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Pesi Shroff broke the jinx of not having won a classic for quite a while through Immortality who outstayed the rest with ease in the Gr 2 Golconda Oaks, the third classic of the season, at Malakpet on Monday. The progeny of Multidimensional overcame the lack of experience when she accounted for favourite Lombardy with a solid effort from the top of the straight. Immortality was guided by veteran jockey Pradeep Chouhan who had ruled the local turf for a few years.
Vittal Deshmukh trained Lombardy was the favourite to win the race as she was not only the highest-rated horse but the most experienced as well. The only question mark was the fact that she is by Leitir Mor whose progeny have proved their ability only over trips up to a mile and beyond that have been found wanting. Not a single progeny of Leitir Mor has won over a trip of a mile and a half thus far and as such, there was a strong possibility of a horse with staying ability having a say. Bangalore challenger Lake Tahoe who is still a maiden but having the experience of running in a few races was the most preferred horse after Lombardy to land the spoils. Despite an impressive win back home at Pune, Immortality was quoted at long odds.
In a slow run race, Suraj Narredu who found himself in front on Lake Tahoe had the choice of making all the running and exploit the stamina potential of this one-paced horse. Instead, he chose to let Fire And Ice set the pace and eased his horse in about the third or fourth position. This perhaps did not suit Lake Tahoe because when the pace picked up, Lake Tahoe couldn`t quicken and fell behind.
Immortality who chased pace-setting stablemate Fire N Ice was pushed to take over the running by jockey Chouhan as the field approached the final turn with Lombardy in the chase but it was clear that the latter would find it hard to sustain the challenge in the stretch. Though Immortality drifted out under pressure, she had no problem in staying out the trip, finishing a couple of lengths ahead of Lombardy who tired out but managed to keep the second position more because she carried a lot of class. In a cluster finish, Lake Tahoe who stayed on got the third position ahead of Luminous and Fire N Ice.
Suraj Narredu had no problem in driving out the fancied Laxman Singh trainee Galloping Gangster to an easy win in the 1400 metres Musical Morn Plate, a race for four-year-olds and over. Galloping Gangster came into strong contention in the final furlong and quickened well to leave the field stranded to win with a measure of comfort from Yours Forever and Nayadeep, the fancied runners of the race. The pace-setter The Great Gatsby appeared to be out for an airing.
Hilton Sequeira trained House of Diamonds was driven out by Akshay Kumar to land the spoils in the 1200 metres Sweet Girl Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. House of Diamonds broke into a winning lead down the final furlong and had enough leeway to survive the late onslaught of Conscious Gift who finished with a big effort to advertise his readiness to strike before long. Exclusive Art too rallied late to take the third position.
The same trainer-jockey combination was also successful on debutant Watch My Strike who had no problem in staving off the challenge of favourite Watch My Stride to win the 1200 metres Next Move Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Limoncello was third.
Faisal Hassan trained Different who had gone down fighting last time out made amends with a resolute win in the 1100 metres Common Land Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Different shaped to record an easy win when he shot ahead in the final furlong and led by lengths. However, a late dash by Scramjet enlivened the proceedings with the favourite scampering home by a neck. Scramjet looks ready to win. Gusty Note was third. Laxmikanth guided Blink of An Eye to victory in the lower division of the race with a forward effort. Blink of An Eye broke into a winning lead in the final furlong even as favourite Appenzelle struggled to pick up steam. Star Dancer produced a late effort to be an eye-catching second with Appenzelle relegated to the third position.
Trevor Patel managed to guide Blue Valentine to a narrow win over Lightning Fairy in the 1400 metres Trade Fair Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Lightning Fairy warmed up late and this allowed the favourite to escape to victory. Sun Dancer was third. The lower division of the race saw Satheesh trained Classy Dame outsprint the rest with a speedy effort in front. Super Act was second ahead of Stormy who appeared to be one-paced.
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Blue Valentine (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Trade Fair Plate (Div-I)
Watch My Stride (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Next Move Plate
Galloping Gangster (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Musical Morn Plate
Different (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Common Land Plate (Div-I)
House Of Diamonds (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Sweet Girl Plate
Blink Of An Eye (R Laxmikanth up) winner of the Common Land Plate (Div-II)
Immortality (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Hrc Golconda Oaks (Gr.2)
Classy Dame (Abhay Singh up) winner of the Trade Fair Plate (Div-II)
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