String Along maintains winning streak
Mysore Guineas winner String Along did her reputation no harm when slamming the opposition in the Krishnaraja Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of what technically was the opening day’s racing of the Bangalore Winter Season on Saturday. The speedy daughter of Alnasr Alwasheek who will be a force to reckon with in the ensuing Guineas brooked on opposition when checking in well clear of late rallying Spark of Bronte.
With rains easing off, racing action could begin after a break of three months which was a great relief to racing enthusiasts after the tension of eviction threat that the club faced following the expiry of the lease agreement with the government and the defeat that the club suffered in High Court.
String Along had won twice at Mysore and before that an equal number of times during the summer season. String Along opened at cramped odds but the odds expanded marginally though there was no threat perception from any of the contestants who either had left their best behind them or were graduating into this class. Successor led the field from the start as the field set out for the six furlong trip followed by String Along in close attendance while Spark of Bronte who was a bidding for a hat-trick, losing pace to race last.
Jockey Imran Khan had no difficulty in getting in the favourite to go past the front running Successor on turning for home. The Ganapathy trainee then skipped away to record an impressive win. Spark of Bronte moved aggressively from behind to edge out Einstein for the runner up berth. String Along is endowed with great speed and she will be hard to toss over trips up to a mile. Spark of Bronte should pick up a race before long.
The action on Saturday turned out to be a good one for punters despite the apprehensions raised by the soft underfoot conditions. The penetrometer reading stood at 5.6 cms and given the fact that during the early part of the season there is a thick grass cover, the going definitely put a premium on fitness. Five favourites came through in the card of eight events, with only the second, third and fourth races producing upset winners.
Trainer Prithviraj was in the limelight, saddling a treble, including winners of both the divisions of the Air Force Cup. Eagle Claws was outstanding in the upper division of the race and predictably she was backed to the exclusion of her rivals. Suraj Narredu had Eagle Claws track Amar Prem before asking the progeny of Burden of Proof to quicken inside the final 350 metres. Eagle Claws did no go clear as expected with Spark of Solitaire essaying a strong challenge. Spark of Solitaire drifted out under the strong right handed whipping of jockey John which perhaps hurt the chances of the horse as by the time he corrected the drift and got the progeny of Juniper going with hands and heels, Eagle Claws had reached the safety of the winning post. Citrali ran on to finish third.
Sure Speed received spirited support to end up as a firm favourite in the lower division of the Air Force Cup. Spark of Silver had her share of supporters. A Move To Remember set a brisk pace as the fancied runners were spaced out in the middle, with Super Gold in the rear. A Move To Remember tired out on entering the home stretch but took the runners behind him slightly wide which gave a beautiful run along the rails for Abnoba. The daughter of Burden of Proof who had won both the starts of her career, rallied well along the rails to win from Super Gold who finished strongly from rear. Spark of Silver was third ahead of the bandaged favourite Sure Speed.
Baton Rouge, who was bidding for a hat-trick, was backed spiritedly in the Baba Khan Memorial Plate, a seven furlong race for horses rated 40 to 65. Youre Kiss’s Due steadily lost supporters. Baton Rouge chased Corleone into the straight and was ridden out by jockey John to take over the running. The favourite held off the challenge of Mystere to land the spoils. There was a cluster finish behind, with You’re Kiss’s Due finding foot late to occupy the third slot ahead of Glitterato and Mr. Ambassador who were impressive enough support in their future endeavors.
Nectar Crown went into the race as a favourite in the Cordon Blue Plate, a six furlong race, the concluding race of the day. Misty Moonlight too came in for spirited support to end up as a well backed second favourite. Imran Khan had Misty Moonlight dictate the pace, with Nectar Crown a handy second. The former did not give up easily and took the fight to the wire but Suraj Narredu was able to drive out Nectar Crown for a narrow win. This was the second win saddled by Satish Narredu who had earlier in the day won on Champs Elysees in the seven furlongs Mount Joy Plate as a well-disguised touch in the hands of jockey Chandrasekhar.
Emerald once again let down her supporters with a poor performance in the Sar-Kla Plate (Div I). Flame Back who received inspired support, was floored by the strong run produced by Spark of Sapphire who provided apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran with his maiden success. Hard To Pin who had a troubled passage, came from way behind to snatch the third spot from Emerald by a whisker. Six Gun Smooth proved too superior in the lower division of the race. With the benefit of an easy run at Mysore, Six Gun Smooth led the field from the start and was clear by a widening margin of nine lengths over Mark of Genius.
