolin though he was unlucky with Langley Wood who was given a below par ride by Suraj Narredu. Shaolin appeared to be in a poor position early on and his supporters must have missed a beat or two but the full brother to the celebrated Bold Chieftain, found foot in the straight on the wide outside and finally won quite comfortably from Tina’s Triumph. There was some inspired support for Starring Role in the Flirting Vision Plate (Div I) but the daughter of Placerville packed up after raising hopes in the straight. Solar Crystal won from a late-finishing Langley Wood who was full of running at the finish. Langley Wood did not gain a favourable position early on and Suraj Narredu dropped his whip at a crucial stage of the race. Kartikerri won the upper division of the race at the expense of Zabdiel. In the day’s other action, favourite Lace And Whiskey and strongly supported Subaggregate disputed for the last two positions in the race which was won by Wonder Splendour who made a profitable start to finish dash. Torrentee chased the winner without hope.