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With Delhi champion jockey Rajinder declared to ride
The Proletarian, not many reckoned that he would measure up to the opposition and as such, the Imtiaz
Sait ward was available at lucrative odds. Luckily for the backers of The Proletarian, the jockey and the
horse found themselves at the right position when the race took a crucial turn. The race was run at a
furious pace and The Proletarian was the first to seize the initiative inside the final 400 metres. In a
trice, he established a useful lead and by the time Tempt Me Not could carry the top-weight and cover the
leeway, the winning post had come. Though Tempt Me gaining ground rapidly, the winner managed to spare a
shade less than two lengths at the finish.
As the starter dispatched the field for the mile long trip, Suresh bolted with Bold Chieftan to be clear of
the field by a distance. Calcutta champion C Alford who had no clue as to how to measure up the situation
as his wins have been achieved at the less competitive Kokata, chased the front-runner as if his battle would
be over once he overhauled the front-runner. He appeared to have achieved the objective for after
passing Bold Chieftan, Antwerp grinded to a halt. It was strange that Alford should adopt such tactics when
the front-runner was clearly not in the race.
Rajinder on The Proletarian, who was immediately behind the front-running duo, smoothly had his mount
taking charge with minimum of fuss. Jockey Rajesh on Tempt Me Not was perhaps caught in two minds as the
Bold Russian progeny is more adept at tackling lesser trips and he perhaps waited a wee bit more than he
should have. That in the end, made a crucial difference to winning and loosing. Hello Brother
plodded on to be a faraway third. Native Tactics burst her blood vessels and she did not complete the trip.
The timing predictably was the best for a mile clocked in recent times.
The l’affair trainer Irfan Ghatala and jockey Mrs Silva Storai is increasingly getting comical. It is a
pity that everyone suspects the duo of foul play. The duo protest their innocence so much that there is
hardly any soul who is not moved by their tale of woe. From what has transpired thus far, it is becoming
increasingly clear that the inconsistent running of theirs horses has more to do with the pattern of
training and riding and nothing to do with their being dishonest. The trainer believes in what is called
``interval training’’ and his horses too seem to take it to their heart. They run a blinder when they are
expected to trot and trot when they are supposed to gallop. This perhaps explains why it is their horses
and not they who are responsible for the ``inconsistency’’. If only the Stewards could get the
truth out from the horses or drive sense into the four-legged wonders!
The authorities, instead of appreciating the duo’s collective efforts, pull them up. There was nothing
mystifying about the disastrous running of Silvano who finished in the rear end while the same horse had
dragged himself to be a noteworthy fourth with no effort on the part of the jockey. The Stewards are
only wasting their time in opening in enquiry, for the plethora of explanations or excuses will only confuse
them further! Under such circumstances, it is understandable that somebody with lesser form like
Spark of Life strikes it rich. Donna Mia has posed enough problems for the trainer, having come positive
twice for breach of medication rules which has ensured two months suspension. This time out, the horse, ran
above expectations of the jockey who was at a loss to hide him behind the safety of the front-running pack.
The horse ran a brilliant third contrary to what the jockey hoped for. The Stewards, after great deal off
deliberations, could not have but shouted ```Eureka’’ having discovered that the real reason for the horse
not being allowed to run to potential was jockey’s incompetence which deserved two days holiday to the
professional concerned. On such glorious acts and discoveries by Stewards hinges the public confidence
in racing. Let public confidence be dammed!
The dry coated Senora Jade seemed to have profited from the relatively cool weather that prevailed at the
start of the first of the day. The Tejano progeny seized the initiative at the top of the straight and
then just about held on to win by a whisker from a fast-finishing prowl. Blushing Star played up at the
start and lost considerable ground.
Anzac has been a big let down as far as the race-going public is concerned. The Channel Command progeny, who
sported bandages, was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the public was in for a shock when Brave
Deed found his bearings along the rails to floor the opposition in the hands of apprentice Md Shafiq.
Silvanus lost considerable ground at the start and jockey Appu who quickly moved up to bridge the leeway
very nearly came down as his mount clipped one of the runners. The jockey managed to stay in the saddle and
the finishing burst of the Classic Sport progeny enabled the four-year old gelding to edge out Anzac
from the runner-up spot.
Three-year old Sueprbe Asset was bidding for a hat trick but she found the opposition too hot to handle.
The tail-swishing Ardous led from the start till the final 100 metres and surrendered to Alassio on whom
Malesh Narredu excelled. The Kuttappa ward got strong at the finish to win with a measure of comfort.
Argyle Gold who lost a great deal of ground at the start, was full of running at the finish.
Trainer Mansoor Hasan, who switched from Mysore to Bangalore, led in his maiden winner at this center,
when Samanzar, in the hands of Shoban Babu, battled on resolutely to get the measure of River Bed in the
shadow of the wining post. The big made Dusty Street plodded on to take the third spot.
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