Man of The Match scores in Deccan Derby


Oct 02, 2006

In a stunning upset 80-1 outsider Man Of The Match (Meritocrat-Flame Of Love), ridden by J.H. Christopher, trained by Shezad Abbas and owned by Mir Hyder Ali Khan, held off the odds on favourite Secret Memory to win The Hindu Deccan Derby (Grade 1) 2006.

Red Apache went to the front to do duty as the pacemaker for stablemate Secret Memory with Super Speed, Priapus and Man Of The Match settled in behind him. Secret Memory raced on the outside of Man Of The Match with Maximise a couple of lengths further back. Super Speed found himself in front with six hundred metres to run as Red Apache packed up and Man Of The Match moved in behind the new leader with Secret Memory following him. At the top of the home stretch Super Speed kicked on but could not shake off Man Of The Match who was beginning to find another gear. Secret Memory too was being asked for his effort. Under relentless driving from Christopher Man Of The Match forged clear inside the final furlong even as Secret Memory came at him. The crowd was on its feet shouting the local horse on and despite getting up to the winners quarters Secret Memory was unable to deny Man Of The Match his moment of glory. Super Speed stayed on to be third ahead of Shelly Green with Maximise fifth.

This result is sure to give a huge boost to Hyderabad owners and the large sporting crowd cheered Man Of The Match and Christopher as they were led back to the winners enclosure by Shezad Abbas and Mir Hyder. It was a very first Derby triumph for all of them and this victory truly highlights the romance of horse racing. Man Of The Match and his connections have proved that one does not have to spend huge sums on 'fashionably' bred horses to win a Derby.

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