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Trainer Shafiq Khan`s newly acquired filly, Lady Of Luxury (P.S. Chauhan) produced electrifying run in the last furlong of the race to notch up the verdict from an equally fancied runner, Incendio (C.S. Jodha), in the 1,400m Indian Air Force Cup, Saturday`s main attraction. The afternoon also witnessed many a close finishes going either way, leaving the sizeable crowd engaged in debate for lost causes. Shafiq also saddled a fancied Christiana (Rupal Singh) to a back-to-back victory in the concluding event to finish the afternoon on a high.
Lady Of Luxury, an 18/10 favourite, was ridden well off the pace and brought on the widest of all with a purposeful run to have a narrow measure of Javed Khan`s Incendio, who, too, was brought into the contention, a trifle before. Otherwise it was left to Vijay Singh`s speedster Gaurish (Suraj Narredu) and Bharath Singh`s ideally handicapped runner, Oak Brook (Imran Chisty), to dictate terms. Oak Brook also took the charge of running soon after turning for home but he was taken measure of by the two favourites.
Shafiq`s Cristiana, too, was brought well off the pace to win her last start over a 1,200m sprint, considered too sharp to her liking. The very small-made mare, therefore, got very little support in the betting with a top-weight on her back. The five-year-old, however, defied all such logics and advertised her big heart while winning the 1,400m Silver Balm Handicap in a similar manner.
Chisty and Chauhan were the other professional who worked hard to their way to smart double apiece. Chisty found the target in the very first race when Arti`s 2/1 favourite, Simply Soaring produced another inspiring run to have a narrow measure of Vijay`s equally fancied runner, Excelsior (Nikhil Naidu), in the 1,600m Eastern Air Command Cup. It was Soaring Eagle`s fourth straight win.
Chisty, however, had it easy in the 1,100m Wansfell Handicap when Bharath`s heavily backed Solo March delivered the goods, for a change. The four-year-old was also brought off the pace as Vikash Jaiswal`s pair of Miami (Md Imran) and Dakshesh (Chauhan) dictated term until the last furlong of the race.
Vikash, however, had helped Chauhan open his account the 1,100m Jingle Handicap, a no whip race. The power-packed finisher, Chauhan, always kept Apalachee up with the leaders, Simmering Star (Chisty) and Vijay`s last outing winner, Advait (Hindu Singh) before making his winning bid, inside the last furlong.
Trainer Jasbir Singh`s Pinatubo (Anil Baandal) was considered as a sure shot in the 1,400m Obligado Plate but Vijay and Suraj had other ideas. Suraj partnered Vijay`s 5/1 Supreme Legacy to a decisive victory. The Doubting Thomases may argue and they may continue to do so but the fact is Supreme Legacy was spotted as a winner 300m from home.
Suraj atop the 13/10 favourite, Roethke, however, tried in his earnest, to beat Manvendra Singh`s Kimaya (app Sujit Paswan) but the light-weighted filly returned an easy winner of the 1,400m Roubaix Cup.
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Simply Soaring (Imran Chisty up) winner of the Eastern Air Command Cup
Lady Of Luxury (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Indian Air Force Cup
Solo March (Imran Chisty up) winner of the Wansfell Handicap
Apalachee (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Jingle Handicap
Supreme Legacy (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Obligado Plate
Kimaya (Sujit Kr Paswan up) winner of the Roubaix Handicap
Christiana (R S Bhati up) winner of the Silver Balm Handicap
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