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Satheesh trained Meritocracy recorded an encore in impressive fashion in the 1400 metres Mirza Zunnur Ahmed Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated58 to 78, the feature event of concluding day`s races of the Monsoon Racing Season on Monday. The season had officially come to an end last week, but two extra days were added as part of the monsoon programme. The winter season will start next Sunday.
Meritocracy had shown good form last time out and had eked out a short head win. The race had an open look about it with Meritocracy having as a good a chance as any. However, the thrust of the betting was on Starlight who came in for sustained betting. Meritocracy was available at long odds. After Platinum attempted runaway tactics and led till the final furlong, Meritocracy who was in chase, stormed ahead and won with a great deal of ease. Champion Bull who shared the major chunk of betting with Starlight, was in chase of Meritocracy but made no impression on the winner. Champion Bull managed to stave off the late rally of the favourite Starlight to retain the runner-up berth.
Donald Netto trained Doubly Sure made a successful start to finish bid in the 1200 metres Telangana Race Horse Owners Association Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Though Doubly Sure drifted out under pressure in the final furlong, he had enough cushion to win from favourite Amazing Script who did not show any perceptible improvement from last effort. Latest News was third. The lower division of the race threw a confusing picture with C V G K Kishore trained Lockhart and Wings of Eagles both backed at different times to share favouritism. Southern State began as a favourite but the odds drift might have been dissuading factor for many. In the event, jockey Kiran Naidu took Southern State on a start to finish mission and the only threat appeared to be Air Salute while both the fancied runners were buried at the back. Southern State skipped clear to win with a measure of comfort from Air Salute with the market fancies filling up the frame.
Apprentice jockey Md Ismail was in the limelight booting home three winners. Favourite Digger gave him an armchair ride to victory in the 1200 metres Digger Plate, a race for horses rated 26 to 46. Digger had things in control as the expected challenge from Limousine did not materialize as the latter finished a tame second. Vijay`s Empress was third.
The 1400 meters Nirmal Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated up to 30, turned out to be eventful with two jockeys coming to a cropper. Kohinoor Legend stumbled in the early part of the race but jockey Ajeeth Kumar managed to stay in the saddle. Soon, apprentice jockey R S Jodha had a fall as his horse Halo`s Princess appeared to have clipped Maahismati. Approaching the final bend, apprentice jockey Rohit Kumar had a fall has his horse Glorious Grey ran into the riderless Halo`s Princess who hindered his path. Both these jockeys are reported to be out of danger. Red Bullet had a big lead right from the start but closer home slackened. Favourite Lancashire covered enormous ground and managed to overhaul the front-runner to justify the favouritism. Maahismati ran on to take the third position. The lower division of the race saw three horses come in for attention but in the end, the support firmed up for Wood Bridge. Ismail got Wood Bridge quicken through the gap between Rose Petal and Withrosemakeup inside the final furlong and the favourite bounced clear to win by a measure of comfort. Withrosemakeup got the second position from Rose Petal who flattered to deceive.
Apprentice jockey Md Ismail drove out lesser fancied Super Act to get the better of favourite Willow Glen close home to win the 1600 metres Forest Treasure Plate, a race for horses rated up to 30. Willow Glen replaced longtime leader Vallee Ikon from the lead in the straight and went ahead but did not find an extra gear under pressure and surrendered meekly when Super Act essayed a strong challenge. Turf Emperor who was sluggish at the start and trailed the field, covered good ground in the straight to finish third.
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Lancashire (C Umesh up) winner of the Nirmal Plate (Div-I)
Digger (Md Ismail up) winner of the Mirza Ghalib Plate
Southern State (Kiran Naidu up) winner of the Telangana Race Horse Owners Association Trophy (Div-II)
Super Act (Md Ismail up) winner of the Forest Treasure Plate
Doubly Sure (Kiran Naidu up) winner of the Telangana Race Horse Owners Association Trophy (Div-I)
Meritocracy (Koushik up) winner of the Mirza Zunnur Ahmed Memorial Cup
Wood Bridge (Md Ismail up) winner of the Nirmal Plate (Div-II)
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