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Neil Darashah trained Mohican nailed Holy Trinity in the waning yards of the race thanks to the power-packed riding by jockey Suraj Narredu to lift the 1400 metres Chamundi Hills Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35, the feature event of a lacklustre card of six events that were carded for the day. Another first-timer Ambrosio won the lower division of the race.
Mohican who had showed out in a mock race was made the favourite ahead of Ciel Etoile who has rarely been a model of consistency. There was also significant support for another first-timer Holy Trinity who looked spot on for a bold show. Lovely Sierra led the field into the straight before giving way to Santamarija Festa. Holy Trinity who was in about the fourth or fifth position at the final bend, cruised up and got the better of the front-runner. In the meanwhile, Suraj was seen hard at work on Mohican who was taking his own time to warm up. To compound the problems for the jockey, the horse was also running green. However, Suraj managed to gather the horse and drove out with all the resources at his command to edge past Holy Trinity in the dying moments of the race. Santamarija Festa stayed on to finish a suggestive third. Ciel Etoile was a tame fourth.
Sulaiman Attaollahi trainee Ambrosio had been aggressively prepared to make a winning debut with the help of a mock race in the lower division of the Chamundi Hills Cup. Ambrosio appeared to be in a spot of bother approaching the final furlong as he was looking for ground to make his bid. The opportunity presented itself along the rails and Trevor Patel pushed the favourite to take over the running. Ambrosio warmed up to the task and stretched away for a comfortable win over long shots Scarlet Princess and Marco Polo. Memoriter failed to perform to expectations and was a well-beaten fourth.
Jockey Imran Chisty who is back in India after the stint at Mauritius, drove out the well-backed Gerontocrat to a thrilling win over Game Changer in the 1400 metres Red Baron Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Close to race time, Aeolus came in for spirited betting to displace Gerontocrat as the favourite. The latter had gone down fighting to Peluche and hadn`t been seen on the race track for 126 days. Gerontocrat was showing out in the workouts and this could be the reason why there was all-round enthusiasm about his prospects. Flat Out set the pace even as the fancied runners were spread out from mid to rear group. Rounding the final turn, Flat Out still had a useful lead. Approaching the final furlong, Aeolus showed out prominently raising hopes but could not sustain. Game Changer and Gerontocrat moved up from the rear group on the wide outside and were engaged in a thrilling duel with the latter snatching the verdict in the final stride of the race. Tyro Alba made a rally along the rails and finished a close third ahead of Aeolus. Gerontocrat had to overcome turbulent start because of which he perhaps could not take a forward position. Prasanna Kumar trains the winner.
The quietly fancied Silken Striker obliged the expectations in the 1200 metres Krishna Raja Sagar Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Though Habanero did not have encouraging racing form, the Dominic trainee went to the post as a favourite. There was perceptible betting on Silken Striker and Amazonite to cause a flutter. After Strong Conviction led the field into the straight and weakened, last start winner Nostradamus took over the running inside the final 300 metres. Silken Striker and Amazonite essayed a strong challenge, with the former managed to storm ahead of the front-runner to land the spoils. Apprentice Shamaz Shareef could not maneuverer a good run for Amazonite who nevertheless made a strong bid and finished a neck behind Nostradamus in the third position. Sharat Kumar trained Kudla Punch produced a strong gallop in the final furlong to get the better of the battling duo of Master of War and Bold move to win the lower division of the race. Bold Move and Master of War were both strongly fancied to win by their respective connections and they were in earnest before Kudla Punch covered plenty of leeway on them and won at nourishing odds. There was a market buzz on Bazinga, but the top-weight found the trip too sharp though he covered some ground in the stretch to finish fourth.
The trainer and jockey combination of Gregory Sandhu and N Rajesh had a double for the day. Parting Show who was at nourishing odds was being backed by those in the know to win the 1400 metres Linganamakki Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. The favourite was Lokanath trained Able Master who was well backed as a strong favourite. Able Master chased Happy Hours into the straight before disappearing from the sight. One is surprised how such horses continue to attract betting despite no consistent performances to their credit. Parting Shot who was handily placed at the final bend, assumed command in the stretch to go clear and won easily from Romantic Haven and Ice Speed. Helios charged home late on the wide outside to take the fourth position.
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Ambrosio (Trevor Patel up) winner of The Chamundi Hills Cup (Div-II)
Gerontocrat (Imran Chisty up) winner of The Red Baron Plate
Silken Striker (Rajesh N up) winner of The Krishna Raja Sagar Plate (Div-I)
Mohican (Suraj Narredu up) winner of The Chamundi Hills Cup (Div-I)
Parting Shot (Rajesh N up) winner The Linganamakki Plate
Kudla Punch (Naveen M up) winner of The Krishna Raja Sagar Plate (Div-II)
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