The eight-year old champion horse Coral Gables bid adieu to racing in style with yet another triumph in the H P Mistry Memorial Cup, a Category I race, which highlighted Sunday`s racing at Malakpet. Coral Gables, who literally ruled the Hyderabad track along with Onnu Onnu Onnu for a number of years, has been a game performer and he also had the distinction of being India`s representative during the Dubai Racing Carnival a few years ago. Coral Gables had also won a couple of graded races at Bangalore thus highlighting the fact that he was not just a champion at home but even outside as well. The Leo D`Silva trained Coral Gables was a true champion in every sense of the term as he ruled over younger lot even on the day he was set to run his last race.

While it could be said in favour of the younger lot they are a tired lot at this stage of the season having been on the boil since the Monsoon season and they are feeling the stress and strain of a long season, the fact remains that Coral Gables who has had several such seasons for the last five years, has still got enough resolution and zest to make them run is in itself a tribute to the champion.

Khaleel`s Pride was withdrawn just before the start. Coral Gables was settled in the rear bunch as Adamant Approach took a while to hit the front to dictate his pace. It was clear that he was not enjoying the role as he led on sufferance from Vijay Marg Rounding the final bend, Adamant Approach was soon passed by Vijay Marg but his rein too was short lived as the champion miler Champ Forever came up with a good burst of speed. However, Champ Forever failed to carry his supremacy till the wire as Coral Gables produced his patented burst of speed to get the measure of the front-runner in the shadow of the post to make his last race a winning one. Blast In Class ran on to finish third.

The battle for champion trainer and jockey has intensified with just a few days of racing left. Both Prasad Raju and Leo D`Silva are hard at work to win the championship so much so that they are running their wards as often as possible to get the crucial points. Right now, Prasad Raju leads over Leo by two points while in the jockeys` championship race; Imran Khan has a similar lead over Harish. Regents Park and Celtic Shot who ran on Sunday are again running on Monday. The championship stake is hotting up like the weather.

Trainer Ananth Vatsalya brought off a good touch on Zambo Anga who was backed down spiritedly to land the spoils. He was successful in doing so as his jockey Ruzzan was equal to the task. In a stirring battle, Zambo Anga staved off the challenge of Chesapeake. At one point Chesapeake put his head in front but Zambo Anga fought back and managed to pull it off by a length in the end.

Dancing Harbour made good the low handicap to get the measure of Acciaccatura and Superfluous who were disputing the issue. Dancing Harbour finished with a strong run to win close home in a three horse finish. Tigana who had let down last time by trying to win by making the entire running, perhaps profited by the change of tactics as he was held back before being asked to quicken in the final furlong to get the measure of long time leader Costa Mesa and Hunting Boy to oblige as a fancied runner. Hunting Boy displaced Costa Mesa from the runner up berth.

Strategic Partner surprised everyone when he lost a distance at the start, a habit which he had not shown all along, and this cost the followers of the fancied runner dear as they lost all their hopes at the stat itself. Dash of Class recorded a fine win thanks to his pilot showing his class. The brilliant effort of Suraj Narredu enabled Dash of Class to get the measure of Golden Tricks who came from way off the pace and very nearly overhauled the eventual winner. Ruzzan`s perseverance also came in for praise.

Odds on favourite Kohinoor King was hard pressed to win the Royal Prince Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds from The Beatles Angel. A lack luster ride by Chary did not help the cause of favourite Rainbow Fog who went down to India Gate in the lower division of the race. Somehow trainer Satyanarayana`s horses don`t seem to relish the prospect of running as public fancies.


Preston Bailey was lucky to win another race for maidens. His victory was made possible because Yanamaria who essayed a strong challenge, was undone by the outward drift at a crucial stage of the race.

Dating lived up to the promise of delivering the goods by winning with a fair degree of comfort from Regents Park whose form graph has not been consistent.