Spearhead springs a surprise in Stayers Trial Stakes
In racing success often comes when least expected as evidenced by the victory of lesser fancied Spearhead in the 2400 metres Stayers Trial Stakes, a rich terms race for four-year olds and over, the feature event of Thursday. Spearhead was never reckoned to be a stayer and his presence in the race was more in hope as also to ensure that the race did not go void. To the pleasant surprise of the connections, Spearhead led all the way and won quite capably.
Favourite Sun Control was never in contention though on the basis of her impressive second to Balmoral Castle who lost the Golconda Derby subsequently by a whisker due to sheer bad luck, was well supported to make a smooth transition to the highest class as she was set to take on seasoned horses which had lost form inexorably. Whether Sun Control is a good stayer or not was a question that remained unanswered as the favourite was a beaten cause well before the final turn. This should not be a surprise as the trainer concerned has just one win over a mile and half trip to show in his statistics. Training horses over longer trips is perhaps not his forte.
Spearhead runs best when he races freely in front and jockey C D Hayes had no hesitation in taking the son of Burden of Proof to dictate the pace though in the end he too may have been surprised by the ease with which the horse won. Spark of Gold was in a handy second position followed by Sun Control, Henry’s Secret and Firezone. David Allan had Spark of Gold challenging the front runner strongly in the straight but the former skipped away to post a comfortable win. Henry’s Secret was a faraway third followed by the well beaten Sun Control.
Trainer S. Attaollahi who saddled Spearhead, also led in the day’s most impressive winner Delacroix who recorded the third win of the season in splendid fashion. Hayes had Delacroix dictate the pace from the word `go’ and the progeny of Glory of Dancer burst clear of the field to in a handsome time of one minute 25.79 seconds. Yas Marina held off Con Artiste for the runner up berth.
Hockenheim was strongly backed to win on the basis of the filly’s second in her last start but the favourite faltered badly. A quiet touch was brought off on Severstahl who led all the way, shook off the favourite and then held on gallantly as Castro came up with a powerful finish. A longneck ensured the victory of lesser fancied runner. Jockey Gallagher was quite forceful in his finish on the winner.
Gallagher thus had a double for the day as earlier in the day he had guided Adonis to contain the challenge of Six Gun Smith in the final stages of the race in the Smt Saraswati Sajnani Memorial Trophy (Div II) where ante post on money favourite Sun Forever made no show. Six Gun Smith led all the way but could not withstand the onslaught of Adonis who came home with a big rush to get the nod in the shadow of the post. Flame Back was a late rallying third. The upper division of the race went the way of favourite Accurate who was driven out to victory by Suraj Narredu. There was quiet touch on Sun Dancing but the apprentice was not up to the mark even though the talented filly showed semblance of returning to form but finished second best for lack of adequate support in the saddle. Sky Diver was third ahead of Anna who was asked to cover too much of leeway in the straight.
Suraj had earlier in the day won on Fiorucci in the Chamundi Hill Plate in a close finish from Sparkling Image. Sparkling Image chased favourite Fist of Rage into the straight and then surged ahead even as the favourite went out of contention. Apprentice Khurshad Alam was unable to correct the outward drift of the horse which put paid to his hopes. Fiorucci too shifted first on her own and then due to Starlight Image. The well supported Plaka ran into these shifting horses forcing De Sousa to check the horse and change course. The filly finished third. De Sousa tried to reverse the verdict in the Stewards room by raising an objection against the riders of first two placed horses but it was overruled. The jockeys however ended up paying a fine for their lack of control on their respective horses. Sparkling Image should make amends next time out.
Sweet Timer was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the H Devereux Memorial Plate (Div I) and Srinath was able to guide the favourite to victory against a disinterested lot of horses. Leon Cavallo came through along the rails with a strong run but his chances were hurt as he burst his blood vessels. Amiable Lady recorded an encore while winning the lower division of the race with a start to finish mission against a meek opposition.
