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Set Alight back to winning ways with a bang

By: Tippu Sultan   September 13 , 2009
   

The most talked about filly in recent times, the Usha Stud Farm bred Set Alight bounced back to winning ways with a ridiculously easy win in the Gr 1 President of India Gold Cup, the star event of races held at Malakpet on Sunday. Set Alight set at rest the belief in some circles that she is not good over the grueling mile and half trip by winning with ease. What was striking was the fact that she enjoyed her outing and displayed the acceleration of old which augurs well for her next assignment, the Gr 1 Invitation Cup on the very same track on October 25. The Invitation Cup will be a tougher assignment as she will have a bigger field to contend with and the attending problems associated with the pressure of expectation now that she has bounced back.

Noble Prince was expected to be a big challenger for the race but the big made son of Placerville has always shown his aversion to soft underfoot conditions. Conditions were ideal for the match race but there was a thunderstorm sometime after the second race which ensured that the track was on the softer side. Noble Prince has performed below par on these conditions as can be evidenced by his poor show in last year`s Bangalore St Leger in similar going.

  
  Set Alight (C Alford up), winner of the President Of India Gold Cup (Gr.I), being led in by trainer Mr. P Shroff & Mr Zeyn Mirza
The small field made things easy for jockey C Alford to settle Set Alight as things went exactly as per expectation of the wonder filly`s connections. Arabian Knight set the pace followed by Abs Fabs, Noble Prince and Set Alight. The pace was comfortable and perfectly suited for Set Alight to unleash her patented burst in the homestretch. Arabian Knight gave way to Abs Fabs rounding the final bend and Noble Prince who was in a handy striking position faltered, unable to cope with the conditions. Set Alight smoothly accelerated, relishing the underfoot conditions and won by a widening margin of seven lengths over Noble Prince who barely held off Abs Fabs for the second spot. Noble Prince had beaten Abs Fabs by a big margin in the Governor`s Cup at Bangalore and as such, it is difficult to read too much into Set Alight`s win. In the light of Noble Prince running much below par, Set Alight`s win can be effectively read as the daughter of Razeen beating Abs Fabs by seven lengths. All said and done, it was a big relief for trainer Pesi Shroff who has been facing rough weather in the ongoing monsoon season.

Come Together recorded an exciting win in the Gool and Soli Poonawalla Memorial Gold Trophy, a Category I race. Arrow of Light set a fast pace in this six furlong race, with favourite Sprucespringstein on his haunches followed by Come Together, Spy Mate, Sound of Nature and Hurricane Bay. Arrow of Light maintained his lead till the furlong but he weakened after doing the front running and gave way to Come Together who had slipped along the rails and seized the initiative. Sprucespringstein too warmed up to the task and came home with relish along with Spymate who too covered good ground but front runner held on to win by a neck. A mere neck separated the first three finishers.

Jockey Wayne Smith guided Mayfair Girl to a resolute win in the Poondla Venku Reddy Golconda Trophy, a seven furlong race Category II race. Global Emperor led all the way with Chiquelle, Mayfair Girl and Scubario racing in close attendance. At the final turn, Chiquelle took the final turn wide, causing Mayfair Girl also to go wide. In the meanwhile, Global Emperor broke into a useful lead but Mayfair Girl, despite shifting in under pressure, traveled the best and went sailing clear to win. Chiquelle was squeezed for an opening at a crucial stage and went out of contention. Fire Bird with a late rally on the wide outside, finished an impressive second.

Fabulous Crown recorded an upset with a start to finish mission in the Alluri Seetharama Raju Trophy. Though favourite One Mission came up with a menacing run, the lead that the front runner had established held him in good stead. Habituated was a tame third.

Favourite Vijay`s Angel had no problem in trouncing the opposition in the 2000 metres Half A Crown Plate which was held under testing conditions. Southern Spice pulled up abruptly through the field and fell behind and eventually ended up on the outer sand but luckily he did not cause any mishap in a tightly packed field. Smrithiman led all the way before weakening with a furlong to go allowing Vijay`s Angel to surge clear on the wide outside. Janan Baaz occupied the second spot ahead of late finishing Bharadvij. Smrithiman weakened to finish fourth.

Metaforce easily won the Delhi Plate, a race for maiden three year olds by leading from the word `go` in the race held over five furlongs. Pavarotti strongly challenged Metaforce in the homestretch and shaped to essay a strong challenge but the front runner skipped away to win by a comfortable margin of four lengths. Pavarotti has consistently found one better during the season.

Despite missing the kick at the start and racing in the rear of the field, See You There came through the shortest way home and then essayed a strong challenge to the front running favourite Danzing and swept into the lead close home to bring off a fine win. Feudal Lords was third while Dash of Class was fourth though both lost considerable ground at the start.

 
 
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