Symphony Of Fire & Alameda win

CHENNAI, MARCH 3. Symphony Of Fire swept hugely favoured Simply Noble off his feet while Alameda outstayed Largeandincharge as the double-header on the first day of the Invitation Cup week-end threw up the country's best sprinter and stayer at the Guindy race course this afternoon.

The attendance surpassed all expectations as the MRC wore a festive look and to match the big occasion the twin attractions in a card of eight produced finishes fit for the theatre.

Richard Hughes stole a march on the public fancy Simply Noble but The Hindu Sprinters Trophy came to a boil a furlong from home when Appu, always handy on Darashah- trained Symphony Of Fire, grabbed the lead and sped away as a complete outsider. Adamile flashed home to be third, a short head behind Simply Noble after getting a rough deal from Moonlight Stroll at the half way mark but managed to keep her snout in front of Bold Chieftan who was edging closer wide off the track at the finish. Strengthtostrength, who was running Simply Noble close in betting preferences found the younger lot too hot to handle.

This is the second victory for Darashah whose earlier success in the event was on Time And Place. Appu was also second time lucky. His earlier triumph was on Fire Arch. In fact it was a day to remember for Appu, who steered four winners.

Aslam Kader rode a tactically brilliant race to pilot Alameda to a popular victory in the Usha and Mehra Stud Farm Stayers Cup the finish of which saw the Hyderabad-import Largeandincharge go down fighting all the way up the straight. The bottom of the scale Top Socialiate covered good ground on this pair but still fell reasonably short. Interestingly, Aslam was never far off the pace and once into the turn took Darius Byramji-trained Alameda to the front. Gallagher on Largeandincharge pitched himself into the battle which worked up tremendous excitement before Aslam muzzled the challenge close home, that berth by the rail helping him along. Thus Alameda set at rest doubts of a sudden loss of form after his pathetic run at Bangalore last time.

Stay on aircush whips: The Jockeys Association of India on Friday obtained an interim injunction on the mandatory use of the aircush whips during the Invitation Cup week end from a Mumbai Civil Court. Following the court's directive, normal whips would be in use during the week-end.

The results:

1. ROYAL MERIDIEN CUP (1,600 m), Cl. II: Master Weaver (Broto- Wonderland) 52 Appu 1, Opera Star 47 K. Suresh 2, Stately Girl 50.5 J. Abraham 3, Celtic Bleu 52 C. Deepak 4. All ran. 1-3/4, 5 and 3. 1m 38.22s. Rs. 9 (w), 7 and 7 (p), FP: Rs. 45, Q: Rs. 18, Tanala: Rs. 405 (36 tkts.). Favourite: Master Weaver.

Owner: Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy. Trainer: R. Foley.

2. MILLENNIUM CUP (1,400 m), 3-y-o only: Future Fame (Mischievious Music-Fine Future) 55 Hughes 1, Impressive Prince 55 K. Suresh 2, Finishing Touch 55 Gallagher 3, Secret Melody 55 Appu 4. All ran. Hd., hd. and 1- 3/4. 1m 29.22s. Rs. 8 (w), 10, 43 and 11 (p), FP: Rs. 106, Q: Rs. 71, Tanala: Rs. 377 (43 tkts.). Favourite: Future Fame.

Owner: Mr. M.A.M.R. Muthiah. Trainer: R. Foley.

3. TAMIL NADU RACE HORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION TROPHY (1,600 m), Cl. III: Royal Emperor (Steinbeck-Star of Fashion) 50 Appu 1, Tropical Chief 47 K. Suresh 2, Cut Ahead 48 J. Abraham 3, Phraoje 52 Merchant 4. Not run: Great Momento. 4, 2-1/4 and 2-1/4. 1m 38.83s. Rs. 20 (w), 7 and 6 (p), FP: Rs. 28, Q: Rs. 25, Tanala: Rs. 95 (68 tkts.). Favourite: Tropical Chief.

Owner: Mr. M.A.M.R. Muthiah. Trainer: R. Foley.

