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Superior Quest entered the straight with the pack hounding him, snapping at his tail. Viva La Diva was the first to throw his challenge. She got alongside and matched strides with Superior Quest in a keenly fought battle. Serenity was beginning to accelerate to join the fight. Star Empire was right there, but just wouldn’t quicken, with the hapless Imran Chisty trying as hard as he could. Keringdingan was looking for the right channel all the time and finally moved inwards to seek his pathway from close to the inner rails. Delphi was in the rear but could not reproduce the brilliance of her debut.
Superior Quest, meanwhile, was busy keeping Viva La Diva and Serenity at bay. He was under pressure and this led him to drift out at the crucial juncture as they were approaching the winning post at breakneck speed. He however, kept the momentum going with jockey Imran Khan pulling every trick in his bag. Viva La Diva fell short as Serenity and Keringdingan got her from either side. Superior Quest was rock solid in his finish and held on by a narrow margin, winning the race in quick time – 1:11.19. Serenity too ran a good race but just failed to muster the final surge in time. Keringdingan also put in a strong finish but he had already lost precious time looking for the right opening. Delphi was outpaced, as was Star Empire.
For the Sponsors, it was an unexpected delight to not only find that the first four places of the Group 3 race went to the horses bred at their farm, but also achieving the first instance of all the top four finishers in a group race having been sired by their famed Stallion - Diffident.
“It is a record of sorts and a great result for the Poonawalla Stud Farm,” said Mr Vivek Jain, Chairman, RWITC. “It was an open race with most of the horses standing a genuine chance to win. The margin of victory surely endorsed that the race lived up to the expectation of a thrilling finish.” Mr Jain then presented a memento to Mr Adar C Poonawalla representing the Poonawalla Group, on behalf of the Club. Ms Delna Poonawalla received the breeder’s Salver.
