Bangalore, March 3 :
Bangalore, March 3:
Jockey Christopher Lemaire could do no wrong during the Invitational weekend. The crafty jockey drove the Maniar Jadhav-trained The Pelican to a brilliant victory in the classic of classic, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup here today.
The Invitation Cup was not his only achievement during the afternoon. The energetic jockey also guided yesterday's sprint winner Strengthtostrength to an equally sensational victory in the Maj. P. K. Mehra Super Mile to score a rare double to the delight of a packed house. The Dallas Todywalla-ward Bergamo is the only one to have achieved the feat during the 1985 Calcutta 'Invitational' races. Lemaire had also scored a qualitative quadruple yesterday and followed it up with a treble today. Incidentally, the Bangalore Turf Club also set a national record with a totalisator collection of over Rs 3 crore.
Apparently, there was no hard-luck story for the Invitation Cup favourite Ansbach. The Alnasr-Alwasheek-Pass The Secret was positioned ideally in eight as stable-mate Antequera tried to cut a hot pace and with The Pelican right behind him. However, the Vijay Singh-trainee displayed no urgency even as Aslam Kader tried it hard and, surprisingly, went backward to ultimately finish tenth in a field of 13 runners.
Lemaire, on the other hand, found himself upfront at the top of the straight and the young jockey refused to look back despite a strong challenge from Pleasure Hunt who covered the ground in amazing manner from the wrong end of the field.
RESULTS
(With inter state dividends)
1. Mumbai Trophy 1,200m: (1-5-9) Pettalumma (Ramesh) 1; Bin Tin Tin 2; Astec Gold 3. Won by: 4-3/4; Nk; (1-14.8). Tote: Win Rs 58; Place: 18; 27; 11; Quinella: 359; Tanala: 1,455. Fav: Astec Gold (9).
2. Chennai Trophy 1,400m: (4-6-5) Taipan (Lemaire) 1; Silvertre 2; Air Strike 3. Won by: 2; 3-1/2; (1-25.5). Tote: Win Rs 25; Place: 13; 11; 22; Quinella: 20; Tanala: 132. Fav: Silvertre (6).
3. Japan Trophy 1,400m: (4-1-5) Accede (Prakash) 1; Just Brave 2; Royal Honey 3. Won by: 3; 1; (127.3) Tote: Win Rs 14; Place: 11; 20; 14; Quinella: 60; Tanala: 181. Fav: Accede (4).
4. Hyderabad Trophy, Div-I 1,200m: (1-5-7) Just Do It (Marshall) 1; Oscar 2; Royal Caribbean 3. Won by: 2-1/4; SH; (1-15.3). Tote: Win Rs 126; Place: 34; 99; 16; Quinella: 2,301; Tanala: 16,808. Fav: Royal Caribbean (7).
5. Indian Turf Invitation Cup 2,400m: (6-13-7-4) The Pelican (Lemaire) 1; Pleasure Hunt (McCullagh) 2; Royal Gladiator (Eddery) 3; Elusive Hero (Srinath) 4. Won by: 1/2; Hd; Nk; (2-32.3). Tote: Win Rs 146; Place: 32; 50; 40; Quinella: 1,549; Tanala: 45,835. Fav: Ansbach (8).
6. Maj. P. K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup 1,600m: (6-11-3-4) Strengthtostrength (Lemaire) 1; Tobler (M. Narredu) 2; Mega Top (Appu) 3; Acrobat (Shroff) 4. Not run: Machrihanish (8). Won by: 1-1/4; 2; SH; (1-38.2). Tote: Win Rs 110; Place: 32; 14; 28; Quinella: 149; Tanala: 5,031. Fav: Tobler (11).
7. Kolkata Trophy 2,200m: (5-4-9) Indian Rocket (Prithviraj) 1; Tapatio 2; Sunspangled 3. Won by: 3/4; 1-1/4; (2-24.8). Tote: Win Rs 278; Place: 51; 20; 15; Quinella: 1,086; Tanala: 8,213. Fav: Sunspangled (9).
8. Hyderabad Trophy, Div-II 1,200m: (1-11-9) Annodomini (A. Imran) 1; Soldier of Fortune 2; Moonlight Rays 3. Won by: 1/2; SH; (1-15.5). Tote: Win Rs 89; Place: 24; 25; 19; Quinella: 168; Tanala: 1,040. Fav: Dee Emm (3).
Jackpot: Rs 9,80,815 (Carried over).
Treble: (i) Rs 135; (ii) Rs 3,493; (iii) Rs 93,187.