ARRAKIS PROVES HIS CLASSIC CREDENTIALS

SHAFIQ GETS IT WRONG!
Shafiq's win on Appeaser on Saturday (July 29) in the Santorini Star Plate was supposed to be the veteran jockey's 1000th winer. Subsequently it has been found that the jockey has got it all wrong. The BTC authorities who were planning to present a memento to the jockey, sought details and the record reportedly maintained by Shafiq does not tally with the official one. Though the officials are finding out the precise details, it is believed that the jockey is far from the coveted mark. The BTC commentator calling out that Shafiq's win on Appeaser was his 1000th sparked off celebrations and Shafiq was prominently mentioned as the 11th jockey to reach the landmark in the next day's newspapers!

Joint owner K R Swamy leads in Red Quartz (Faisal M Ismail up) which won the Squander Plate

Yet another successful coup...Trainer Madhu Mangalorkar and owner Savi Jain lead in Ride With Pride (Shakti Singh up) which won the Tokyo Plate at nourishing odds.

Jockey B Prakash consolidates his lead in the championship stakes with yet another winner through Royal Delight. Trainer Jim Foley (left) and S Ganapathy lead in the winner

Zouk (Mark Gallagher up), winner of Maj E Fownes Memorial Plate, being led in by trainer Dominic (left) and owner V V Abdullah

Crystal Moment (Aslam Kader up) which won the J B Mallaradhya Cup in a three-horse finish, being led in by trainer Darius Byramji

Rashid Byramji leads in The Music Man (C Ruzzan up) which trounced the field in the Col Rajkumar C Desraj Urs Memorial Cup

TRAINER Rashid Byramji surely has an ace up his sleeve in Arrakis who could compare favourably with some of the best horses that he has trained in his illustrious career.

Although it would be premature to rank Arrakis among the top horses that have graced the Indian turf, the Stenibeck progeny would prove a handful in the Indian classics for which he will be targeted. Although Jockey Aslam Kader has no hesitation is rating Arrakis as next only to Elusive Pimpernel after the gelding's   sensational manner of victory in the 1600 metres Dashmesh and Hargobind Stud Million on Sunday (July 30), the fact remains that at present he could be rated only third behind  Allaire and Six Speed.

The Steinbeck-Run For The Crown gelding Arrakis had come out of the maiden ranks earlier in the season, with an impressive win over seven furlongs. Despite taking on some of the seasoned campaigners, he was the firm favourite to win. Padmanabhan trained Access All Areas who was best placed vis-a-vis the rating, was also well supported. Aslam Kader who had a choice to ride either of these two horses chose Arrakis as he rated this horse as the best among the three-year olds owned by Deepak Khaitan. He was proved right as Arrakkis came from a difficult position with a sensational dash to overtake the front-running Access All Areas to stamp his class.

Jockey Alford raced Access All Areas a handy third before taking over the raining inside the final 350 metres. Arrakis who was kept in the rear by Aslam Kader, had to wade through a crowded field and by the time Arrakis was in full flow, the race seemed to be in the grip of Access All Areas. However, Arrakis covered ground so quickly that he could 3/4 of a length at the finish. The striking acceleration was suggestive of Arrakis undoubted class.

However, one cannot jump to conclusion about the future of Arrakis. The fact  that Astronomer and Bold Chieftan finished less than three lengths behind the winner does not enhance Arrakis' rating by a great deal for these two horses were soundly thrashed by the pair of Allaire and Six Speed. Since none of the three-year olds have won this season drawing away from the rest, one has to wait and see how they shape up in winter. Access All Areas will be targeted for the Pune Derby.

Jockey Malesh Naredu had to work hard on Brave Edge to enable the Farajullah progeny to triumph in the lower division of the Bold Gesture Plate which set in motion,  the day's proceedings. Brave Edge looked far from fit and the fact that the gelding had not finished among the first eight in any race, saw the odds drift out. In the event, the powerful handling by Malesh saw Brave Edge prevail at the expense of Royal Glare who finished on strongly but just about failed to collar the front-runner. Brave Edge is an ordinary type but since this was the first time he was stretched, he may fare better after this run. The division I of the race was claimed by Ivory Wings who despite a stumble inside the final 300 metres, was driven out to a fine win by jockey B Prakash whose persuasive efforts saw the favourite get past Lovely Lips close home.

Imtiaz Sait trained Afilado was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in the Cape Dance Trophy (Div II) but this half-sister to the celebrated Star Supreme finished in the rut. The filly fought for her head and the bit came off and   jockey Aslam Kader lost control of the  horse. The filly went wide and after entering the straight, took over the running for a while only to be beaten fair and square. So Thrilled improved on  his third in his last start to finish with a measure of comfort from Elegant Rainbow and Sun Court. Afilado finished a poor fourth. The upper division of the race went the way of Padmanabhan trained Ace Beret who was driven out to a good win by jockey Mark Gallagher, with rank outsider Always Dancing coming threateningly close. Alembic ran below expectations.

