Thanks to a clever ride by jockey S Zervan, four-year-old Sentosa Cove managed to prevail by a neck at the wire at the end of the 2000-meter trip of the PRA Independence Million, the feature event of Monday's nine-race card
Pune: Thanks to a clever ride by jockey S Zervan, four-year-old Sentosa Cove managed to prevail by a neck at the wire at the end of the 2000-meter trip of the PRA Independence Million, the feature event of Monday's nine-race card. The winner was trained by B Prakash. The race culminated in a thrilling finish, as the first five horses at the wire were separated by a shade over two lengths.
Zervan settled Sentosa Cove along the rails,always within striking distance of front runners, and made his move quickly on entering the homestretch and assumed command midway to go clear when it looked like he would win unchallenged . But apprentice rider R Ajinkya, who had improved position before the final bend, sent his mount Atalya after him. And just when it looked like Sentosa Cove and Zervan would be able to keep Atalya and R Ajinkya at bay, Joss (Suraj Narredu up) and Palatial (A Merchant up) thundered on the scene in the last 75 meters, the last-named clearly unlucky as he was stuck up at wrong end before maneuvering his way through traffic to gain momentum. Palatial moved with a dazzling turn of foot in the closing stages, but it was a case of doing too much too late, and was forced to be content with only the third spot between Atalya and Joss.
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Zervan had also earlier won the Rajaram Chhatrapati Trophy astride Pesi Shroff-trained Commodore. Jockey Joy Chinoy was another rider who scored a brace with Zanjibaar & Pristina, but the riding honours of the day went to Yash Narredu who booted home three winners in Shivalik Shine, Champagne & My Freedom.
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