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Trainer Bharath Singh`s four-year-old filly, Kantai (Dashrath Singh-up) upstaged brother`s, Vijay`s, Classic hope, Jaivant (Nikhil Naidu), in the 1,400m Great Tribute Cup, the main attraction in Tuesday`s six-event card. However, Naidu helped Vijay saddle two other public-choices – Valeria and Diamond Harbour – to victory while another of their front line Classic filly Aashna proved no match for trainer Javed Khan`s much improved mare, Malana, in a race for horses in the upper classes.
The sand-based, monsoon, track is not of a kind that provides a readymade transition from the tan-based grass strip. Many a youngsters, in the past, are known to have displayed displeasure in their early starts on this track. Therefore, Jaivant and Aashna were no exceptions.
Jaivant`s near two-length defeat at the hands of Kantai was, therefore, a good effort. The colt was in a handy position behind, the early leaders, Devotion (Shezad Khan) and Dangal (R. Rakesh), and he also switched smoothly from the inside rails to the centre of the track to lead 250n from home. However, inside the final 150m the Win Legend son was comprehensibly beaten when Kantai came with a threatening run on the wide of the track, after almost trailing the field; until the home turn.
Aashna, on the other hand, did have a forward run under her belt but the slightly made filly, perhaps, failed to recover from her that outing, three weeks ago. The same argument never, however, worked for Malana. Her better body structure, combined with the and extra ground of 300m to travel, helped her cause. The Western Aristocrat mare was seen travelling so well from the start that she was spotted as a winner nearly the final furlong marker.
Aashana, too, was in a handy fourth position, unconcerned about Malana`s front-running tactics. The 7/2 shot, instead of getting closer to the leader in the last furlong, was appeared to be tiring.
Vijay`s Valeria, in true sense, triumphed handsomely. In the 1,200m Anticipation Handicap, the Arabian Gulf daughter, made her own running and also led a merry-dance in the home stretch. Her improvement since the debut run, early in the year, was quite significant. She is bound to win again, if rested amply.
A strong 2/1 fancied Diamond Harbour , however, had to be stretch out fully to beat the two quietly fancied runners, Millenium Glory (Hindu Singh) and Artificial (app. Rupal Singh) in the 1,200m Active Asset Handicap. The three named horses, along with Iconia (Deora) and also Bacaardi (Shezad) galloped tightly grouped inside the last furlong but it was fighting attitude, combined with his guts that ensured a narrow verdict in favour of horse, sporting MAM`s colours.
The victory of trainer Aashay Doctor`s slightly made colt, Murakami (Dhanu Deora) in the 1,600m Supernova Handicap, was impressive. The colt, by Declaration of War, was ridden in a check behind Vijay`s Yuvan (Naidu) till turning for home straight. Murakami , took over from that point and never looked back thereafter.
Trainer Sarfraz Khan`s Moira (app. Rupal S.) also delivered the goods after the right-money followed on him in the 1,100n Contralto Handicap. The horse, almost from the start.
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Murakami (Dhanu Singh Deora up) winner of the Supernova Handicap
Moira (Rupal Singh up) winner of the Contralto Handicap
Valeria (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Anticipator Plate
Diamond Harbour (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Active Asset Handicap
Kantai (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Great Tribute Cup
Malana (Rupal Singh up) winner of the Mandolin Handicap
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