Icebreaker Wins Nizam’s Gold Cup in Record Time
By Mirror Image

Hyderabad, Sunday, August 16, 2009
Trainer S. Padmanabhan was elated when Icebreaker, the prodigy of Alnasr Alwasheek triumphed in the Nizam’s Gold Cup (Gr.III) and in the process beating the fashionably bred Set Alight. Owned by Capt. Jamshed J. Appoo & Ms.Simone Z. Poonawalla Rep. M/s. Poonawalla Racing and Breeding Ltd, Icebreaker set a new course record timing of 2 mins.04.56 secs. on the monsoon track at Hyderabad. The earlier record stood in the name of Orochi, coincidently set during the Nizam’s Gold Cup run a year ago. Mission Chief and Sugar Ray got into the act early in the race setting a fast pace with Icebreaker travelling in about fourth position with the money back favourite Set Alight on her heals till the final bend. As the heads turned for home on the 450 metres home stretch, Icebreaker was the first to shoot ahead out of the pack and Set Alight who moved in on the far side could not reproduce her ‘signature gallop’ for which she is so popular and finished second. Mother’s Pride travelled well in the last furlong to finish a creditable third. Jockey Wayne Smith was nostalgic, speaking to India Race after the race, recollecting that his father John Smith had won the same cup on N. R. Ruia owned Cupid in the year 1977. In all probability we may get to see these two fillies take on each other in the President of India Gold Cup to be run four weeks from now.

 
Trainer S Padmanabhan leading Icebreaker (Wayne Smith up), winner of The Nizam's Gold Cup (Gr.III)
 
The added attraction of the day was the running of the K. Mahipathi Rao Memorial Million. Four runners, Spot on, Scubarioo, Suchiman and Lone Ranger got engaged in a keen tussle on the straight and the finish turned out to be pulsating with Spot On just about managing to hold on to the lead she had built up right from the start. Bangalore based jockey S. John was at his best on the winner while Scubarioo found to be hanging in, had to be pulled out midway up the straight. The first four horses were within half a length at the finish. Silver Sputnik was withdrawn at the gates after he reared up injuring the rider in the process.

Clever Ploy who had won a six furlong race on the first day of the season found no difficulty in covering the extra 4 furlongs while winning the B. Marideswara Rao Memorial Cup. Jockey Harish sent Leo’s ward to the front on entering the home stretch and opened a big leeway before easing her out towards the finish. Dash on Regardless piped Fly by Wire at the post to take the second spot.

On the merits of her second to Blazing Bounty ( who registered a second win on Saturday), the connections of Hari Har Priya decided to have a touch on her and that landed her as the firm favourite in the lower division of the Mrs. S. N. Reddy Memorial Cup. Hari Har Priya waited behind Al Jouf and Mr. Chief till the last 150 metres and shot past to win easily. Navija finished second with a late dash. The higher division was won by Laxman Singh trained Leo Dvij. J. H. Cristopher rode in copy book fashion, positioning Leo Dvij behind the early leader Fabulous Crown till the top of the straight. In the last 300 metres Christopher asked for an effort and Leo Dvij produced a good gallop to win easily. Chief De Mission ran on to finish third.

It turned out to be a breath taking finish in the first race, involving three runners. Stormy Gladiator, Metaforce and Mr.Don went past the winning post locked together after fighting out a fierce battle right through the final furlong. Stormy Gladiator edged out, with one desperate push by the jockey Ch. K. Chary at the all important end while the other two continue to be maidens.

World Wide sprang a surprise winning the higher division of the Tenacity Cup with a start to finish attempt. Dancing Harbour came up late to take the second spot. Onera Onera Onera was withdrawn after he refused to move into the gates. Global Emperor led the procession in the lower division followed by Cool Spice and Deccan Passion. Backed to the exclusion of the other runners in the race, as money kept flowing in one direction, jockey Ravinder Singh had an arm chair ride on Global Emperor.

Netto’s Firebird stretched out well to a convincing victory in the Flowersoftheforest Cup, the concluding race of Sunday’s races. Jockey S. John thus completed a double having earlier piloted Spot on to victory. Ch. K. Chary was the only other professional to score twice.

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