Questina lifts DRC Cup in style

This picture has been used for representational purposes

The Imtiaz Sait-trained Questina, in the hands of jockey by A Sandesh, produced scintillating gallop in the final two furlongs to sail away from her 11 rivals in the DRC Cup, the feature event of Sunday's seven-race card. The Phoenix Tower - Meadowlark filly clocked 1m 10.01s for the six-furlong trip.

Sandesh was content in letting Questina race in midbunch until the heads turned for home, when he angled her out to choose the widest lane. When Sandesh asked for an effort from Questina, her response was instant and electric. She lengthened her strides and literally flew in the end to leave her hapless rivals marking time.

Debutants rule

In a rare happening, first-timer horses pitched among the experienced ones reeled off four races in a row. It began with the Pesi Shroff-trained Tigrio who won the second race, the Aristos Plate, with Neeraj Rawal in saddle; quickly followed by Luminous (Zervan up) who won the upper division of the Kiara Plate for trainer Vishal Gaekwad.

The next race, the Grand Passion Plate, was won by the Dallas Todywalla-schooled Lorito (P Trevor up), making debut as a four year old. Finally, in the lower division of the Kiara Plate jockey Yash Narredu steered the first-timer filly Noble Queen to victory for brother trainer Deepesh Narredu.

Incidentally, trainer Deepesh Narredu was the sole professional to score more than once on the card. Besides Noble Queen he also saddled Bonafide (S Kamble up) who picked up the last race of the day, the upper division of the Astral Flash Plate.

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