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Akido edges out Royal Grace in a close finish

By: Tippu Sultan   December 24 , 2022
   

Satheesh trained Akido fought out a thrilling battle with Royal Grace and managed to surge ahead in the closing strides of the race to win the 1600 metres Man of the Match Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the highest-rated event of the day. Favourite Lifes Song who ran a detached last made a late bid like most losing rides of Akshay Kumar and was just a neck behind the runner-up. Akshay Kumar let down his supporters finishing second best on three well-backed horses.

Akshay Kumar has made a habit of riding from way off the pace. More often than not, this season, he has been late on the scene and lost a number of winning chances. It is good to give the horse every chance but by conceding too much ground, he is making things difficult for himself, for the horses he is riding and for those who put faith in his horses. Giving weight is easier than conceding ground is something everyone believes in racing. The same was the case with Lifes Song whom Akshay Kumar dropped back to the last position. When the pace quickened, Lifes Song fell farther behind and the jockey had to work from thereon to not only stay in place but also to cover enormous ground in the stretch on those in front.

Lifes Song covered plenty of ground to come within striking reach of the winner. Lifes Song`s defeat once again highlighted the tactical errors that the champion jockey is repeatedly making with impunity. With better positioning sense, many of these losses would have been easily converted as wins. Akido who is generally a latecomer this time out was up with the pace and fought out a resolute battle with Royal Grace in the final furlong to pinch the verdict close to home. Lifes Song ran on late to take the third position ahead of Kesariya Balam.
  
  


Donald Netto trained Avancia easily held off the challenge of favourite Verena to win the day`s opener, the 1100 metres Aristocrat Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Avancia came in for spirited betting close to race time to end up as a well-backed favourite behind Verena. Jockey Deepak Singh was not only alert to the task but he also wanted his horse to be equally alert and he did use the whip a couple of times to go into the lead. Avancia ran freely in front and spurted clear in the stretch to establish an unassailable lead and record her first win in 11 outings. Verena, in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar, made a late rally which proved futile. However, Verena managed to overhaul Big Boy to take the runner-up berth. The heavily backed Stoic Hero from the stables of trainer Anant Vatsalya obliged in the lower division of the race. Jockey Ajeet Kumar had to change course in the stretch twice as the gap in front of him closed first by Indradhanush and later by Milton Keynes along the rails. Despite these hiccups, Stoic Hero won under the strong riding of Ajeet Kumar, getting the better of Milton Keynes in the dying moments of the race. Indradhanush was faraway third.

Ajeeth Kumar drove out Lucky Zone with all the resources at his command to enable the second favourite to pull off a thrilling win over late rallying favourite Miss Maya in the 1100 metres Common Land Plate, a race for two-year-olds. Miss Maya who is a half-sister to well-performed Mauritania was the favourite. Close to race time, apart from Lucky Zone, Alexina came in for noticeable support. Both these horses had the benefit of a race run while Miss Maya was a debutant. This went against Miss Maya in the end. Miss Maya who was drawn wide was taken out at the start by Thunder Night thereby unsettling the filly. Alexina showed speed to lead from the start while Akshay Kumar on the favourite improved position quickly to be in a handy second position by the final bend alongside Lucky Zone. Alexina held the lead deep into the final furlong. Lucky Zone quickened faster than the favourite and in the shadow of the post went ahead. Akshay Kumar`s driving finish on Miss Maya failed to get the desired result as Lucky Zone won by the skin of his teeth. Alexina was a close third.

Lesser fancied Carlisle from the stables of trainer Leo D`Silva won the 1200 metres Trade Fair Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Favourite Unsung Hero who was well positioned at the final turn made his bid along the rails but failed to quicken enough and faded out of contention by the final furlong. Costello shot ahead inside the final two furlongs with Carlisle in the chase. The two fought out the battle even as Unsung Hero faded from the reckoning. Costello weakened inside the final 100 metres as Carlisle got stronger and managed to measure the front runner in the shadow of the post. All Time Legend ran on late to snatch third place from the favourite.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Francis Bacon had come down a class and with the trainer opting to put apprentice S Kuldeep Singh who claimed five kgs, the chances of the progeny of Born To Sea became good in the 200 metres Hussain Sagar Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Kuldeep Singh took Francis Bacon to the front within the first three furlongs. The front-runner enjoyed an uncontested lead and had a break of over five lengths when entering the straight. The front-runner showed no signs of weakening and checked in well clear of Team Player and the late rallying Exclusive Spark. Favourite Hero of the East failed to make any impression, finishing a tame fourth.

Apprentice jockey Kuldeep went on score a double for the day in a similar fashion. Vittal Deshmukh`s Thanks who hadn`t won for 425 days, was aggressively pushed to take charge in the 1400 metres Wanaparthy Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Thanks enjoyed a big lead all through the straight and this held the long shot in good stead as the late rally by favourite General Atlantic in the hands of Mukesh Kumar went in vain. Crimson Rose was third.

 
 
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