Spicy Star was spiritedly backed to win the Gaganachukki Plate (Div I) and the favourite put in a speedy effort to win from start to finish quite easily from late rallying Man Down Under. The lower division of the race went the way of Tern Me On who was also backed down with conviction despite no surface form and won trouncing the opposition.
Favourite Sun Control was never in contention though on the basis of her impressive second to Balmoral Castle who lost the Golconda Derby subsequently by a whisker due to sheer bad luck, was well supported to make a smooth transition to the highest class as she was set to take on seasoned horses which had lost form inexorably. Whether Sun Control is a good stayer or not was a question that remained unanswered as the favourite was a beaten cause well before the final turn. This should not be a surprise as the trainer concerned has just one win over a mile and half trip to show in his statistics. Training horses over longer trips is perhaps not his forte.
Spearhead runs best when he races freely in front and jockey C D Hayes had no hesitation in taking the son of Burden of Proof to dictate the pace though in the end he too may have been surprised by the ease with which the horse won. Spark of Gold was in a handy second position followed by Sun Control, Henry’s Secret and Firezone. David Allan had Spark of Gold challenging the front runner strongly in the straight but the former skipped away to post a comfortable win. Henry’s Secret was a faraway third followed by the well beaten Sun Control.
Trainer S. Attaollahi who saddled Spearhead, also led in the day’s most impressive winner Delacroix who recorded the third win of the season in splendid fashion. Hayes had Delacroix dictate the pace from the word `go’ and the progeny of Glory of Dancer burst clear of the field to in a handsome time of one minute 25.79 seconds. Yas Marina held off Con Artiste for the runner up berth.
Hockenheim was strongly backed to win on the basis of the filly’s second in her last start but the favourite faltered badly. A quiet touch was brought off on Severstahl who led all the way, shook off the favourite and then held on gallantly as Castro came up with a powerful finish. A longneck ensured the victory of lesser fancied runner. Jockey Gallagher was quite forceful in his finish on the winner.
Gallagher thus had a double for the day as earlier in the day he had guided Adonis to contain the challenge of Six Gun Smith in the final stages of the race in the Smt Saraswati Sajnani Memorial Trophy (Div II) where ante post on money favourite Sun Forever made no show. Six Gun Smith led all the way but could not withstand the onslaught of Adonis who came home with a big rush to get the nod in the shadow of the post. Flame Back was a late rallying third. The upper division of the race went the way of favourite Accurate who was driven out to victory by Suraj Narredu. There was quiet touch on Sun Dancing but the apprentice was not up to the mark even though the talented filly showed semblance of returning to form but finished second best for lack of adequate support in the saddle. Sky Diver was third ahead of Anna who was asked to cover too much of leeway in the straight.
Suraj had earlier in the day won on Fiorucci in the Chamundi Hill Plate in a close finish from Sparkling Image. Sparkling Image chased favourite Fist of Rage into the straight and then surged ahead even as the favourite went out of contention. Apprentice Khurshad Alam was unable to correct the outward drift of the horse which put paid to his hopes. Fiorucci too shifted first on her own and then due to Starlight Image. The well supported Plaka ran into these shifting horses forcing De Sousa to check the horse and change course. The filly finished third. De Sousa tried to reverse the verdict in the Stewards room by raising an objection against the riders of first two placed horses but it was overruled. The jockeys however ended up paying a fine for their lack of control on their respective horses. Sparkling Image should make amends next time out.
Sweet Timer was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the H Devereux Memorial Plate (Div I) and Srinath was able to guide the favourite to victory against a disinterested lot of horses. Leon Cavallo came through along the rails with a strong run but his chances were hurt as he burst his blood vessels. Amiable Lady recorded an encore while winning the lower division of the race with a start to finish mission against a meek opposition.
Spicy Star was spiritedly backed to win the Gaganachukki Plate (Div I) and the favourite put in a speedy effort to win from start to finish quite easily from late rallying Man Down Under. The lower division of the race went the way of Tern Me On who was also backed down with conviction despite no surface form and won trouncing the opposition.
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