My Friend Paul springs a surprise
Lesser fancied My Friend Paul brought off an upset in the Hyderabad Silver Vase, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of a lackluster card that was gone through on Friday. Ballibay made an impressive debut in the Topmost Cup with an authoritative win. Jockey Suraj Narredu maintained his amazing run of wins with yet another treble.
Firezone and Desert Rule were well supported to win the mile long feature event though the former had better credentials considering the fact that he had run against top quality horses. My Friend Paul, Star Wave and Blink were the others with an outside chance of making it. Desert Rule set a fast pace from the start and held the initiative till the final furlong at which point of time his reserves ran out. Firezone moved with raking strides through the centre of the track and surged ahead albeit momentarily as My Friend Paul showed up with a powerful acceleration on the wide outside and collared the front runner for whom the weight began to tell at the crucial stage of the race. Cassandra too moved from behind with a strong finish to take the third spot. The front runners went at such a clip that it was left to tail-enders to profit from it.
Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Dancing were working well but more than anything, the hype generated by the connections ensured that the big made filly who weighted over 500 kgs went into the Topmost Cup, a six furlong terms race for two-year olds, as an overwhelming favourite. Ballibay who was in the fray as a final entry, Tempus Fugit were allowed to run at lucrative odds. Sun Dancing drowned the hopes of her supporters at the gate itself by being lethargic. Elite Land led the field, with Ballibay placed a handy second behind the front runner till Suraj Narredu let Ballibay stretch out. The progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek quickened nicely to leave the rest standing to record an impressive win by a widening margin of six lengths. Tempus Fugit necked out the long time leader Elite Land from the third spot.
Ganapathy’s Misty Moonlight was strongly backed to win the Amathos Plate (Div I) and the progeny of Diffident obliged by getting the better of front running Stagelight in the closing strides of the race. The well backed Pearl of Bangalore faded out after being prominent till the final furlong. Approach won the lower division of the race with a well timed run to get past the front running Constance in the shadow of the post. Aetius ran a forward race and placed third.
Arabian Prince was strongly backed to win the 1600 metres Badami Plate though the ante post favourite was The Senator who was bidding for a hat-trick. The top weight, the penalty and the extra distance went against The Senator who was never in contention. Arabian Prince went past the front running Brigade’s Pride with a furlong out and won with a measure of comfort from the late finishing Portobello and Lush Lashes.
Connavaro who had finished a suggestive second in his last effort and Ready to Mingle who had advertised her fitness to win, were fancied to win the 1200 metres Kollegal Plate. The former managed to do in an exciting finish. Perfect Analysis led all the way despite taking the final turn wide which also inconvenienced Connavaro who was attempting to take over the running from the outside draw. Closer home, Perfect Analysis slackened and Connavaro got the lead which he managed to save it by a short neck as Ready To Mingle flashed on to the scene with great speed. Romance In The Air finished third.
Dominic’s Snow Peaks who had let down as a favourite in the past, broke off level from the gates, raced in earnest and managed to get the better of front running favourite Rumour Proof in the dying moments of the race to land the spoils.
In the day’s other action, which saw Jamaican Bolt being backed to the exclusion of his rivals after Moon Child bolted riderless on way to the gates and was withdrawn form the fray, made no show. Sunny Spell was another who came in for inspired support in the ring and the Dhariwal trainee Sunny Spell won the race at the expense of Marie Curie and Sweet Surrender. African Sky was rearing up in the stalls when the start was given and she lost all her chances from there on.
Firezone and Desert Rule were well supported to win the mile long feature event though the former had better credentials considering the fact that he had run against top quality horses. My Friend Paul, Star Wave and Blink were the others with an outside chance of making it. Desert Rule set a fast pace from the start and held the initiative till the final furlong at which point of time his reserves ran out. Firezone moved with raking strides through the centre of the track and surged ahead albeit momentarily as My Friend Paul showed up with a powerful acceleration on the wide outside and collared the front runner for whom the weight began to tell at the crucial stage of the race. Cassandra too moved from behind with a strong finish to take the third spot. The front runners went at such a clip that it was left to tail-enders to profit from it.
Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Dancing were working well but more than anything, the hype generated by the connections ensured that the big made filly who weighted over 500 kgs went into the Topmost Cup, a six furlong terms race for two-year olds, as an overwhelming favourite. Ballibay who was in the fray as a final entry, Tempus Fugit were allowed to run at lucrative odds. Sun Dancing drowned the hopes of her supporters at the gate itself by being lethargic. Elite Land led the field, with Ballibay placed a handy second behind the front runner till Suraj Narredu let Ballibay stretch out. The progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek quickened nicely to leave the rest standing to record an impressive win by a widening margin of six lengths. Tempus Fugit necked out the long time leader Elite Land from the third spot.
Ganapathy’s Misty Moonlight was strongly backed to win the Amathos Plate (Div I) and the progeny of Diffident obliged by getting the better of front running Stagelight in the closing strides of the race. The well backed Pearl of Bangalore faded out after being prominent till the final furlong. Approach won the lower division of the race with a well timed run to get past the front running Constance in the shadow of the post. Aetius ran a forward race and placed third.
Arabian Prince was strongly backed to win the 1600 metres Badami Plate though the ante post favourite was The Senator who was bidding for a hat-trick. The top weight, the penalty and the extra distance went against The Senator who was never in contention. Arabian Prince went past the front running Brigade’s Pride with a furlong out and won with a measure of comfort from the late finishing Portobello and Lush Lashes.
Connavaro who had finished a suggestive second in his last effort and Ready to Mingle who had advertised her fitness to win, were fancied to win the 1200 metres Kollegal Plate. The former managed to do in an exciting finish. Perfect Analysis led all the way despite taking the final turn wide which also inconvenienced Connavaro who was attempting to take over the running from the outside draw. Closer home, Perfect Analysis slackened and Connavaro got the lead which he managed to save it by a short neck as Ready To Mingle flashed on to the scene with great speed. Romance In The Air finished third.
Dominic’s Snow Peaks who had let down as a favourite in the past, broke off level from the gates, raced in earnest and managed to get the better of front running favourite Rumour Proof in the dying moments of the race to land the spoils.
In the day’s other action, which saw Jamaican Bolt being backed to the exclusion of his rivals after Moon Child bolted riderless on way to the gates and was withdrawn form the fray, made no show. Sunny Spell was another who came in for inspired support in the ring and the Dhariwal trainee Sunny Spell won the race at the expense of Marie Curie and Sweet Surrender. African Sky was rearing up in the stalls when the start was given and she lost all her chances from there on.
Dear Sharan sir , Wish you & your familiy a very happy new year 2010
ReplyDeleteknkumar
chennai