Bangalore
Saturday, Jan 26   2001


Antwerp staves off Acrobat

By Sharan Kumar

Padmanabhan trained Antwerp who has struck form, recorded an encore, staving off the challenge of a late-finishing Acrobat to lift the Indian Republic Trophy, on Saturday, the day traditionally reserved for the running of the Bangalore Derby. The son of Green Forest Antwerp’s winning sequence has been interesting. He reeled off four wins a row and then after a fairly long interval, showed the old spark to win two races on the trot. If he runs on a favourable terms in a terms race over an identical distance, he can hat trick.

Antwerp was strongly fancied to win, as the unpredictable Arrakis was not fancied by his connections. Hope And Faith who was a brilliant performer till she tasted defeat at the hands of Nairn in the Mysore 1000 Guineas, was next in demand though her latest form was anything but inspiring.




Flowing Ton (B.Prakash up), winning the Shiharikota Plate.

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With Spark of Life showing good early speed, jockey Francis Norton rode Antwerp who likes to run freely in front, settled comfortably in the second or third position. Spark of Life, a gutsy performer, did not give up easily in the homestretch and fought resolutely till his reserves ran out inside the distance past at which point Antwerp surged ahead and opened up a good lead. With Hope and Faith too failing to quicken in the manner she had done when in her prime, it was left to the six-year old gelding Acrobat to pose a semblance of a challenge to the favourite. Though the got-abroad came up with a spirited run, the effort was late and not aggressive enough to overhaul the front-runner. While Hope And Faith took the third spot, Spark of Life was placed fourth. The day the son of Rebounding Thrill, Spark of Life runs in a modest company, he will make his presence felt.

Ganapathy trained Flowington proved to be an exception when this full brother to the celebrated Running Flame won over 1100 metres, holding off the challenge of Cool Jazz in a race meant for first season runners.. Running Flame herself never won over trips less than seven furlongs and the same was the case with the other two horses seen in action of the same pedigree. Flowington is endowed with a good early speed and appears to be a different specimen than Running Flame. Cool Jazz should make amends in her next outing.

Veteran trainer Mangalorkar had too well backed horses proving too good. Golden Fortune and Pride Fisher who were backed to the exclusion of their rivals, slammed the opposition, winning their assignments in great style.

Magic Stride relished the extended trip of seven furlongs while accounting for the front-running Magic Mantra, with a flourishing run inside the final furlong. Byramji, who had saddled Magic Mantra, had earlier led in a winner through Moonlight Rays who recorded an encore, prevailing in a thrilling finish over Kilkemny. Another of his ward, the well-bred Silvertre who has proved to be a late bloomer, recorded her second straight win, winning the Vidhana Soudha Cup with ease. Jockey Shobhan Babu failed to keep straight course and veered in sharply at around the 800 metre marker for which the Stewards suspended him for two race days for careless riding.