Arabian Prince elevated as Maharaja
In keeping with the history of the race which has favored the lesser fancied runners, Golconda Derby winner Arabian Prince put in a brave performance while elevating himself as the Maharaja by winning the richly endowed Gr 2 Maharaja’s Cup on Sunday. Becket, whose victory was taken for granted, faded out to finish third. Jockey Ryan Marshall rode the winner as stable’s first jockey Sampson had preferred to ride Spearhead who was in the race as a final entry.
Jockey Suraj Narredu, who is enjoying a great season, has ridden Becket on four occasions and each time differently. On both the occasions that the horse lost, he had Becket in front which had seen him slacken in the closing stages of the race. He won the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup by literally staying unconcerned in the rear before alerting the son of Hawk Wing to pick up speed in the final quarter mile. When Becket lost the Leger, Suraj was unable to keep him relaxed as he broke free well before the final bend to lose by a whisker to Change of Luck. Becket was ridden way off the pace in the Chief Justice Cup which he won with a big run from behind. This time out, Becket was well up with the pace and was pushed to take over the running at the top of the straight. Becket cruised into the lead but had nothing left in him in the final 100 metres. Though Becket was conceding weight to all his adversaries, he was expected to overcome this handicap.
Western Command set the pace followed by Spearhead, Becket, Cotswold Arms, Arabian Prince, Onassis, and Echoes of Light with Spark of Gold bringing up the tail end. Western Command was displaced from his position at the top of the field as the field approached the 800 metres marker at which point Spearhead surged ahead. Becket was in close proximity of the front runner as the field straightened for the stretch run. Becket was pushed to get the measure of Spearhead with Onassis who was tracking the favourite, essaying a strong challenge. Arabian Prince too showed up on the outside, with Spark of Gold the widest of all. Becket failed to sustain his challenge as he was in deep order in the final 100 metres and Onassis put his neck in front. However, he too had to succumb to the finishing onslaught of the Usha Stud Farm bred Arabian Prince who spared a long neck at the finish. Becket was a length behind third but only a short head ahead of Spark of Gold at the finish.
The Broadacres Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 85, was run in two divisions and it proved a mixed blessing for Suraj Narredu and his father and trainer Satish Narredu. Classic Charge who had beaten Bhagirathi in his last run in winter, was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the upper division of the race The race was won by rank outsider Stone of Destiny whose stablemate Lads Gladiator was a strong fancy in the race. Ready To Mingle was another who was expected to be in the thick of things. Sunny Baba set the pace followed by Lads Gladiator, Read To Mingle and Classic Charge while Stone of Destiny was in the rear group. Classic Charge came through the middle to get past the front runner but his lead was short lived as Stone of Destiny came up with a brilliant burst to sail past the favourite in the shadow of the post. Ready To Mingle ran on to be third while Lads Gladiator weakened to end up as fourth.
Flaming Lamborgini, who had run a forward race over a mile long trip, was backed spiritedly in the lower division of the race despite the sprint being reckoned as sharp for him. The fast pace of the race perhaps suited Flaming Lamborgini who got the nod at the finish in a race which saw fortunes fluctuate in the final furlong. Chintz who shot through the rails with a furlong out shaped like a winner but Dream Park who tracked the filly, got the measure of the fancied runner close home. However, Suraj Narredu’s aggressive finish ensured the victory of Flaming Lamborgini who just about managed to neck out Dream Park who was a last start winner.
You’re Wonderful was strongly backed to win the V G Saravanam Memorial Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The race was won by Irfan Ghatala trained Mac who has the distinction of always winning at fancy odds. Mac had been troublesome at the gates last time out and was withdrawn form the fray due to his tantrums. However this time out he went in rather quietly. Though he was under pressure to keep pace approaching the final bend, he got into his steam once he found the rhythm and charged ahead with about 250 metres to go for the post. You’re Wonderful covered good ground along the rails but was out sprinted. Royal Player finished with a big burst but could only occupy the runner up berth. Royal Player’s stablemate Bid For Glory too found one better in the lower division of the race where the well backed On A Roll made it with a start to finish dash. Bid For Glory picked up tremendous speed in the closing stages of the race but the winning post came to the rescue of the front runner.
Modern Art had more takers than Native Talent in the 1800 metres Basque Plate. Lush Lashes who had not measured up to expectation in his last run, led all the way and stayed on resolutely but was overhauled in the closing strides of the race by Native Talent who rallied well from behind. Modern Art engaged Lush Lashes in a stiff battle but the latter managed to stay in front of the favourite till the finish.
Inayathulla trained Super Gold was backed down spiritedly in the 1200 metres Young Rajput Plate where Admiranda too was well backed. Jockey Pradeep on the favourite toyed with Admiranda before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final stages of the race.
Montedoro who had finished a noteworthy third to Skyliner recorded a facile win in the 1200 metres Smart Chieftain Trophy, a race for maiden three year olds. Emerald found the winner too good and ended up a tame second while the well backed Plaka was a disappointing third.
