|
Prasad Raju and Gnaneshwar combination picked up a Cup double, winning the higher division of the Amaravati Cup on Smart Empire. The race turned out to be a two-horse affair, with Air Bender and Smart Empire fighting out the entire home stretch and the rest of the field far away behind. Imran Chisty on Air Bender and Gnaneshwar on Smart Empire were in full flow. Smart Empire emerged victorious after the fierce battle.
Narayan Rao’s ward, Break Point, lifted the lower division of the Cup. Lucky Damsel found himself in front at the start and apprentice P. Venkat, on his first ride, maintained an even keel, bringing his mount first on the straight. Break Point surged ahead without much ado and drew clear to win. Lucky Damsel held on in second while Golden Sabot finished third.
Trainer Anupam Sharma, who has been having a very fruitful season, completed a double, winning both the divisions of the Olympic Flame Plate. Dhruthiman won the lower division in an exciting finish, beating Yippee and Stately Don, close to the winning post. Stately Don was in the lead on the straight but was not able to sustain till the finish. Dhruthiman was in hot pursuit from the distance post and Yippee began to close up in the last 100 metres. R. Lakshmikanth, who had replaced R. Parmod, managed to put Dhruthiman in front by a short head at the wire from Yippee, while Stately Don was a neck behind.
Armada notched the higher division, the concluding race of the day, again in a thrilling finish involving four horses. With 100 metres left, there were five horses, The Beatles Angel, Tillcowscomehome, Sweety Boy, Armada and Greet Well, almost in a line. Armada was badly hampered for a clear run when Sweety Boy began to move but Imran pulled Armada out of the muddle and with a brilliant turn of foot won the race by a neck. Sweety Boy finished second ahead of Tillcowscomehome and Greet Well. Meritorious was permitted to be withdrawn.
Lot of money came on Siddipet Express, who was backed down from 11 - 4 to 7 - 4 in the opening event of the day. Justifying the favouritism, the 4 year-old trainee from Sathyanarayana’s yard, won the race quite comfortably from Thunder King and Fabulous Gal.
Faisal Hassan’s Al Fatah had to be driven out by Imran Chisty in the final furlong to stay afloat and win the Cindy Plate, run over 2,000 metres. Al Fatah, who was backed down to the exclusion of the other runners found no difficulty in overtaking Scamper, 300 metres from home but came under pressure from Vijaysiddanth, who was getting closer in the last 100 metres. Al Fatah drifted out slightly towards the finish but held on by a neck.
