Super Sunday will Crown ‘Horse of the Year’
By Racing Correspondent
Mumbai
Sunday, March 06, 2011
The Indian Turf Invitation Cup race confers the top title to the winning horse – the ‘Champion Horse of the Year’. The McDowell Signature Indian Derby and The HDIL Turf Invitation Cup are two top races in the career of a thoroughbred. Moonlight Romance has already established herself as the Queen of the Indian Turf by winning the Indian Derby. Will she be able to underscore her superiority again in the Invitation? There is no reason why she should not and with top jockey Richard Hughes now opting to choose her to partner, her chances are only going to get better, or will it?
Well, I am of the belief that Richard is once again at the peril of having opted the next best one. In my Derby preview I had mentioned that Moonlight Romance had the edge and Hughes may have missed out on the winning choice, the same had been voiced by trainer Cooji Katrak who then believed that David Allan would do justice upon Moonlight Romance. Although Richard was beaten then, he was a gallant second. The chink in O&B’s armour at that time was that he had not gone over the distance. Else, all other boxes in his check-list were ticked. Now with this shortcoming too having been ironed out, the strong and powerful O&B will be no pushover. His trainer SK Sunderji would probably fret over Richard’s choice, but he could well have the last laugh.
Ocean And Beyond, ran a close second in the Derby and is now better prepared to tackle anyone who comes in his way. Richard himself had mentioned that he is the best male horse on the circuit and that speaks volumes of O&B’s ability. I therefore, shift my loyalties towards the Sunderji trained ward this time, now that O&B has done everything needed to aspire to be crowned the Horse of the Year. Speaking in jest, I am one-up on Richard already, and in this game, it pays to be brave when speculating. Xisca and Macchupicchu have it in them to rise to the occasion and no matter who the winner, the thrill of the race is worth travelling miles to witness.
| 1st Race |
1. |
STAR GODDESS (2) |
2. |
THRILLER (3) |
3. |
ARISEN STAR (17) |
| R HUGHES |
D K ASHISH |
P TREVOR |
| 2nd Race |
1. |
KALINGA STAR (1) |
2. |
LAST TANGO (11) |
3. |
RAPIDE (4) |
| P S CHOUHAN |
A SANDESH |
Y S SRINATH |
| 3rd Race |
1. |
BLACKJACK (10) |
2. |
ANCIENT WONDER (7) |
3. |
AMOURESQUE(4) |
| DASHRATH SINGH |
SURAJ NARREDU |
P KAMLESH |
| 4th Race |
1. |
SALT (9) |
2. |
COOL CAT (5) |
3. |
LAKE SUPERIOR (2) |
| IMRAN CHISTY |
C RAJENDRA |
R HUGHES |
| 5th Race |
1. |
BECKET (2) |
2. |
ONASSIS (4) |
3. |
SIACHEN (12) |
| DAVID ALLAN |
B PRAKASH |
C D HAYES |
| 6th Race |
1. |
IKARIA (2) |
2. |
ELIZABETH (13) |
3. |
PORTRUSH (5) |
| B PRAKASH |
STEPHANE PASQUIER |
P KAMLESH |
| 7th Race |
1. |
OCEAN AND BEYOND (4) |
2. |
MOONLIGHT ROMANCE (9) |
3. |
XISCA (10) |
| N G MCCULLAGH |
R HUGHES |
STEPHANE PASQUIER |
| 8th Race |
1. |
STAR SYMPHONY (6) |
2. |
SET AFIRE (1) |
3. |
TAMARAI (2) |
| DAVID ALLAN |
C RAJENDRA |
B PRAKASH |
| 9th Race |
1. |
GLORIOUS MISS (1) |
2. |
MYSTIC TEMPLE (3) |
3. |
WILD IMAGINATION (14) |
| AKASH AGARWAL |
R HUGHES |
C RAJENDRA |
|
Day's Best : (SALT ) Race No. 4 (9) |