ALLAIRE PIPS SIX SPEED IN A THRILLER
ALLAIRE's exciting victory over Six Speed in the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby on Sunday (July 16) continued the trend of sensational finishes that the event has provided over the last decade. For the second successive year, Pesi Shroff found himself on the runner-up after having stolen a march over the rest but getting caught at the wire. Though Six Speed lost, it was a great effort on the part of the Placerville progeny and the jockey. Last year, Smart Chieftan had won in similar fashion over Averoff which was piloted by Shroff.
Predictably Six Speed found the 2000 metres trip a trifle long for comfort. Shroff rode a brilliant race, conserving the filly for the final assault and coming up the shortest way even if it meant squeezing his way through. He very nearly stole the race but in the end, the persevering efforts of jockey Srinath who is currently enjoying a great season at Macau, tilted the scales in favour of Allaire.
Six Speed who had won five races in a row, was the overwhelming favourite to win the Derby despite the fact that the filly was suspect over the extended trip and that she was being run in this race after a great deal of hesitation. Only jockey Aslam Kader believed that Allaire would stop Six Speed's run of wins.
Though Allaire had a series of problems, trainer Darius Byramji had done remarkably well to get the horse in pink of condition for the big event and in the end, he was rewarded for his efforts as both his wards, Allaire and Six Speed were involved in a photo-finish for top honours.
The surprise performer in the race was Mangalorkar trained Hello Brother who showed a remarkable improvement in finishing less than three lengths behind the winner! Surely this Young Senor progeny is not run-of-the-mill and can be a handful over extended trips in winter classics considering his style of finish and the fact that he was getting better at the finish. He may not be bred in the purple but he is no mean horse.
Royal Emperor set the pace, with Six Speed and Allaire settled in mid-bunch while Andreyev whose last run suggested that he was a stout stayer, was surprisingly kept in the rear. One could not understand the strategy adopted on Adnreyev.
Altimara brought the field into view, several lengths clear of the rest. Inside the final 400 metres, Il Diablo closed in, causing Six Speed and Allaire a bad interference. Shroff chose to push Six Speed through the middle despite the passage being difficult. He held the filly back till the final 150 metres before getting past Altimara who was battling on resolutely in front. Six Speed emerged clear of the rest but Allaire who was set alight by jockey Srinath after pulling her out on the wide outside, came up with a brilliant burst of speed even as Six Speed was perceptibly slowing down and flashed past the front-runner to win by a head.
There were many who felt that Shroff should have been more vigorous at the finish and that he took things for granted and paid the price for it. To Shroff's defense, it must be said that Six Speed was clearly in distress and almost grinding to a halt and if Shroff had used the whip under the circumstances, the result would have been no different for Allaire was full of running.
Andreyev who was expected to run well, was kept too far back and though he finished seventh, his run needs to be ignored and he deserves another chance.
Allaire thus halted the sequence of horses with the alphabet `S' winning for the fifth time in a row. In the last three years, the colts and fillies stakes winners have not struck it rich in the Derby.
There was a long card of 11 events framed for the Derby day and for race-goers who are used to the regular eight event card, found it tedious, with the record crowd making things more difficult.
In the RWITC Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above, the supporting event of the day, Padmanabhan trained Antwerp who had recorded four straight wins in Bangalore was the overwhelming favourite. Anguilla who was well placed in scales, was neglected in the betting ring. Anguilla had run behind Congratulations in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas last winter and subsequently, had suffered from fever which had affected her subsequent performances.
Paul Eddery who had a poor day on Sunday, took Antwerp on a start to finish mission and the Green Forest progeny was a beaten horse long way from home. Anguilla who graced the rear end of the field, came up with a rattle to win from Summer Mood who edged out Astronatuics for the second spot.
Mumbai-based trainer Mansoor Shah had a rewarding day, with two of his wards, Prince Shazaan and Absolute Hit winning as well backed horses. Prince Shazaan who had run behind the classic hopeful Accrual, had it easy in the upper division of the Madras Cup, with Sun Gold finishing ahead of Walk In the Clouds who wobbled under pressure. The lower division of the race went the way of the well backed Star Pursuit.
The Derby day brought mixed fortunes for the race-goers with the exchanges being more or less even but with upsets in the jackpot races, resulting in the pool being carried forward.
