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Imperial Power, the 7/10 favourite from trainer Patrick Quinn`s stable, scored a decisive victory in the Wolf777 Calcutta 2000 Guineas , on Saturday. Ridden from the front by jockey Akshay Kumar, the Multidimensional-Majestic Opinion colt -- bred at the Usha Stud Farm -- did face some challenge from trainer Vijay Singh`s 7/2 fancied runner , Leonardo (Suraj Narredu) but the horse had nothing to offer, in terms of challenge, after a hot chase until the final turn. It was left to Leonardo`s stable-mate Monteverdie (P.S. Chauhan), who was also gallopping in a close attendance of the two public choices, to occupy the second berth while a late finishing outstation challenger placed third, ahead of Leonardo.
Trainer Bharath Singh`s hot favourite, Sonata (Anthony Raj), too, was expected to deliver the goods in the 2,000m Aggregated Handicap, over 2,000 meters. However, it was the stable`s doosra, Mondeville (Hindu Singh) who spoiled the favourite`s party as the 8/10 hot property, Sonata -- a Win Legend-Bold Reply filly – was a trifle slow in her final acceleration when the heat was on. It was Bharath`s 7/2 chance Mondeville who grabbed the winning chance with Hindu riding a well-judged finish.
The afternoon also witnessed trainer Aashay Doctor`s pair of Cape Tanaros (YS. Srinath) and Delphini (app P. Tajeshwar) fighting out a close tussle for supremacy in the 1,100m Romantic Dancer Handicap. The final verdict of a ‘nose`, in the race, however, went in favour of Cape Tanaros but Delphini was also impressive in defeat in view of her eye-catching performance despite of her nine months of lay off.
The afternoon, otherwise, belonged to apprentice jockey Hasib Alam who scored a rich treble that also helped trainer Suraj Shaw to notch up a brace of double through Cold Pursuit and Perfect Rendition.
Hasib`s day started on a winning note when trainer Vikash Jaiswal`s Nandini`s Pet attracted pots of money in the 1,100m Sniper Handicap for the lowest class horses. The speedy mare did deliver the goods but it was the stable`s doosra, Shivalik Silk, ridden by brother Vinay, who attracted stipes` attention. An ‘enquiry` has been opened into the running and riding of the horse.
Hasib and Shaw notched a priced double. Cold Pursuit, a four-year-old migrant from western India, found the opposition an easy prey in the 1,400m Goodfellas Handicap. The horse was seen covering good ground in the home-stretch and had an easy measure of the topweighted Mandolin (Nikhil Naidu) who was being hailed as a winner. Shaw`s Perfect Rendition, also a migrant but from South India proved marginally better in a four-horse blanket-finish in the 1,100m Quasar Handicap. Also involved in the camera-finish were trainer Rajesh Narredu`s topweight By The Bay (Sujit Paswan), Quinn`s course favourite, Jean Lafette (Akshay) and Manvendra Singh`s second favourite Pot Of Gold (P.S. Chouhan).
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