4. APOLLO CHALLENGER CUP (1,200 m), 3-y- o only: Majestic Hunter (Toponoora-Bold Bequest) 55 Merchant 1, Arctic Melody 53.5 J. Abraham 2, Dicty Dancer 53.5 S. Rajesh 3, Angel Divine 53.5 B. Prakash 4. All ran. 1-3/4, 3/4 and 2. 1m 14.71s. Rs. 26 (w), 29 and 85 (p), FP: Rs. 477, Q: Rs. 319, Tanala: Rs. 10,660 (one tkt.). Favourite: Angel Divine.

Owner: Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy. Trainer: R. Foley.

5. THE HINDU SPRINTERS' TROPHY (1,200 m), 4-y-o & over (terms):

SYMPHONY OF FIRE (Bold Russian-Something Fabulous) 55 Appu 1.

SIMPLY NOBLE (Placerville-Lap of Luxury) 56.5 Hughes 2.

ADAMILE (Razeen-Climbing High) 55 Aslam Kader 3.

BOLD CHIEFTAN (Placerville-Shamirana) 56.5 B. Prakash 4.

Not run: Amusing. 1/3/4, sh. hd. and sh. hd. 1m 11.07s. Rs. 64 (w), 7, 9 and 10 (p), FP: Rs. 191, Q: Rs. 53, Tanala: Rs. 411 (84 tkts.). Favourite: Simply Noble.

Owners: Mr. D. Pritham Basappa rep. Vinayaka Breeders Private Ltd. and M/s. D. Vinod Sivappa, K.J. Joseph and B. Suresh L. Patil. Trainer: Darashah.

6. USHA AND MEHRA STUD STAYERS' TROPHY (3,000 m), 4-y-o & over (terms):

ALAMEDA (Steinbeck-Parfait Amour) 59 Aslam Kader 1.

LARGEANDINCHARGE (Sir Bordeaux-Lady Lynn) 59 Gallagher 2.

TOP SOCIALITE (Argyle Lake-U Cant Touch This) 52.5 B. Prakash 3.

COLONIAL (Danzig Connection-St. Honore) 59 R.V. Gowli 4.

All ran. 1, nk. and 4. 3m 11.41s. Rs. 16 (w), 7, 6 and 7 (p), FP: Rs. 96, Q: Rs. 48, Tanala: Rs. 491 (37 tkts.). Favourite: Alameda.

Owners: Mr. D. Khaitan rep. Soom Stud Farm Pvt. Ltd. and the estate of late Major P.K. Mehra. Trainer: Darius.

7. TRILOGY CUP (1,200 m), Cl. IV, 5-y-o & over: Majestic Style (Oxford Blue-Queen's Bay) 47 Appu 1, Autumn Hues 48 A. Imran Khan 2, Endless Image 53 Samad 3, Musical Light 53 B. Ananda 4. All ran. 1-1/2, 6 and nk. 1m 13.30s. Rs. 14 (w), 5, 5 and 5 (p), FP: Rs. 58, Q: Rs. 15, Tanala: Rs. 164 (82 tkts.). Favourite: Autumn Hues.

Owners: Nawab Ali Khan, Begum Mahfoza Ali Khan and Mrs. S.R. Chetty. Trainer: Fahad Khan.

8. CHENNAI BOOKMAKERS ASSOCIATION TROPHY (1,400 m), Cl. V-A: Valuable Boy (Oxford Blue-Magic Moment) 47 I. Chisty 1, Ocean Pearl 57.5 Appu 2, Runic Symbol 48 A. Imran Khan 3, Unaproachable 47 R.B. Shinde 4. All ran. 1-3/4, 1-1/2 and 2-3/4. 1m 28.14s. Rs. 65 (w), 36, 10 and 10 (p), FP: Rs. 756, Q: Rs. 138, Tanala: Rs. 2,747 (seven tkts.). Favourite: Royal Delight.

Owners: Mr. and Mrs. M.I. Mallick Babu and Mr. and Mrs. K.T. Kuppaiah. Trainer: Sebastian.

Treble: (I): Rs. 2,259 (25 tkts.); (II): Rs. 2,057 (58 tkts.).

Jackpot runner-up: Rs. 12,894 (14 tkts.).

Jackpot: Rs. 4,21,197 (carried over.).

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