The close verdicts in the April 6
race-card suggests the state of
competition as the season heads for closure. As many as four of the
six events on the cards were decided with the help of the camera.
Even in the remaining two races, the winning margin registered was
less than a length.
The chief beneficiary on the day
was trainer Daniel David, who with his three winners during the
afternoon, not only whiped off the deficit of a solitary point
against Vijay Singh, the leader on the championship table, but he
also shot ahead by a point, thus forcing the issue to go to the wire
on the concluding day of the season, April 12.
But Vijay appeared to have been
casual about his appraoch towards the championship. His interest
could be measured by the number of his runners on the day against
Daniel's strength which was almost double. However, the exciting
track work of wards from the two stables post the penultimate
meeting promises a war between the leading stables in the last
race-meeting, it will not be a battle for sure. Vijay opened his
account in the curtainraiser, the Espoir Handicap, and ended his
campaign there itself. The seriousness with which his four runners
in the race decided the outcome of the event -- albeit in wrong
order if the `ring' odds were taken into the account -- it was
thought that the issue may be settled on the day. Nevertheless,
Vijay's lesser fancied Albright, made it to the wire from the start
while the 7-4 stable- favourites
Aherlow, was ridden in a check by Cristopher Alford. Cristopher's judgement
left the Sir Bruce-Emerald Orb daughter much to do in the
stretch-run, yet she was went down by the skin of the teeth.
Albright, also a Sir Bruce-progeny
out of a mare named Promising, was first of two ridden by Md. Amil
who was to begin his virtual four-month sentence after the day's
meeting. Amil's second winner followed in the Predator Cup which
turned out to be easy picking for the Mujeeb-ur - Rehman-trained
Appyness. The fact that the Steinbeck-Emotion daughter was able to
spare only three-parts of a length to Armila, the victory of
Appyness must be viewed in the light of her inexperience as it was
only second run of her career, though aged five. More importantly,
she was not fully stretched once she headed the field 250 metres
from home.
Mujeeb, too, scored a double which
is rare for the stable. It was another sizzling finish involving
Daniel's Piece Of Cake and Mujeeb's Stately Honour who was given an
easy outing last week by Amil, thus the suspension. It was the
Daniel's charge who threatened to win from the start but was found
wanting the last half-a-furlong when he started shortening his
strides allowing the Honour strike in a desperately close finish.
Glass Slipper was third two lengths behind as the seven-year-old
found her 60-kg a stopper.
The loss of Peice Of Cake, in no
way, detered Daniel in his mission towards the issue at hand and the
rest of the card claimed by him. Starting off with the feature
event, the 1,100-metre Eastern Air Command Cup, which his 7-4
favourite, Crimson King won in a three-cornered finish from Winning
Hand and Cup Of Joy, Daniel went on to bag the Delhi Race Club Cup
through Pnematic Power and the
concluding event, the Wansfell Handicap with Peace Envoy. However,
Crimson King was trifle lucky as Cristopher on Cup Of Life had to
weave his way up along the rails while A. Imran Khan on the winner
by Oxford Blue-Ring Of Ice had hit the front at the turn. The
six-year-old was, however, seen drifting out of a straight course
past the distance-post.
Imran was at his enterprising best
on Pneumatic Power as he effectively countered a strong challenge
issued by his stable-mate Scavenger's Son who in the hands of
veteran Naresh Engineer ran a great race to come within a `neck' of
the winner. He may surprise if heruns on the last day.
Peace Envoy's victory was coming
after his last week's run when he place a good fifth. Although the
stable-money was carried by Ardon, the Nilgiris
Colts Trial Stakes winner in hands of a weak jockey like Som Singh,
had no regards for the best in the field. Given a free rein, the Batzushka-Awareness
colt flew from the mid-bunch in the final-fulrong to register an
upset win over Storm Centre who tried to win from the start. Ardon
was fourth behind On the Bit ridden by a raw apprentice F. A. Khan.