The Vanivilas Sagar Cup, a race for horses rated 10 to 25, was run in two divisions. Khusro Ahmed's Shoorveer whose last win was in winter, came through with a good stretch run in the hands of apprentice Amit to collar the front-running Guernica to win in impressive fashion.  An attempted coup on Puttanna's Spectacular Style failed to materialise in the lower division as Royal Crichton stole a march at the top of the straight and  Spectatulcar Style's all out efforts could only help the gelding finish about  five lengths behind the winner. Scandal Sheet was not ridden to advantage by jockey Mrs Silva.

Jim Foley's Stately Girl maintained her amazing progress, leaving the field for dead in the Lt Col Gaunt Memorial Cup, for horses rated 20 to 35. Al Habib chased the winner without hope. Fancied Alylady ran below par.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Royal Satin had the best credentials to win but Dominic's Concur was the made the firm favourite in the Usha Stud Plate (30 to 45) on the basis of the latter's runaway win last time out. In the event, Concur was a poor third. Aloritz attempted to win from the word `go' but found Royal Satin too good as the Green Forest progeny collared the front-runner inside the final 350 metres and established a comfortable lead. However, with Royal Satin slowing down after hitting the front, Aloritz came up with a second run but jockey Imran Chisty managed to push his mount to a narrow win.

Veteran  jockey Shafiq got his statistics wrong as his win in the Suntorini Plate astride Rashid Byramji trained Appeaser was announced as his 1000th career win, sparking off celebrations by the jockey's associates. Subsequently, it was found that Shafiq had got it wrong and he is reportedly far from the coveted mark.

Favourite Melodeon who was expected to win the Suntorini Plate which was won by owener-mate Appeaser, was a poor third and the filly bursts its blood vessels too.

Had jockey Christopher Alford been more forceful, the result of the J B Mallradhya Cup could well have been different. Alford lost a favourable position on All Game who was running after a long lay off and by the time, he brought the Razeen progeny from behind, Crystal Moment and Colonial were far ahead. All Game finished with a rattle but his finishing burst fetched him the runner-up berth behind stablemate and favourite Crystal Moment. All Game was a neck behind the winner while Colonial was a short head behind the runner-up. All three horses belonged to trainer Darius Byramji.

Inayathullah trained Red Quart was backed confidently by the connections  despite Ispahan having better credentials. Red Quartz justified the faith although  Queen's Ransom came very close with a good burst of speed at the finish. Isphan was a poor third.

Madhu Mangalorkar has had success whenever his wards have come in for spirited betting. Ride With Pride was backed down heavily in the betting ring and the Steinbeck progeny won like a well-backed horse should. Favourite Rise Above who failed to match strides with the winner. Ride With Pride came from behind and shot past the front-running Rise Above and won by a widening margin of over five lengths. The winner proved too classy for the opposition. Credit must go to the trainer for bringing off intelligent coups.

Jockey Prakash had to work hard on favourite Royal Delight to enable the Rebounding Thrill progeny to get past the front-running Wandering Warrior close home. Puttanna's Augil Castle who was not fully extended,  was a noteworthy third.

Jim Foley trained Star Fantasy was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in the Col Rajkumar C Desraj Urs Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 30 to 35. Star Fantasy who is a full sister to the celebrated Smart Chieftan does not belong to that exalted class. The filly ran in patches, had a stumble at around the 850 metres marker and as the filly was ``not finding its feet'', jockey Malesh Narredu was not hard on her. The Music Man who had run a good fourth last time out despite having a troubled passage, was raced upfront and stretched away from the rest at the top of the straight to win from late-finishing Midnight Escape. Something Fishy showed some form when finishing third.

Gallagher's riding powers made a difference as he drove favourite Zouk to a narrow win over Accelerating Star. At one stage, Acclerating Star seemed to have the measure of the favourite but with the gelding drifting under pressure, Gallagher was able to drive out Zouk to a neck win. Renzino finished third while the ever unreliable Classi Pursuit finished in the rut.

 

 

 

ARRAKIS DAZZLES!

Rashid Byramji leads in Arrakis (Aslam Kader up) after the colt's sensational win in the Dashmesh and Hargobind Stud Milllion on Sunday (July 30)

Stately Girl (M Narredu up), winner of  Lt Col Gaunt Memorial Cup, being led in by S Ganapathy, Racing Manager of Dr MAM Ramaswamy

Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar leads in Royal Satin (I Chisty up), winner of Usha Stud Plate

Royal Crichton (B Prakash up), being led in by trainer Taraporvala after the filly's win in the Vanivilas Cup (Div II)

Ivory Wings who was driven out to a splendid win by jockey B Prakash despite stumble at the 350 metre marker, being led in by trainer Jim Foley and S Ganapathy.

Trainer S Padmanabhan leads in Ace Beret (Mark Gallagher up) after the gelding's resolute win in the Cape Dance Trophy (Div I)

Brave Edge who owed its victory to Malesh Narredu's powerful riding, being led in by trainer Karan Singh and S Ganapthy.

Trainer Sardar Singh who opened his account with So Thrilled, leads in the winner after the Ajaad progeny's fluent win in the Cape Dance Trophy(Div II). Astride So Thrilled is jockey Rakesh.