LOMBARDY EMERGES AS TOP JUVENILE IN HYDERABAD

With total stakes of over 56lac rupees on offer in the Vijay Textiles Juvenile Multi-Million, the 6f race saw a host of outstation challengers arrive at Malakpet with Mumbai challenger Air Blast going out the favourite. The LVR Deshmukh- trained Lombardy (Leitir Mor-Lombardia) had shed her maiden status over 5f and was ready for the challenge, emerging a close second favourite. Another Mumbai challenger Flameoftheforest managed to garner some support with the rest of the ten horse field available in double digit odds.

Lombardy went straight down to business with Flameoftheforest on her out, the favourite Air Blast following closely on the rails. David Allan had Lombardy well in hand as Air Blast overtook Flameoftheforest to make his challenge. Bangalore challenger Allabouther came with a rattle but was unable to bridge the gap. Lombardy went on win by 1¼lengths from Air Blast with Allabouther a further 3½length away in third. She now has two wins from as many starts and has earned over 3.5 million from her efforts.

The property of Mr Vijay Kumar Gupta, Mr Susheel Kumar Gupta, Mr Zavaray S Poonawalla, Ms Simone Poonawalla Pundole, and Mr Aditya P Thackersey is one of the star juveniles in Hyderabad and while her dam, Lombardia has guaranteed the stamina quotient in her progeny it will be interesting to see the extent of the distance this star filly will cover. Half brother Velocidad (Excellent Art) had won twice in his career, over the mile and a quarter and the mile and a half. Half sister Ritz(Arazan) had also a single win in her career over the mile and a half. Lombardo (Ace) had won thrice over the mile.