In a tribute to the ill-fated Oasis Star, who had beaten him fair and square in the 2009 Sprinters' Cup last October, Palazzio's Sun (Alnasr Alwasheek-Palazzio) triumphed in the 2010 edition of the Grade I Vandrevala Foundation Sprinters' Cup over 1,200m at Mahalakshmi on Saturday.
Despite not having raced since that day, Palazzio's Sun showed no signs of rustiness.
Martin Dwyer always had the property of Capt. Jamshed Appoo well up and he led them into the straight. Even though he drifted out of a straight course, he packed too many guns for the hard-ridden public choice Forest Flair, who barely held off D'Artagnan.
Trainer S. Padmanabhan thus sent out the first and third home, a notable feat. The time recorded by the Poonawalla-bred was a speedy 1:10.37.
Ever since being shifted to the yard of trainer Zadmal Singh, Maseeha (Flitch-Six Crowns) has shown significant improvement. In the Grade I Vandrevala Foundation Stayers' Cup over 3,000m., Cavaradossi led his six rivals — Echoes Of Light was scratched — in the early stages. Classerville, Conceptual and Maseeha followed.
There was little change until they took the final bend — the body language of Brazilian ace Silvestre De Sousa hinted that he had plenty in hand in the saddle on Maseeha and sure enough he bounded clear and staved off a fierce challenge from Conceptual and Spark Of Gold.
The winner, a product of the Galloping Acres stud, thus completed a hat-trick.
