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Ashhad Asbar, Christopher Alford steal the limelight

By: Goldie Boy   January 30 , 2016
   

Trainer Bharath Singh`s Noverro scored a business-like victory in the 1,400m Mayor`s Cup, the feature event in Saturday`s race card. Jockey A. Ashhad Asbar, who partnered the winner, also shared the distinction of sweeping a four-win haul with the champion jockey Christopher Alford in the afternoon`s eight event card.

The victory of Noverro, a 5/1 chance in the betting, came as a surprise. The Noverre-Erina four-year-old had always run in the shadows of the stable`s better rated horses like Captain Cook and Suzanna. Spared the rigours of the Classics, the horse was mainly trusted in the handicap races. But with the better performed Classic filly Glamorously in the 12-horse line-up, Noverro hardly attracted attention, whatever her credentials.
  
  


Glamorously cornered most of the betting at 9/4 but her run was hardly inspiring. Settled in the mid-division; until a furlong from home, the China Visit daughter went backwards when the pressure was applied. Noverro, on the other hand, was ridden well off the pace and was made to take the shortest route home to be at the helm in the final furlong. The horse also displayed electrifying acceleration in the final 150m to overhaul Confidence and the 13/4 chance, Silver Streak.

Much was expected from King Kong but the horse disappointed after calling the shots till 150m from the winning post.

The 1,200m King Wajid Ali Shah of Oudh, another important event in the day`s card, was an easy pick for trainer Vijay Singh`s Regal, who had won her last outing in a very convincing manner. The winner, a Mull of Kyntire filly, was freely available at 5/1 while another last outing fluent winner, Le Havre, was the public rage, 8/10 in the big 14-horse field. The favourite was, however, out-paced from the word ‘go` as Alford dictated the terms from the beginning to win with a degree of ease.

Asbar`s winning streak started from the very start, the 2,000m Averoff Handicap, in which, trainer Richard Alford`s horse, Comedian, commanded much respect at 5/2, purely in view of his staying credentials but no current form. The Chinese whisper son, of course, delivered the good and with ease when ridden in a check behind the early leaders The Dark Lord, Brutus and Divine Rhapsody.

Asbar-Richard combinations were back in the winner`s enclosure half-an-hour later when their trusted charge, Alicante, found the target, albeit narrowly, in the 1,100m Obligado Handicap. The winner was ridden in a check, for a change, as Country Breeze and Breach Candy made most of the running . The other factor that helped Alicante score was a the weak handling of jockey Mohammed Islam who lost the verdict, virtually at the post. Nevertheless, the victory of Alicante did set the two professionals on course of a treble, and quadruple for Asbar.

The pair took the opportunity for making the headlines in the 1,600m Capt. H.D. Fowenes Memorial Cup; which was claimed by Alford`s Murlough Bay, a 3/1 second favourite after Vijay`s Santero (C. Alford) in the 10-horse field. Asbar had the Mull of Kyntire son settle behind the long time leader, Sergeant Major and Santero till about the home turn, from where he took off to counter a strong but late challenge from trainer James McKeown`s charge, Heirloom (Shailesh Shinde).

McKeown`s 5/4 favourite, Forest Hills, had, however, set the day`s course for Christopher`s quest for bigger honours. The horse, literally gave an armchair to Alford, inspite of his top-weight, in the lower division of the Silver Handicap. Forest Hills took over the running after allowing Footloose to cruise until 300m from home.

Vijay`s another favourite, Apercus, too, was ridden, by C. Alford, to an easy victory from the start of the to lift the baby race, the 1,200m Adelina Plate. In the same race trainer Sarfraz Khan`s Cocoanut ran an inspiring second and is one for the notebook.

The easy victory of Regal early in the afternoon had set the course for trainer Daniel David`s charge The Talisman to attract huge wagering in the upper division of the Silver Handicap. In their last clash, Regal had found The Talisman, a hard nut to crack, and thus, the rush for money and the win. Alford took full advantage of the fact and had an easy measure of the field to deliver the goods.

 
 
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