Sun Absolute unleashes a winning performance
Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Absolute unleashed a winning performance in the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, a seven furlongs terms race for three year olds, the main event of Friday’s races. Sun Absolute who was taking on higher rated horses, had no problem in beating the opposition and lived up to the promise of her debut victory. With the race card throwing a confusing scenario in most events, winner picking turned out to be an exacting exercise.
Darius Byramji trained Unleashed who had let down as a favourite in his last run, was expected to make amends in the feature event especially since he was the highest rated horse in the fray by a mile. However, the progeny of Warrshan who was sporting blinkers for the first time let down again as jockey Srinath rode him in too much restraint and possibly waited too long to get the favourite to unleash a big run. From a forward position at the bend, Sun Absolute was pushed to take over the running at the top of the straight and the produce of Nanoli Stud Farm quickened nicely to have the race well sewn with a furlong to go in the race. Unleashed’s finishing effort only fetched him the runner up spot ahead of Delacroix.
Apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran did a tidy job on another Irfan Ghatala ward Tanzanite who had let down twice as a favourite over six furlongs. Now running at lucrative odds and over a furlong more, the progeny of Burden of Proof came into strong contention in the final furlong and then held off the half-hearted effort of Spark of Reverence and Captain’s Lover in the Saptharishi Cup (Div I). Captain’s Lover came the widest with a powerful run but ran out of reserves when within striking reach of the front runner. The other fancied runners Superb Style, Bucephalas and Sunny Gold let down badly. Captain’s Lover’s stablemate Baton Rouge recorded an encore in the lower division of the race with a blistering run in the final furlong and necked out Alpha Baby who had shaped like a winner. Rugged Beauty was third ahead of Six Shooter who was left to do too much in the straight.
There was inspired betting on Wild Nexus in the 1200 metres Vrudrashwatha Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Wild Nexus had let down as a favourite last time out but this time, he was backed with even more conviction so much so that Cherelle who opened as an ante post on money favourite saw her odds expand beyond 2 ½. With the supporters of Gazaki too exercising their muscle power and strongly backing the filly to win, a three way tussle for supremacy was on cards. Wild Nexus led the field into the straight but he could not sustain his supremacy till the post as Cherelle wore him down with a sustained run and went ahead with a furlong out. Gazaki essayed a strong challenge but found Cherelle in no mood to relent and ended up second best.
Sunstone was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the 1400 metres Sovereign Crown Plate. The progeny of Razeen had registered a hard fought win over Love Me Tender during the summer season. Apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran had Sunstone dictate the pace and brought the field into view but Never Say Goodbye who tracked the favourite not the straight, quickened appreciably and went away for a facile victory at nourishing odds in the hands of another four kg claimer Rajesh Kumar. Time Out, who had not shown any spark in her workouts, ran on from way behind to finish third and should be better for this hard, educative run.
The well-bred Airplay recorded an encore, winning the N Wood Memorial Plate in great style. After being ridden off the pace in about the fifth position, Airplay gradually improved places and took charge of the proceedings from Bugatti and Yamas at the top of the straight and got stronger close home in the mile long race. Emerald ran on to finish second ahead of Sun Dawn and Spark of Sapphire.
Jaggy Dhariwal had a double for the day as the well backed Marie Curie produced a strong gallop in the straight to get the measure of runaway leader Greens to win the Captain H D Fownes Memorial Plate quite easily from What A Friend who was finishing on fastest when the race was in safe keeping of the favourite. Leon Cavallo once again let down his supporters. Greens who showed out in the paddock parade, was allowed to run freely in front despite which she showed enough spark to finish third.
Classical Charm made the entire running in the Krishnarajapuram Plate, a race for lowest rated horses and appeared to have sealed the fate of the race as she had a big break over the rest with a furlong out. However, she faltered closer home as A Game To Remember closed with a rush to nose out the front runner in an exciting finish. Divine Touch was a suggestive third. Thrillseker dropped the jockey in the early part of the race but luckily apprentice Prabhakaran escaped without any injury.
Darius Byramji trained Unleashed who had let down as a favourite in his last run, was expected to make amends in the feature event especially since he was the highest rated horse in the fray by a mile. However, the progeny of Warrshan who was sporting blinkers for the first time let down again as jockey Srinath rode him in too much restraint and possibly waited too long to get the favourite to unleash a big run. From a forward position at the bend, Sun Absolute was pushed to take over the running at the top of the straight and the produce of Nanoli Stud Farm quickened nicely to have the race well sewn with a furlong to go in the race. Unleashed’s finishing effort only fetched him the runner up spot ahead of Delacroix.
Apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran did a tidy job on another Irfan Ghatala ward Tanzanite who had let down twice as a favourite over six furlongs. Now running at lucrative odds and over a furlong more, the progeny of Burden of Proof came into strong contention in the final furlong and then held off the half-hearted effort of Spark of Reverence and Captain’s Lover in the Saptharishi Cup (Div I). Captain’s Lover came the widest with a powerful run but ran out of reserves when within striking reach of the front runner. The other fancied runners Superb Style, Bucephalas and Sunny Gold let down badly. Captain’s Lover’s stablemate Baton Rouge recorded an encore in the lower division of the race with a blistering run in the final furlong and necked out Alpha Baby who had shaped like a winner. Rugged Beauty was third ahead of Six Shooter who was left to do too much in the straight.
There was inspired betting on Wild Nexus in the 1200 metres Vrudrashwatha Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Wild Nexus had let down as a favourite last time out but this time, he was backed with even more conviction so much so that Cherelle who opened as an ante post on money favourite saw her odds expand beyond 2 ½. With the supporters of Gazaki too exercising their muscle power and strongly backing the filly to win, a three way tussle for supremacy was on cards. Wild Nexus led the field into the straight but he could not sustain his supremacy till the post as Cherelle wore him down with a sustained run and went ahead with a furlong out. Gazaki essayed a strong challenge but found Cherelle in no mood to relent and ended up second best.
Sunstone was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the 1400 metres Sovereign Crown Plate. The progeny of Razeen had registered a hard fought win over Love Me Tender during the summer season. Apprentice jockey Vaidheeshwaran had Sunstone dictate the pace and brought the field into view but Never Say Goodbye who tracked the favourite not the straight, quickened appreciably and went away for a facile victory at nourishing odds in the hands of another four kg claimer Rajesh Kumar. Time Out, who had not shown any spark in her workouts, ran on from way behind to finish third and should be better for this hard, educative run.
The well-bred Airplay recorded an encore, winning the N Wood Memorial Plate in great style. After being ridden off the pace in about the fifth position, Airplay gradually improved places and took charge of the proceedings from Bugatti and Yamas at the top of the straight and got stronger close home in the mile long race. Emerald ran on to finish second ahead of Sun Dawn and Spark of Sapphire.
Jaggy Dhariwal had a double for the day as the well backed Marie Curie produced a strong gallop in the straight to get the measure of runaway leader Greens to win the Captain H D Fownes Memorial Plate quite easily from What A Friend who was finishing on fastest when the race was in safe keeping of the favourite. Leon Cavallo once again let down his supporters. Greens who showed out in the paddock parade, was allowed to run freely in front despite which she showed enough spark to finish third.
Classical Charm made the entire running in the Krishnarajapuram Plate, a race for lowest rated horses and appeared to have sealed the fate of the race as she had a big break over the rest with a furlong out. However, she faltered closer home as A Game To Remember closed with a rush to nose out the front runner in an exciting finish. Divine Touch was a suggestive third. Thrillseker dropped the jockey in the early part of the race but luckily apprentice Prabhakaran escaped without any injury.
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