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Beyond Belief (Warrshan – Leit Motif) was ably partnered by C Rajendra to land the spoils in the Madras Race Club Trophy. After running a good forward fourth in the HIRCO India Multi-Million on the Invitation Sunday, this bunch was a lot less tough for Beyond Belief. The seven year-old from trainer Imtiaz Sait’s stables showed a clean pair of heels to win the seven-furlong race comfortably from Swahili. Romantic Impact made the running with Swahili not too far behind. Beyond Belief, who was chasing the runner-up until the homestretch, gathered momentum early in the straight and easily went past Swahili. Rajendra, however, made sure that Beyond Belief did not relax and kept goading the top weight all through, ensuring there was no last stride surprise. Swahili ran on to finish second while Aquilo ended third.
The pre race favourite saw a steep drift in the odds as Doi Moi came in for some serious betting at race time. The race unfolded exactly as if scripted by the market trends. Clarion Call was sent on a start-to-finish bid and escorted his two rivals into the straight. While Go Guzzi Go ran out of steam, Doi Moi moved up readily to challenge the leader. A brief tussle ensued but it was always Doi Moi who was travelling better. In the final furlong, Doi Moi pulled away to win by a comfortable margin.
Demonstrator (Alnasr Alwasheek – Star Concert) compiled an impressive three-in-a-row this time to lift the Mauritius Tourism Cup. Each time the MK Jadhav schooled gelding produced a strong finishing effort to outpace his opponents. Demonstrator settled in the mid-bunch initially showing no signs of any urgency. Highland Bounty shot into the lead and stretched out to be well clear of the field until Tequila hurried on to be within two lengths; these two were about seven lengths clear of the rest. Highland Bounty shot his bolt on entering the straight as Tequila took charge briefly. The others were covering ground at a brisk rate. Grand Warrior and Illuminate were closing in when Demonstrator burst on to the scene with telling strides to demolish the front chargers with complete authority. Demonstrator had the race well sewn up once he came up from the outside and grabbed the lead. Trainer MK Jadhav has done well with Demonstrator and kept him in splendid nick right through the season. I will not be surprised if he added just one more to his tally, as his impressive victory does seem to suggest that he is not done yet! Grand Warrior finished on second while Pure Elation came from the wide outside to end a decent third to easily get past Illuminate who, just a 100 yards earlier seemed to be right in the contention.
Magical Mantra (Hymn – Shabanaka), despite being slowly off, raised an impressive gallop in the straight to win the Rajcoomar Gujadhar Memorial Trophy causing a major flutter. Blau Himmel tried hard to make a race of it and led till the distance post. Mohabbi kept working his way relentlessly while Lampard came up with a late finish to manage a place in the frame. Magical Mantra from trainer Magan Singh’s yard, covered ground at a brisk rate under the guidance of stable jockey CS Jodha, to easily overhaul those in the front bunch and post a narrow victory.
Golden Kingdom (Royal Kingdom – La Tour D’argent) literally flew in the last part in what looked like a thrilling finish with about half a dozen runners bunched up closely in the final furlong. Sepia Tone ridden by the Mauritius Jockey Krish Gundowry had a slender lead, with Titan, Whispering Willows, Top Action, Fiaama and Tabar all within a metre of each other. It looked like anybody’s race when Golden Kingdom moved on the wide outside and swapped on the bunch to sail away effortlessly in he hands of old hand SN Chavan, giving trainer S Manglorkar his moment of success.
Among the professionals, Trainer Nosher Cama and jockeys B Prakash, Imran Chisty and Neeraj Rawal scored a double each.
