Hunting Goddess thunders to victory in the Sprinters’ Cup

My Opinion pips Arc De Triomphe and Success in a thrilling finish in the Stayers’ Cup

One could not have asked for more from the first day of the Invitation Weekend.

The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Sprinters Cup became an all-Mumbai affair, with the 5-year-old bay Hunting Goddess hunting down the 8-year-old Iron Age in the last 100 metres to win by a shade over a length.

The got-abroad daughter of Territories out of Regency, trained by Pesi Shroff, was ridden with aplomb by P.S. Chouhan. The winner is owned by Mr. and Mrs Shirke, the Dhunjibhoys and Darashah Bloodstock Pvt. Ltd.

The Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Chettiar of Chettinad Memorial Stayers Cup produced one of the most exciting finishes ever witnessed on the Bangalore Turf.

Three horses went past the post locked together in mortal combat. A mere head separated them and what a moment it was for the winner My Opinion. Aged eight, he’s still a force to reckon with.

Owned by the Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy of Chettiar Charitable Trust, the oldest horse in the line-up got his elegant head in front of long-time leader Arc De Triomphe with the 4-year-old Success an identical distance behind in third.

Trained by Chennai-based B.Suresh, the got abroad son of Dialed In was given an absolutely brilliant ride by jockey Y.S. Srinath, who at 47 was probably the oldest jockey in the race.