| |
Narendra Lagad trained Star of Thea won the 1200 metres P Hadow Trophy, the feature event of Friday`s Pune races from late-finishing Take five. In keeping with the typical style of Lagad`s horses running, Star of Thea led from the start, had a useful break going into the final furlong which held the lesser fancied runner in good stead as Take Five was gaining ground with menacing strides.
Malesh Narredu`s son Deepesh who was licensed to train from this season, found a winner in his first try itself as Awesome One overwhelmed the opposition as a firm favourite. Racing was not as clear cut as on Thursday, with lesser fancied runners winning almost of the races.
Adeline was widely expected to have say in the feature event but the favourite made no show, was never seen with any chance and it came as no surprise that the five-year-old mare finished poorly. Star of Thea made aggressive running in front with Take Five in chase and the order remained the same at the finish though the margin between the two was reduced to a mere neck at the finish. Nembe Creek was third.
The Narredu family is so involved in racing that none from the family has chosen any other profession. Following Satish Narredu`s children Suraj and Rajesh becoming a jockey and a trainer respectively, the same pattern has been followed with Yash and Deepesh choosing the same path. The Narredus perhaps believe that the first attempt should be a winner because the senior Narredus in their career had struggled to cross this barrier for a long time after getting the license. Deepesh had the well prepared and vastly superior Awesome One being pitched into the fray in the 1400 metres Scarlet Emperor Plate, a race for three-year-olds. Awesome One was backed with conviction in the belief that Deepesh will have a winning debut. Jockey Yash Narredu settled his brother`s horse in about the fourth position as Lethal Steps went on a start to finish mission. Awesome One who was travelling well within himself, produced a terrific burst of speed when asked to quicken in the straight and left the rest stranded to record an emphatic win. Lethal Steps stayed on to take the second position ahead of Red Carnation who had a good forward run.
In the battle between two long shots, Magan Singh Jodha trained Mount Mckinley prevailed in the end in the 1400 metres D K Ashish Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Orion Belt was on course to winning but in the straight, the long shot began to drift out from a straight course. Mount Mckinley found the route along the rails a profitable one as the five-year-old managed to slip into the lead and held off Orion`s Belt. Hudson too was progressing well towards the finish. Lesser fancied Angels Touch from the stables of Karthik Ganapathy won the lower division of the race. After chasing Golden Weaver well into the straight, Angels Touch gained ascendancy and sped away for an easy win. Eiger`s Tiger was third while favourite Honourable Eyes was nowhere to be spotted with a chance.
Jockey Trevor Patel had the mortification of losing on favourite Brave in the 1400 metres Fine Arrow Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 30 to Vinesh trained I Am the Way who won from a difficult position. Brave was well backed to oblige and the way the race panned out, it looked as though Brave would have a cakewalk as the favourite had a good lead over the rest right from the start. However, in the final stages of the race, I Am The Way who was making steady progress, suddenly found wings as it were and closed with a rush and managed to nose out the front-runner on whom Trevor possibly was caught napping. Smoky Haze was well positioned but made no significant progress in the straight and finished third.
Adhirajsingh Jodha trained Sporto was a runaway winner in the 1200 metres Saint Emilion Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Sporto had a stranglehold over the race as the others in the race could not pace with the front-runner. The first one to get beat was favourite Mighty Warrior who chased the front-runner into the straight before bowing out of contention. Safdar rallied from way off the pace to edge past the fancied Gloriana to claim the runner-up berth.
Shiraz Sunderji trained Aloha overwhelmed the opposition in the 1600 metres Grey Area Plate, a race for horses rated 4 to 30. Hermosa attempted runaway tactics and led by a big margin well into the straight. However, the front-runner faltered in the final furlong to finish off the frame. Aloha who picked up momentum in the final 300 metres easily overhauled the front-runner to record a comfortable win. Star Ace took the second place ahead of Huzzah`s Phoenix. Favourite Dusky Siren made no show.
*******************
Aloha (C S Jodha up) winner of the Grey Area Plate
Angels Touch (A Imran Khan up) winner of the D K Ashish Trophy (Div-II)
Star Of Thea (T S Jodha up) winner of the P Hadow Trophy
Mount Mckinley (D S Daman up) winner of the D K Ashish Trophy (Div-I)
Sporto (S A Amit up) winner of the Saint Emilion Plate
Awesome One (Yash Narredu up) winner of the Scarlet Emperor Plate
I Am The Way (K Nazil up) winner of the Fine Arrow Plate
|
|
Top
