Just when he looked
to have turned the corner, he had a nightmarish start to the new
year as he was involved in a road accident where he had a miraculous
escape. But the injuries he suffered ensured that he missed action
for six months and by the time he was ready for the fray, he had put
on so much weight that it took a Herculean effort to shed weight
which could qualify him to ride in the region of around 56 kgs.
Srinath's performance on Saturday where he booted home four winners
brought him back to the limelight once again and it is for him to capitalize
on it and do justice to his talent. He abilities compare favourbly
with that of Pesi Shroff although he has a long road ahead of him if
he wishes to emulate the stalwart.
Be that as it may,
Srinath was at his best when driving out Royal Satin to victory in
the 1400 metres Karnataka Police Cup, the feature event of the day.
Royal Satin has been a genuine customer and he has always lived up
to the expectations of trainer Arjun Mangalorkar. With Allocated, a
rousing performer last Summer, yet to get back to peak fitness, the
Green Forest-Colour Me In four-year old gelding came in for spirited
betting and he readily justified the support, with a resolute run in
the home stretch. Desert Gold who runs best when she is allowed to
run freely in front, however, was out of depth in this company as
she shot her bolt after bringing the field into view. Allocated led
for a brief while but lacked the fitness to kick clear. Srinath
drove out Royal Satin through the middle to stave off the challenge
of Comet Star who showed up from the rear to be an eye-catching
second. Bank Balance who ran detached from the field till turning
for home, found his bearings only in the final two furlongs and was
full of running at the finish. Srinath made use of the whip to get
Royal Satin to quicken at a crucial stage of the race. Axe who is
plagued by a tendon problem, was done in by the steep penalty he
incurred for running an unexpected second behind Tempt Me Not in his
last run. Allocated who finished fourth, would be a different
proposition next time out.
The Dashmesh Stud
progenies have been in good nick this season, with horses sired by
the now deceased Green Forest in great heart. Michael Eshwer trained
Judge Jules who was a failed favourite when classic hopeful Astor
Place decimated the opposition at Mumbai, was backed to the
exclusion of his rivals in the Tudor Jet Plate, a seven furlong
affair for maiden three-year olds. The Green Forest-Jerwah gelding
Judge Jules readily justified the support. Srinath kept Judge Jules
a handy third as St Lucinda showed the way before letting the
favourite assume command inside the final 250 metres. Judge Jules
went clear in a trice to win pulling up. Scoring Shot lost
considerable ground at the start.
Srinath brought off
a stunning upset on Flaming Tower in the Rare Gem Plate, a six
furlong affair for three-year old maidens. Pettalumma who had run
behind some good horses in winter, was expected to have an easy
outing and the bookmakers too refused to look beyond the filly so
much so that she was money back in the ring. Jockey Aslam Kader took
Pettalumma on a start to finish mission but the filly began shorten
her strides inside the final 100 metres. With Srinath going all out
on Flaming Tower, the battling duo went past the post locked
together. For the naked eye, it looked as though the favourite held
on but the the photo-finish picture showed a different
picture. Much to everyone's surprise, Flaming Tower had won by a
whisker. It was difficult to explain the poor run of Pettalumma and
as one racing official put it: `` I thought Pettalumma would win by
a distance but the filly's run is hard to explain. It is one of
those days when the filly performed far below potential.''
Srinath rounded off
the day with the fourth win of the day, on Arjun Mangalorkar's
Jungle Cat who led from the word `go' and then went clear of the
field in the run in for home. Discuss who was strongly fancied to
win, packed up after showing up prominently rounding the final bend.
Forest Boy, despite M R Singh's inept handling, dragged himself to
the second spot ahead of Suhasini.
Jockey Rakesh was
doing a policeman's job on Weapon Alpha or so it appeared as he
pushed out fancied Draggers Drawn out at around the bend. Hope And
Faith, a hat-tricker in winter, appeared to be in danger of being
passed first by Draggers Drawn and then by Refresher, but the game
Broto filly, despite loosing her stride at the bend, regained her
composure and responded gamely to jockey Appu's urgings who was
handicapped by the loss of the whip at a crucial stage. Refresher
flattered to deceive and Draggers Drawn was a disappointing third.