Sun Kingdom scorches the turf
Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Kingdom emerged as a strong contender for the forthcoming Kingfisher Derby with a classy performance which had the field well beaten in the Gr 1 HDIL Colts Trial Stakes, the second classic of the season on Sunday. Sun Kingdom has all the attributes of a champion. He relaxes during a race; changes gear instantly and possess a wonderful temperament. The progeny of Royal Kingdom can land the glamour event of the season if he maintains his form and fitness, retains the zest he showed while winning the classic in a smart time of one minute 37.80 seconds. Arjun Mangalorkar’s Immense came up with a long stretch run to finish an impressive second. The rest of the runners don’t quality for consideration as being contenders for the Derby.
Sun Kingdom’s imposing credentials had made him the overwhelming favourite to win the coveted race. Ciel Indienne and Immense had their share of supporters while the rest were not considered to be in the reckoning. Ciel Indienne led from the start with Orient Glory making a belated move to take over the job of a pacesetter after traversing three furlongs. Jockey Suraj Narredu was content to race Sun Kingdom in the rear group, with Immense who was drawn wide, falling back to the last position for most part of the trip.
Ciel Indienne brought the field into view but his lead was short lived as Sun Kingdom came through the centre of the track with a smooth run, picked up speed in a trice and broke away from the pack. Immense who had to circle round the field was not given a good ride by apprentice Zervan who would have done wonders for his horse if had tracked Sun Kingdom into the straight. Even in the straight, Immense did not get a clear run, running into one horse or the other. The progeny of Gasawar came up with a big run to finish an impressive second ahead of Ciel Indienne. Hyderabad’s Vijay Monarch ran on to be fourth ahead of Ordained One. Immense may not have beaten Sun Kingdom with a better quality ride but he surely would have run the winner very close. Zervan is an inexperienced rider and very few would have dared to give him a horse with a possible winning chance in a classic.
Irfan’s Firezone never got it right during the long winter campaign and as such, very few would have expected the horse to show an amazing change in fortunes. He was the least supported among the horses contesting the 1200 metres Stewards Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Mumbai challenger Slickit got maximum support in the ring but the favourite lost a possible winning opportunity by not taking a striking position early on and then was left with the impossible task of covering a big leeway in the straight after having to be pushed to make up lost ground in the steep gradient that the horses have to negotiate approaching the final bend. Firezone rallied from behind to seize the initiative inside the final furlong and won with a great deal of comfort from Magnanimity. Slickit was third, with Lady Duff who was the pace setter, weakening to be fourth. Firezone had won in June last year in the same category.
Padmanabhan trained Polish Patriot hadn’t run since running in last year’s Kingfisher Derby. The highly thought of produce of Sohna Stud Farm had been troubled by a splint bone fracture and as such, his long lay off was the reason why he did not attract any support in the Rajah S R K Ranga Row Memorial Trophy (Div I). Desdemona who had lost by a whisker last time out was the firm favourite. The temperamental filly did not come out of the gates. Now that she has developed this habit, Desdemona should be headed to a stud farm as it is difficult to get back a filly that has shown her aversion to racing. Alviano led the field for a while before Polish Patriot took charge. His class was evident as he kicked away to record a comfortable win despite being far from ready. Spark of Reverence was the best of the beaten brigade but he had to be content with yet another runner up effort. Incredible showed out briefly in the straight but did not quicken enough to make an impact on the result. Mac was too troublesome at the gates and was withdrawn from the fray.
Favourite Kingdomofdreams shaped like a winner in the lower division of the race as he cruised into the lead with a furlong to go but he was floored by Express It who finished home with a big run to overhaul the front runner to record an encore.
Inayathulla trained Indian Bolt had shown out in his last essay and he was backed to win the Bergamo Plate (Div I) despite being assigned to less heralded J Pradeep. Art Connoisseur, It’s My Party and Indian Bolt were all backed by their connections in almost equal measure to oblige. Indian Bolt tracked Art Connoisseur into the straight and smoothly came alongside the front runner and left him stranded to win by a widening margin of eight lengths. Sandalwood Star made a late rally to edge out Art Connoisseur from the runner up berth. Art Connoisseur’s stablemate Walnut Creek however obliged in the lower division of the race in great style. Walnut Creek sailed into a big lead at the top of the straight and won from African Sky in splendid style. Black Super Star, who was well backed, was not seen at the busy end as he disappeared without a trace after going in hot pursuit of the favourite till the final bend.
Trainer Loknath’s heavily supported wards lost in tight finishes in both the divisions of the Beautiful Babe Plate. Redshift was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the upper division of the race. The favourite shaped like a winner all the way but was caught up in the shadow of the post by the lesser fancied Vayuputra. Jockey Zervan who was astride the runner up also contributed in the downfall of Kickingking in the lower division of the race where he lost a certain race, first by losing the whip and then being unable to pack punch in his finish. Frenchman Stephane Ladjad drove out Bid For Glory to win by a whisker.
Con Artiste who was the most experienced horse in the Paddiwick Plate, a race for maiden three year olds, was widely expected to win but he found one better in Skyliner. The half sister to the well performed Attorney was backed down spiritedly and jockey Sampson had no problem in steering the second favourite to a facile win over Con Artiste who failed to measure up to expectations.
