The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Good sized fields for Sprinters’ & Stayers’

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Saturday, Mar 01, 2008
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Sport - Racing : Horse

Good sized fields for Sprinters’ & Stayers’

Anil Mukhi

HYDERABAD: This year it is the turn of Hyderabad, the bustling city renowned for its gracious hospitality, to host the Invitation Cup carnival.

Five years ago at this centre, the best sprinter — Bryce Canyon — hailed from Bangalore, while the greatest combination of stamina and speed was displayed by his stablemate, Bay of Angels, the pair conditioned by Michael Eshwer.

Saturday’s card is embellished by the Sprinters’ Cup (Grade I, 1,200m) and the Stayers’ Cup (Grade I, 3,000m.), both sponsored by the Deccan Bookmakers Association. While each has drawn a good-sized field of 13 runners, there is a marked difference in the aptitude of the runners.

In the former, there are half a dozen four-year-olds taking on seven older rivals.

In her prep race, Oasis Star unleashed a sparkling run that had to be seen to be believed.

Jockey Srinath continues his association with the Manjri Stud-bred and a repeat of that effort should see the Shapoor Mistry-owned home-bred scoring from the consistent Woman On Top, whose connections have done well to secure the services of Colm O’Donoghue.

Local hopes Auxiliary and Onnu Onnu Onnu should add pep to the finish, while those in search of an outsider might consider Upper Crust.

A clear run is essential for victory and so the manner in which the race is run will have an impact on the result.

In the latter, the local hope, Gentlemans Deal — runner-up last year — will try and make amends, while Secret Memory is attempting to emulate his three-parts brother, and last year’s winner, Aperitivo, even though he does not appear to have inherited quite as much stamina.

He could well prevail, more so if the pace is modest. Of the younger brigade, Arabian Kinght, Azureus and Orochi are peaking at the right time and the added distance should suit them.

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