What A Friend obliges yet again
Trainer Sharat Kumar has worked wonders on What A Friend who recorded his third win of the season when getting the better of Hatsuhana yet again in the 1400 metres Kanteerava Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. Hatsuhana was better placed over What A Friend in scales vis-à-vis their previous encounter but the latter yet again asserted his superiority with a powerful charge in the final furlong.
What A Friend had run behind Fleeting Arrow in his debut run and the latter went on to win several classics. The expectation on What A Friend was higher than that on stablemate but the horse had a setback and faded out from the scene. After it changed stables, Sharat Kumar has been able to get the six-year old gelding to realize his potential albeit late in his career. He has been able to sort out the problem which prevented this progeny of Placerville from living up to expectation.
Hatsuhana has had his share of problems but has bounced back well though he was unlucky to run into a better opponent for the second time running. Though he began as the favourite, Mysore challenger Ohiyesa ended up enjoying greater support. Rugged Beauty and Tanzanite were the others who came in for active consideration. What A Friend was allowed to run at liberal odds. Bucethalis was the pace setter as jockey Gallagher had Ohiyesa take a handy second position midway through the seven furlong race while Hatsuhana was in about the seventh or eighth position tracking What A Friend. Pradeep Chouhan brought Hatsuhana on the wide outside and he probably saw What A Friend in front being a strong threat as he tightened the runner slightly and surged ahead. The way Hatsuhana took charge; it looked as though the race was over for the Neil Darashah trainee. However, Christopher was able to angle out What A Friend and rode out relentlessly with the free use of the aircush whip to get the lesser fancied runner to produce that one decisive thrust which carried him past the front runner. Ohiyesa ran on to be a tame third.
Trainer Samar Singh who was going through a lean patch opened his account through the Hazara Stud Farm bred Lovely Kiss. Lovely Kiss had run such an impressive second to Midtown Magic that one had no hesitation in nominating the daughter of Rebuttal as the best bet of the day despite jockey Jagadeesh being assigned to ride him. Top weighed Free Law came in for inspired support to end up as a joint favourite with Lovely Kiss. Free Law showed enough speed to dictate the pace but with a furlong out, Lovely Kiss went ahead. Though the filly veered out of a straight course, she still managed to spare three lengths at the finish to Free Law. Chantilly was a faraway third.
There was nothing much to choose between At The Helm and Dancerella as both had performed well in their previous outings and the seven furlong maidens race was strictly confined to these two. Though Dancerella surged ahead inside the final furlong, At The Helm was easily the better travelling of the two and won by half a length which could have expanded with little more distance to cover. The front running Forever Glory managed to neck out Sunday Storm for the third spot.
Royal Surprise finally broke the jinx as this Amit Cady trained got abroad filly produced a strong run in the homestretch to win the 1600 metres Virajpet Plate. Royal Surprise went off the bridle well before the final turn but the persevering efforts of jockey V R De Sousa enabled the filly to produce a winning effort. Trainer Dominic had rated Love Conquers All pretty high and this was the reason why he had taken the horse for a tilt at Delhi Derby. Since coming back, Love Conquers All had a run benefit and had lesser known Ramandeep astride the gelding. The horse was backed down spiritedly from a higher quote to end up as a firm favourite. Love Conquers All missed the kicked, improved places rapidly but could not produce that bit extra in the decisive moment of the race. Royal Surprise held off the challenge of Hard To Pin Down who nosed out Allez Vite and Love Conquers All to keep the runner up berth. With a better quality rider, Love Conquers All could have pulled it off.
The trainer-jockey combination of Amit Cady and De Sousa had a double for the day as earlier in the day, Back Among Friends who had found one better on two successive occasions managed to stave off the challenge of favourite Mitraya in the Devarayana Durga Plate (Div I). Back Among Friends hung in badly but the jockey managed to drive out the horse to eke out a narrow win. Sky Glider put up a dogged resistance before weakening to finish third. Sky Rider was perhaps backed more by default than by virtue of his performance. Sprawling Elegance hit the front from the word `go’ and jockey Appu had no problem in guiding the lesser fancied runner to victory over late charging Black Beauty.
Sharat Kumar’s Frame Partner won the 1600 metres Bagalkote Plate at lucrative odds. The horse was quietly fancied as could be evidenced by the pay-out in place and the forceful effort put by less heralded Mallikarjun who brought the progeny of Juniper on the wide outside to get past Sun Gold to record an easy win. Sun Gold necked out Golden Dixie to finish second best. When horses like Frame Partner dominate the day’s proceedings, majority of punters can hardly get a clue and as such, receive a drubbing.