The only saving grace for apprentice jockey Zervan who otherwise had an eminently forgettable day was guiding My Musketeer to ward off the threat posed by Haute Appeal. Both these horses had let down their supporters in their previous efforts.
Sun Kingdom’s imposing credentials had made him the overwhelming favourite to win the coveted race. Ciel Indienne and Immense had their share of supporters while the rest were not considered to be in the reckoning. Ciel Indienne led from the start with Orient Glory making a belated move to take over the job of a pacesetter after traversing three furlongs. Jockey Suraj Narredu was content to race Sun Kingdom in the rear group, with Immense who was drawn wide, falling back to the last position for most part of the trip.
Ciel Indienne brought the field into view but his lead was short lived as Sun Kingdom came through the centre of the track with a smooth run, picked up speed in a trice and broke away from the pack. Immense who had to circle round the field was not given a good ride by apprentice Zervan who would have done wonders for his horse if had tracked Sun Kingdom into the straight. Even in the straight, Immense did not get a clear run, running into one horse or the other. The progeny of Gasawar came up with a big run to finish an impressive second ahead of Ciel Indienne. Hyderabad’s Vijay Monarch ran on to be fourth ahead of Ordained One. Immense may not have beaten Sun Kingdom with a better quality ride but he surely would have run the winner very close. Zervan is an inexperienced rider and very few would have dared to give him a horse with a possible winning chance in a classic.
Irfan’s Firezone never got it right during the long winter campaign and as such, very few would have expected the horse to show an amazing change in fortunes. He was the least supported among the horses contesting the 1200 metres Stewards Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Mumbai challenger Slickit got maximum support in the ring but the favourite lost a possible winning opportunity by not taking a striking position early on and then was left with the impossible task of covering a big leeway in the straight after having to be pushed to make up lost ground in the steep gradient that the horses have to negotiate approaching the final bend. Firezone rallied from behind to seize the initiative inside the final furlong and won with a great deal of comfort from Magnanimity. Slickit was third, with Lady Duff who was the pace setter, weakening to be fourth. Firezone had won in June last year in the same category.
Padmanabhan trained Polish Patriot hadn’t run since running in last year’s Kingfisher Derby. The highly thought of produce of Sohna Stud Farm had been troubled by a splint bone fracture and as such, his long lay off was the reason why he did not attract any support in the Rajah S R K Ranga Row Memorial Trophy (Div I). Desdemona who had lost by a whisker last time out was the firm favourite. The temperamental filly did not come out of the gates. Now that she has developed this habit, Desdemona should be headed to a stud farm as it is difficult to get back a filly that has shown her aversion to racing. Alviano led the field for a while before Polish Patriot took charge. His class was evident as he kicked away to record a comfortable win despite being far from ready. Spark of Reverence was the best of the beaten brigade but he had to be content with yet another runner up effort. Incredible showed out briefly in the straight but did not quicken enough to make an impact on the result. Mac was too troublesome at the gates and was withdrawn from the fray.
Favourite Kingdomofdreams shaped like a winner in the lower division of the race as he cruised into the lead with a furlong to go but he was floored by Express It who finished home with a big run to overhaul the front runner to record an encore.
Inayathulla trained Indian Bolt had shown out in his last essay and he was backed to win the Bergamo Plate (Div I) despite being assigned to less heralded J Pradeep. Art Connoisseur, It’s My Party and Indian Bolt were all backed by their connections in almost equal measure to oblige. Indian Bolt tracked Art Connoisseur into the straight and smoothly came alongside the front runner and left him stranded to win by a widening margin of eight lengths. Sandalwood Star made a late rally to edge out Art Connoisseur from the runner up berth. Art Connoisseur’s stablemate Walnut Creek however obliged in the lower division of the race in great style. Walnut Creek sailed into a big lead at the top of the straight and won from African Sky in splendid style. Black Super Star, who was well backed, was not seen at the busy end as he disappeared without a trace after going in hot pursuit of the favourite till the final bend.
Trainer Loknath’s heavily supported wards lost in tight finishes in both the divisions of the Beautiful Babe Plate. Redshift was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the upper division of the race. The favourite shaped like a winner all the way but was caught up in the shadow of the post by the lesser fancied Vayuputra. Jockey Zervan who was astride the runner up also contributed in the downfall of Kickingking in the lower division of the race where he lost a certain race, first by losing the whip and then being unable to pack punch in his finish. Frenchman Stephane Ladjad drove out Bid For Glory to win by a whisker.
Con Artiste who was the most experienced horse in the Paddiwick Plate, a race for maiden three year olds, was widely expected to win but he found one better in Skyliner. The half sister to the well performed Attorney was backed down spiritedly and jockey Sampson had no problem in steering the second favourite to a facile win over Con Artiste who failed to measure up to expectations.
The only saving grace for apprentice jockey Zervan who otherwise had an eminently forgettable day was guiding My Musketeer to ward off the threat posed by Haute Appeal. Both these horses had let down their supporters in their previous efforts.
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