Misteriosa proved to be good in the senior division of the Indian Air Force Cup on Friday, the day which turned out to be a money spinner for the race goers as four favourites and two second-favourites obliged in a card of usual six races. Interestingly, Misteriosa was the lone older triumphant among the rest of the five three-year-old winners.
Bay mare from the yard of Shah Nawab, Misteriosa was settled in to third position behind the early leaders Silver Shine and Yare. On the top of the home stretch, jockey Pawan Sharma pushed her slightly to streak ahead leaving behind Veer and Gates of Victory.
It was the victory of form as the difference on the handicap was the same when Misteriosa had shared the top honours with Veer in the previous outing. The latter made a late surge to displace the favourite Gates of Victory by a whisker. A hattrick should come to the way of the victorious Misteriosa.
Grey gelding Gates of Victory, who was paraded in the paddock without blinker, had to wear the support after the prompt move of the club's official. The gelding had an impressive try-out without the blinker and if the change of equipment is made in the next outing, he is worth to be followed.
Apprentice reinman Irfan Ali, who had lost a race on Dream Debut about 69 hours ago on Tuesday due to interference, rode the gelding confidently to shed the maiden status in the opener. Despite losing the ground on jump, he kept the favourite mount into fifth position till the latter simply cruised ahead of the then leader, Good Idea, passing the "3" pole. Bay filly Five Star, who was on slow work, ran just opposite to the preparation to get the runner up berth from Good Idea, who is now coming to hands. Five Star should soon spring a surprise.
Yet another beginner jockey Rajinder Saini made no mistake on chestnut filly Divine Heights to come out of the maiden reputation. She was the hot favourite runner of the day. Classofeightytwo made a late surge to play the second fiddle. He is now getting ready to strike.
The son of Case Law and Spring Water - Spot Hit demolished the seven-horse field in a start to finish bid. Though, yesteryear champion Rajinder had an anxious moment on the market-fancied chestnut gelding when Saini-ridden Strategic Moves put every thing into the last sprint from the fourth place, but he had a great difficulty in preventing the mount from hanging-in in the straight. A strong handling may change the fate of the loser.
A battle of sex was noticed in the Veterinarian Plate. Two young runners - a bay filly Soul Satisfaction and a chestnut colt Red Cat, cornered the centre-stage, as the field of nine was dispatched. They fought initially before the former was ridden out hard to step into the leaders' boot. The latter, who looked to be in a no hurry, started cutting the ground under her on turn and drew away teaching her a lesson that he has no match with her over the shorter distance by stopping the watch at one minute, 6.28 seconds over 1,100m. The filly, who earlier had a forward run over the mile by which she was supported by the connections, actually has the stamina to stay. As far as Red Cat is concerned, he is still the second best stationed horse after the just arrived and last year local champion horse - Brahmaputra.
Super Girl was the last favourite and the fifth younger horse to romp home in the concluding event. Her victory was almost impossible till an electrifying run from the seventh place enabled her to script a fine victory over 1,100m. "I shivered after finding the filly with a lack of response but I kept her driving hard and despite finding a wall of horses at the corner of bend, forced her to poke through and the rest,” Shah, who rode Super Girl, told me. The way she performed, she should look forward for an encore. Graduate, who finished third, is ready to strike.