With rains easing off, racing action could begin after a break of three months which was a great relief to racing enthusiasts after the tension of eviction threat that the club faced following the expiry of the lease agreement with the government and the defeat that the club suffered in High Court.
String Along had won twice at Mysore and before that an equal number of times during the summer season. String Along opened at cramped odds but the odds expanded marginally though there was no threat perception from any of the contestants who either had left their best behind them or were graduating into this class. Successor led the field from the start as the field set out for the six furlong trip followed by String Along in close attendance while Spark of Bronte who was a bidding for a hat-trick, losing pace to race last.
Jockey Imran Khan had no difficulty in getting in the favourite to go past the front running Successor on turning for home. The Ganapathy trainee then skipped away to record an impressive win. Spark of Bronte moved aggressively from behind to edge out Einstein for the runner up berth. String Along is endowed with great speed and she will be hard to toss over trips up to a mile. Spark of Bronte should pick up a race before long.
The action on Saturday turned out to be a good one for punters despite the apprehensions raised by the soft underfoot conditions. The penetrometer reading stood at 5.6 cms and given the fact that during the early part of the season there is a thick grass cover, the going definitely put a premium on fitness. Five favourites came through in the card of eight events, with only the second, third and fourth races producing upset winners.
Trainer Prithviraj was in the limelight, saddling a treble, including winners of both the divisions of the Air Force Cup. Eagle Claws was outstanding in the upper division of the race and predictably she was backed to the exclusion of her rivals. Suraj Narredu had Eagle Claws track Amar Prem before asking the progeny of Burden of Proof to quicken inside the final 350 metres. Eagle Claws did no go clear as expected with Spark of Solitaire essaying a strong challenge. Spark of Solitaire drifted out under the strong right handed whipping of jockey John which perhaps hurt the chances of the horse as by the time he corrected the drift and got the progeny of Juniper going with hands and heels, Eagle Claws had reached the safety of the winning post. Citrali ran on to finish third.
Sure Speed received spirited support to end up as a firm favourite in the lower division of the Air Force Cup. Spark of Silver had her share of supporters. A Move To Remember set a brisk pace as the fancied runners were spaced out in the middle, with Super Gold in the rear. A Move To Remember tired out on entering the home stretch but took the runners behind him slightly wide which gave a beautiful run along the rails for Abnoba. The daughter of Burden of Proof who had won both the starts of her career, rallied well along the rails to win from Super Gold who finished strongly from rear. Spark of Silver was third ahead of the bandaged favourite Sure Speed.
Baton Rouge, who was bidding for a hat-trick, was backed spiritedly in the Baba Khan Memorial Plate, a seven furlong race for horses rated 40 to 65. Youre Kiss’s Due steadily lost supporters. Baton Rouge chased Corleone into the straight and was ridden out by jockey John to take over the running. The favourite held off the challenge of Mystere to land the spoils. There was a cluster finish behind, with You’re Kiss’s Due finding foot late to occupy the third slot ahead of Glitterato and Mr. Ambassador who were impressive enough support in their future endeavors.
Nectar Crown went into the race as a favourite in the Cordon Blue Plate, a six furlong race, the concluding race of the day. Misty Moonlight too came in for spirited support to end up as a well backed second favourite. Imran Khan had Misty Moonlight dictate the pace, with Nectar Crown a handy second. The former did not give up easily and took the fight to the wire but Suraj Narredu was able to drive out Nectar Crown for a narrow win. This was the second win saddled by Satish Narredu who had earlier in the day won on Champs Elysees in the seven furlongs Mount Joy Plate as a well-disguised touch in the hands of jockey Chandrasekhar.
Emerald once again let down her supporters with a poor performance in the Sar-Kla Plate (Div I). Flame Back who received inspired support, was floored by the strong run produced by Spark of Sapphire who provided apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran with his maiden success. Hard To Pin who had a troubled passage, came from way behind to snatch the third spot from Emerald by a whisker. Six Gun Smooth proved too superior in the lower division of the race. With the benefit of an easy run at Mysore, Six Gun Smooth led the field from the start and was clear by a widening margin of nine lengths over Mark of Genius.
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