James Bond had shot many criminals with his golden Gun in one of the super-duper sequel of 007 movies few years ago. And now, it appears, jockey Pawan Sharma has been doing the same with a horse named - Golden Gun, who notched a fine hat-trick in the class two event, Smooth Operation Plate, at the races here on Friday.
Only two day’s left in the conclusion of the season, but the bookmakers are still getting a shock therapy from the favourites. A card of six events had the race goers cheer throughout. Barely, Golden Gun, rest of the five landed spoilsports at a good price. Amidst, trainers Magan Singh and Shah Nawab shared a brace each.
Taking on a field of nine after the withdrawn of Pixie Lass, Golden Gun looked improving his position behind the front runners till the top of the homestretch. As soon as the leading pair approached the final furlong, Pawan asked the three year old colt to fire between Real Queen and Little Master, who stuck to this place. Dilnawaz, whose potential was not utilised, ran on to be impressive third by keeping the late challenge of miler turned sprinter Fraud at bay.
Golden Gun, who has been in tremendous form this season by winning three races earlier and being on the board on several occasions, can extend his winning streak in the next season. Though his victory has generally come over the shorter trip, yet he has the stamina to stay.
Golden Gun's counterpart Best of The Lot flew away with the aluminium shoe in the day's opening event - Sweet Relation Plate. The three year old colt who was earlier considered to be the miler, took a quick start before being displaced by Prince Khaiser. Jockey Parmod rode him with great patience and applied top gear soon after entering the straight. Crystal Pistol, who had a forward run in the very previous outing over seven furlongs, found the shorter trip too short to his strides and satisfied himself with the runner-up berth. The filly will definitely be in different shape in the next season. Smiles and Paramount can also shed the maiden status in the next venture.
A Mumbai runner Gracias Senorita left the field keeps guessing the way she scored. Running in the hind group, she had to come widest to show a clean pair of heels with a furlong left in the fair racing Plate. She should complete a double. Taking a lesson from the previous setback on the super Unitech Sunday, she did not make any mistake by cash-in on the advantage of draw one and held on to a tight rein by stopping the clock over one minute and little over six second in the 1,100m' Delhi Race Club Racing Officials Cup, which was earmarked for class three runners. The performance will help the seven year-old mare to achieve yet another success. Beauty Of Man, the first juvenile race victorious colt was rated better than Golden Gun at the time of outset, just managed to hold the late surge of Trusted Friend off by half-a-length. Middle Man further finished fourth with identical margin. Trusted Friend has the class and should prove it.
The lower division of the Nobody Knows Plate witnessed a close finish three horses, however, it was Charg Away who succeeded finally while making every post a winning one over the seven furlongs trip. Royal Hunt, who had developed a fitness problem after the last outing, showed a bold display to shrug Miracle Maker off by a whisker for the second prize. Miracle Maker, who once shaped like a winner while staking a claim through the fence before being hampered for room during the closing stages failed to impress upon the stewards in an objection. Rajinder, who had earlier partnered the horse in his success, could have brought laurel for the connections, if he had not adopted the rails run.
Later, Rajinder corrected himself by guiding the fortune of Bismark in the upper division of Nobody Knows Plate. The five year-old horse, a failed favourite in many outings, had a long over due victory. Cavalry Brigade, who woke up late on the scene after coming from rear, got the second position by necking out the tiring out Raffaello, who was running after a long lay off. The latter has come to hands.