REGAL EQUITY's sensational win in the BTC Anniversary Cup, a rich terms race for four-year olds and over, was the highlight of Saturday's races. Time and again, Regal Equity has proved that his first run in a season is the best and his win did was not exactly come out of turn as he was favoured by the terms of the race too though age was not on his side.
Regal Equity had the credentials to end up as the firm favourite but with Averoff, also belonging to the same owner, enjoying the stable's confidence, the Razeen progeny was available at lucrative odds. In a fast run race, Averoff stole a march over the rest inside the final 100 metres but Requal Equity who was pulled out of a pocket by Eddery, came up with a rattle to edge past Averoff, with Crystal Man, half a length behind the runner-up.
Darius Byramji's Adamile has been sparingly raced but there is no doubt about the fact that the Razeen progeny is undoubtedly of the highest class. Adamile had run third to Allocated in his debut run in the Nanoli Million and then held off the challenge of Al Habib who went on to win two races, including on Derby day which provided veteran jockey Shafiq, his 998 win, went into the Summer Trial Stakes as the firm favourite despite Bountiful Gesture having better record and enjoying a higher rating. Adamile won as she liked from Alphabatic and Clyde Barrow but the run of Bountiful Gesture who finished a poor fifth was mystyfying.
Satish Narredu trained Flying Singer was a fancied winner in the lower division of the Skyline Plate but the drift in her price in the betting ring was a surprise. The upper division of the race went the way of favourite Boss Tweed who won in identical fashion to provide Michael Eshwer who is going through a bad phase, his second win of the season, the unsound Sir Bordeaux providing both the wins!
Avocation and At My Command fought out a thriller in the upper division of the Sir Bruce Plate, a race for three-year olds, with the former who was a first timer, loosing out by a whisker. With both Shroff and Mallesh Narredu going flat out on their respective mounts, it provided an absorbing duel, with At My Command who had the benefit of a few race runs, prevailing in the end. The lower division of the race went the way of favourite Antecedent who proved too good for the rest.
The horses take off for the Kingfisher Derby 2000
Srinath waves out to the crowd after his first-ever success in a Derby.
Allaire (with a gleeful Srinath astride) being in led by trainer Darius Byramji and breeder and part owner Ms Ameetha Mehra.
Dr
Vijay Mallya who lost out narrowly in the Derby as his ward Six Speed lost
in a thriller, presents the Kingfisher Derby trophy to breeder and part
owner Ms Ameetha Mehra.
Freeze of the presentation ceremony of the Kingfisher Derby. From left: Mrs Rekha Mallya, Ms Ameetha Mehra, Dr Vijay Mallya and jockey Y S Srinath.
Al Habib (veteran jockey Shafiq astride) being led in by trainer Md Khan after the gelding's win in the upper division of the Calcutta Trophy. Incidentally, the win provided the jockey his 998th win. Shafiq has said that he would retire after he reaches the milestone.
Allaire (Y S Srinath up) edging ahead of Six Speed (Pesi
Shroff astride) to land the Derby spoils.
Dr Vijay Mallya and trainer Darius Byramji lead in Antecedent (Ruzzan up), winner of Sir Bruce Plate(Div II)
Dr M A M Ramaswamy and trainer Jim Foley lead in At My Command after the gelding's exciting win over favourite Avocation in the Sir Bruce Plate (Div I).
Stately Girl (Prakash up) being led in by trainer Jim Foley and owner Dr M A M Ramaswamy after the Sir Bruce filly's easy win in the Confucious Plate.
Michael Eshwer leads in Boss Tweed who provided the trainer his only second win of the season
Regal Equity(Paul Eddery up) who won in a sensational finish over Averoff, being led in by trainer Rashid Byramji and joint owner Ms Ameetha Mehra.
Trainer Mansoor Shah leads in Absolute Hit (K P G Appu astride), after the White Crown progeny made amends for his previous failure.
Joint owners Mrs Sadiqa Peerbhoy and Pritham Basappa and trainer Zareer Darashah lead in Fereneze after the Adler progeny's win the upper division of the Hyderabad Cup.
Joints owners M Vijaykrishna (left) and V V Abdullah lead in Tierrce after the Czarinsky progeny's upset win in the upper division of the Delhi Race Club Cup.