Favourite Chantilly Jewel held off the challenge of Another Voice to win the day’s opener, the Endorsement Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25. Inspirator was a leisurely third.
Jockey Suraj Narredu, who is enjoying a great season, has ridden Becket on four occasions and each time differently. On both the occasions that the horse lost, he had Becket in front which had seen him slacken in the closing stages of the race. He won the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup by literally staying unconcerned in the rear before alerting the son of Hawk Wing to pick up speed in the final quarter mile. When Becket lost the Leger, Suraj was unable to keep him relaxed as he broke free well before the final bend to lose by a whisker to Change of Luck. Becket was ridden way off the pace in the Chief Justice Cup which he won with a big run from behind. This time out, Becket was well up with the pace and was pushed to take over the running at the top of the straight. Becket cruised into the lead but had nothing left in him in the final 100 metres. Though Becket was conceding weight to all his adversaries, he was expected to overcome this handicap.
Western Command set the pace followed by Spearhead, Becket, Cotswold Arms, Arabian Prince, Onassis, and Echoes of Light with Spark of Gold bringing up the tail end. Western Command was displaced from his position at the top of the field as the field approached the 800 metres marker at which point Spearhead surged ahead. Becket was in close proximity of the front runner as the field straightened for the stretch run. Becket was pushed to get the measure of Spearhead with Onassis who was tracking the favourite, essaying a strong challenge. Arabian Prince too showed up on the outside, with Spark of Gold the widest of all. Becket failed to sustain his challenge as he was in deep order in the final 100 metres and Onassis put his neck in front. However, he too had to succumb to the finishing onslaught of the Usha Stud Farm bred Arabian Prince who spared a long neck at the finish. Becket was a length behind third but only a short head ahead of Spark of Gold at the finish.
The Broadacres Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 85, was run in two divisions and it proved a mixed blessing for Suraj Narredu and his father and trainer Satish Narredu. Classic Charge who had beaten Bhagirathi in his last run in winter, was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the upper division of the race The race was won by rank outsider Stone of Destiny whose stablemate Lads Gladiator was a strong fancy in the race. Ready To Mingle was another who was expected to be in the thick of things. Sunny Baba set the pace followed by Lads Gladiator, Read To Mingle and Classic Charge while Stone of Destiny was in the rear group. Classic Charge came through the middle to get past the front runner but his lead was short lived as Stone of Destiny came up with a brilliant burst to sail past the favourite in the shadow of the post. Ready To Mingle ran on to be third while Lads Gladiator weakened to end up as fourth.
Flaming Lamborgini, who had run a forward race over a mile long trip, was backed spiritedly in the lower division of the race despite the sprint being reckoned as sharp for him. The fast pace of the race perhaps suited Flaming Lamborgini who got the nod at the finish in a race which saw fortunes fluctuate in the final furlong. Chintz who shot through the rails with a furlong out shaped like a winner but Dream Park who tracked the filly, got the measure of the fancied runner close home. However, Suraj Narredu’s aggressive finish ensured the victory of Flaming Lamborgini who just about managed to neck out Dream Park who was a last start winner.
You’re Wonderful was strongly backed to win the V G Saravanam Memorial Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The race was won by Irfan Ghatala trained Mac who has the distinction of always winning at fancy odds. Mac had been troublesome at the gates last time out and was withdrawn form the fray due to his tantrums. However this time out he went in rather quietly. Though he was under pressure to keep pace approaching the final bend, he got into his steam once he found the rhythm and charged ahead with about 250 metres to go for the post. You’re Wonderful covered good ground along the rails but was out sprinted. Royal Player finished with a big burst but could only occupy the runner up berth. Royal Player’s stablemate Bid For Glory too found one better in the lower division of the race where the well backed On A Roll made it with a start to finish dash. Bid For Glory picked up tremendous speed in the closing stages of the race but the winning post came to the rescue of the front runner.
Modern Art had more takers than Native Talent in the 1800 metres Basque Plate. Lush Lashes who had not measured up to expectation in his last run, led all the way and stayed on resolutely but was overhauled in the closing strides of the race by Native Talent who rallied well from behind. Modern Art engaged Lush Lashes in a stiff battle but the latter managed to stay in front of the favourite till the finish.
Inayathulla trained Super Gold was backed down spiritedly in the 1200 metres Young Rajput Plate where Admiranda too was well backed. Jockey Pradeep on the favourite toyed with Admiranda before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final stages of the race.
Montedoro who had finished a noteworthy third to Skyliner recorded a facile win in the 1200 metres Smart Chieftain Trophy, a race for maiden three year olds. Emerald found the winner too good and ended up a tame second while the well backed Plaka was a disappointing third.
Favourite Chantilly Jewel held off the challenge of Another Voice to win the day’s opener, the Endorsement Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25. Inspirator was a leisurely third.
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