SIX SPEED IS SENSATIONAL;
ALLOCATED IS ANOTHER STAR
JOE
THE PRO MAKES AMENDS IN EXCITING FINISH
(Reviews of June 10-11 Races)
SURPRISES
GALORE DURING FIRST WEEK-END
(Race Reviews of May20th & 21st Races)
BOUNTIFUL
GESTURE IMPRESSES; ALLAIRE FAILS TO SHOW OUT
(Review of 27th and 28th May Races at Bangalore)
BEER baron Vijay Mallya who had a lean patch last year, is bound to sweep the classics all over the country. Six Speed is a sensational horse, in the mould of legends of Indian racing like Adler and Elusive Pimpernel and infinitely superior to last year's horse of the year namely Smart Chieftan. Mallya has yet another star in his yard in Allocated who but for the presence of Six Speed would have duplicated the feat of Smart Chieftan.
The Placerville-Haunting Beauty three-year old filly Six Speed has class written all over her. Her blinding speed is sure to outpace the opposition. Taking on a fairly good field in the 1400 metres Knock Out Million, she made light of the 5.5 kg weight she was conceding to her rivals and beat them pointless. This, despite the fact that she was not fully tuned up for the race.
Jockey Pesi Shroff overcame the disadvantageous 15 draw quite easily as the filly showed tremendous speed to move up quickly to be in the third position within the first 100 metres without cutting across any of the runners. Six Speed cantered into the straight even as Symphony of Fire shortened her strides and stretched away from the field to win as she liked. Axe plodded on take the third spot ahead of Dagger's Drawn who showed tremendous improvement over his debut win to be a noteworthy second.
The handicapper who had rated Six Speed as the best of her age, with a rating of 40, promptly put it up by another 10 points. The closest any three-year old is to her ownermate Allocated who later in the day became the first of his age to win in the highest category in only his third run of his life.
Surely, the surfeit of talent in Dr Mallya's yard would be the envy of other big owners who invest equally big if not more. Apart from these two formidable runners, Mallya has Sans Egale who too showed signs of becoming a top class horse by the manner in which she won the mile long race, accounting for Strides of Fire.
There were many who felt that Allocated had been thrown at the deep end too soon. But the Placerville-Arctic Theme three-year old gelding took on the seasoned opponents in tremendous fashion, winning the 1400 metres K N Guruswamy Memorial Cup after staving off the challenge of favourite Austria. The big made Allocated was getting better at the finish, suggesting that he would relish the extended trip even better. The fact that he went into the race soft and still point the opposition in the highest class emphatically indicate a bright future for this Poonawalla bred horse. The soft underfoot conditions was relished by all the Placerville progenies who won on Sunday.
Sans Egale's debut was anything but sensational in winter. In fact, she lost quite a few of her admirers by the laborious manner in which she scored her debut win. But now run over an extended trip of a mile which perhaps helped her immensely, she won without being fully extended. Strides of Fire had to be driven out by jockey Aslam Kader to contain the challenge of Assertive Allies for the second spot. Sans Egale is not in the league of Six Speed or Allocated but still has plenty of scope in the regional classics. Atomic Fusion who finished fourth, is the one for the notebook.
Brave Russian made a triumphant entry into racing, with a comfortable win over Major Attraction in the Fire Haven Plate, run over 1100 metres. Lali who graced the wrong end of the field in the early part, finished on strongly to take the third spot. She should be in the thick of action before long.
Hari Puri trained Emenbrucke had let down his supporters twice in winter as a strongly backed horse over a trip of seven furlongs. Though the six furlong trip was reckoned to be short for him, the soft underfoot conditions helped him as he mved from the rear as his wont to get past the front-running Formal Gold ton win at lucrative odds. Emerald Forest was a noteworthy runner of the race.
Loknath Gowda's London Bells who was knocking on the doors, finally came out of the maiden's ranks, with a resolute win over Renzino in the 1600 metres Mamma's Mink Plate. Mrs Silva attempted to win on Renzino from the word `go' but in the end, had to lose as the vigorous finish by in-form jockey Prakash tilted the scales in favour of London Bells. Silva's objection against Prakash for bumping twice inside the final 300 metres was found to be without substance by the Stewards. Nobody's Angel warmed up late to finish a good third.
Inayathulla trained Fly Past who in the past had the measure of the well-performed Golden Goal, was well placed in scales to win the 1400 metres Baraloy Plate, a race for horses rated10 to 25. However, the race-goers still persisted with the oft failed Resplendent Star and paid the price for it. Veteran jockey Shafiq had a comfortable ride on Fly Past who, relishing the underfoot conditions, won in impressive fashion. Zouk finished on well to take the second spot and is now ready for the kill.
SATURDAY's races saw Bangalore Derby winner Alchemy narrowly lose to Splendid Pride in blinding rain. Alchemy who went into the race a little bit ``underdone'', nevertheless shaped like a winner at the top of the straight but Splendid Pride who had a pull in weights by as many as 8.5 kgs, proved better at the finish. Jockey Prakash who rode Splendid Pride, was not perturbed by the slow getaway at the gates and gradually nursed his horse into striking position and packed punch in his finish. The rest of the opposition was beaten pointless.
Darius Byramji's La Unique has not been exploited to the full thus far. With all the money coming in the direction of State Treasure, La Unique was let loose in the betting ring. The punters who made the mistake were left to rue their decision as La Unique won with plenty to spare even as State Treasure struggled in the rear and ended up as a poor third. Moody customer Tattoo was a suggestive second.
Trainer Padmanabhan had a double through Andreyev and Femme Fatale, both of whom toyed with the opposition. While Adreyev beating nothing of note in the maiden's race, Femme Fatale's style of winning in the 1400 metres Tudor Jet Plate was impressive. Femme Fatale, enjoying the soft underfoot conditions, won from end to end, with Tudor King and Aracruz disputing for the second spot, with the former just about getting that slot.
The pattern set by Andreyev in the lower division of the Rare Gem Plate, was seen in the higheer division too, with another favourite Set Aside winning as she liked. Silver Toy who needs more ground to acquit himself well, nevertheless was a suggestive third behind Krishna Priya.
Mumbai-based trainer Arti Doctor had her first winner at this centre. Jockey Bajrang Singh drove out favourite Anna Pavlova to a start to finish victory in the 1200 metres Cauvery Silver Vase, a race for horses rated 10 to 25. Carnival Craze chased the front-runner in vain while the fancied runners in the race namely Kimono and Perarl Crown gave a poor account of themselves.
Prime Target yet again found foot late to let down his supporters for the third successive time even as Storm Boy emerged tirumphant after a stiff battle with the front-running Pleasantville in the 1600 metres Malakpet Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Storm Boy had the credentials to win but with Prime Target cornering all the attention, the victory of Storm Boy did not bring too much cheer to his connections.
