The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Attila, Arabian Prince score at the carnival

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Attila, Arabian Prince score at the carnival

Anil Mukhi

— PHOTOS: VIVEK BENDRE

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS:Attila (Imran Chisty up) winner of the Oasis Star Sprinters' Cup being led in by (from left): Messrs Banwait Singh, Kishore Dingra, Madhur Bajaj and trainer Pesi Shroff. Right: Mr Waryam Singh of HDIL giving away the Privilege Industries Stayers Cup to Mr. Zeyn Mirza (Racing Manager of Mr Vijay Mallya, whose Arabian Prince won the event).

Mumbai: Silence greeted the winner of the Grade I Oasis Star Sprinters' Cup after Attila (China Visit-Al Dente) sizzled home in the richly-endowed event, run over 1200m at Mahalakshmi on Saturday.

Despite one of his owners, Mr. Madhur Bajaj, having freely tipped him at the press conference held last Wednesday, there were few takers for his optimism and the Usha Stud-bred started at 23-1.

Imran Chisty had the gelding no worse than fourth before making his move and taking the lead a long way from home. Thereafter Attila traced a wayward course, but still had too much in reserve to be troubled by the late effort of Celestial Way and Forest Flair, who unfortunately bled.

Trainer Pesi Shroff saddled the winner, who recorded a time of 1:10.82.

The Vijay Mallya stable, narrowly denied in the Sprinters' Cup, gained swift recompense within the hour when Arabian Prince added one more crown to his glittering array with a bloodless success in the Grade I Privilege Industries Stayers' Cup.

His pacemaker made the early running at a decent clip and gracefully gave way once Chris Hayes set the son of Burden Of Proof to his task.

In the end, Hayes had the luxury of easing up as the handsome chestnut, foaled at the Usha Stud when his dam, Arabian Rose, was on a visit, scored with a measure of ease from public choice Cabriolet and Vijays Angel.

Trained by veteran Jaggi Dhariwal, the winner broke the track record when setting a new mark of 3:09.98.

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