Prasanna Kumar’s charge Cowboy Cal produced a winning effort in the 1800 metres Magod Falls Plate easily containing the challenge of last outing winner Lampon who warmed up to the task when the cause had been lost. Halo of Reverence was well supported but was not spotted at the busy end.
What A Friend had run behind Fleeting Arrow in his debut run and the latter went on to win several classics. The expectation on What A Friend was higher than that on stablemate but the horse had a setback and faded out from the scene. After it changed stables, Sharat Kumar has been able to get the six-year old gelding to realize his potential albeit late in his career. He has been able to sort out the problem which prevented this progeny of Placerville from living up to expectation.
Hatsuhana has had his share of problems but has bounced back well though he was unlucky to run into a better opponent for the second time running. Though he began as the favourite, Mysore challenger Ohiyesa ended up enjoying greater support. Rugged Beauty and Tanzanite were the others who came in for active consideration. What A Friend was allowed to run at liberal odds. Bucethalis was the pace setter as jockey Gallagher had Ohiyesa take a handy second position midway through the seven furlong race while Hatsuhana was in about the seventh or eighth position tracking What A Friend. Pradeep Chouhan brought Hatsuhana on the wide outside and he probably saw What A Friend in front being a strong threat as he tightened the runner slightly and surged ahead. The way Hatsuhana took charge; it looked as though the race was over for the Neil Darashah trainee. However, Christopher was able to angle out What A Friend and rode out relentlessly with the free use of the aircush whip to get the lesser fancied runner to produce that one decisive thrust which carried him past the front runner. Ohiyesa ran on to be a tame third.
Trainer Samar Singh who was going through a lean patch opened his account through the Hazara Stud Farm bred Lovely Kiss. Lovely Kiss had run such an impressive second to Midtown Magic that one had no hesitation in nominating the daughter of Rebuttal as the best bet of the day despite jockey Jagadeesh being assigned to ride him. Top weighed Free Law came in for inspired support to end up as a joint favourite with Lovely Kiss. Free Law showed enough speed to dictate the pace but with a furlong out, Lovely Kiss went ahead. Though the filly veered out of a straight course, she still managed to spare three lengths at the finish to Free Law. Chantilly was a faraway third.
There was nothing much to choose between At The Helm and Dancerella as both had performed well in their previous outings and the seven furlong maidens race was strictly confined to these two. Though Dancerella surged ahead inside the final furlong, At The Helm was easily the better travelling of the two and won by half a length which could have expanded with little more distance to cover. The front running Forever Glory managed to neck out Sunday Storm for the third spot.
Royal Surprise finally broke the jinx as this Amit Cady trained got abroad filly produced a strong run in the homestretch to win the 1600 metres Virajpet Plate. Royal Surprise went off the bridle well before the final turn but the persevering efforts of jockey V R De Sousa enabled the filly to produce a winning effort. Trainer Dominic had rated Love Conquers All pretty high and this was the reason why he had taken the horse for a tilt at Delhi Derby. Since coming back, Love Conquers All had a run benefit and had lesser known Ramandeep astride the gelding. The horse was backed down spiritedly from a higher quote to end up as a firm favourite. Love Conquers All missed the kicked, improved places rapidly but could not produce that bit extra in the decisive moment of the race. Royal Surprise held off the challenge of Hard To Pin Down who nosed out Allez Vite and Love Conquers All to keep the runner up berth. With a better quality rider, Love Conquers All could have pulled it off.
The trainer-jockey combination of Amit Cady and De Sousa had a double for the day as earlier in the day, Back Among Friends who had found one better on two successive occasions managed to stave off the challenge of favourite Mitraya in the Devarayana Durga Plate (Div I). Back Among Friends hung in badly but the jockey managed to drive out the horse to eke out a narrow win. Sky Glider put up a dogged resistance before weakening to finish third. Sky Rider was perhaps backed more by default than by virtue of his performance. Sprawling Elegance hit the front from the word `go’ and jockey Appu had no problem in guiding the lesser fancied runner to victory over late charging Black Beauty.
Sharat Kumar’s Frame Partner won the 1600 metres Bagalkote Plate at lucrative odds. The horse was quietly fancied as could be evidenced by the pay-out in place and the forceful effort put by less heralded Mallikarjun who brought the progeny of Juniper on the wide outside to get past Sun Gold to record an easy win. Sun Gold necked out Golden Dixie to finish second best. When horses like Frame Partner dominate the day’s proceedings, majority of punters can hardly get a clue and as such, receive a drubbing.
Prasanna Kumar’s charge Cowboy Cal produced a winning effort in the 1800 metres Magod Falls Plate easily containing the challenge of last outing winner Lampon who warmed up to the task when the cause had been lost. Halo of Reverence was well supported but was not spotted at the busy end.
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