Hyderabad’s most durable horse Coral Gables had an opportunity to sign of his glorious career on a winning note. The ten-year old made light of a modest field in the 1400 metres Raja Bahadur Venkatram Reddy Memorial Cup, a Category I race, which highlighted racing, held on Monday. The career of Coral Gables has been extended far beyond what is permitted for others at this centre as the progeny of Young Senor has continued to be a giant among pigmies. Coral Gables has overcome many glitches in his career and given off his best always and possibly this could be the last run of his career but one can never tell. He may get yet another extension!

Trainer Netto hogged the limelight with a quadruple through Reality Show, Temple Bells, Surya Putra and Sahebzadi.

Coral Gables was the favourite to win the feature event as the only realistic challenger in the field of four was Bold Blast. Khaleel’s Pride did the job of a pace maker as jockey Harish settled Coral Gables in the rear. After a sluggish beginning, Bold Blast ranged alongside the front runner. Rounding the final bend, Bold Blast went sailing clear even as Harish was waiting with the favourite to make the final assault. Coral Gables quickened without much effort and easily collared the front runner to win by a comfortable margin.

Ananth Vatsalya trained Alybro proved too good in the Northern Dancer Plate (Div I), a race for three year olds. Sun Strikes was more strongly fancied than Alybro but the favourite was flat-footed after bringing the field into the homestretch. Alybro, who tracked the favourite till such time, responded well when jockey McLaughlin asked for an effort. Cascading Glory ran on well form behind to finish a noteworthy second. Don Valentino won the lower division of the race quite impressively though initially he struggled for speed and McLaughlin had to work hard on the progeny of Don Michelleto to get him to stretch out.

Gallant Prince produced a brilliant burst of speed in the final furlong to get the measure of front running Al Jouf in the shadow of the past to claim the Goldilocks Plate, a Category II race. . Chief De Mission flashed on to the scene late but his late rally however enabled the seven-year old gelding to get the runner up berth as he put his head in front of Al Jouf at the finish. Favourite Dancing Touch was never in hunt.

Samuel Fargeat drove out favourite Reality Show to a fluent win over Secret Asset in the Mountain Lily Plate (Div I). Reality Show came up with a strong run on the wide outside to sail past the front running Strategic Partner and Yanamaria to post a comfortable win. Secret Asset finished on strongly taking the runner up berth. Favourite Scamper was ridden to the ground as she bolted to the front in the lower division of the race and disappeared without a trace inside the final two furlongs. Fancied Temple Bells, who tracked the front runner into the straight, appeared to be under pressure but skipped away from the field to win comfortably in the end. The victory of Temple Bells brought the smile back on jockey Samuel Fargeat who completed a double. Incidentally, the double he achieved on Donald Netto’s horses would have boosted his confidence as these were the only two wins he has had since returning to the saddle after taking retirement last year.

The price on Surya Putra drifted out dramatically in the ring but the favourite gave no anxious moments to his supporters as he led form the start to leave the field stranded in the Might Is Right Plate (Div I). Madho came from behind to finish second. Top Act was backed spiritedly to oblige in the lower division of the race but the favourite made no show any at any stage of the race. The well fancied Baywatch Babe, who was inconvenienced in the early part of the race, came through with a strong run to get the better of Sahebzadi close home but the Netto ward came up with a second wind to win by a neck in the hands of apprentice jockey Kiran Naidu.