The brilliance of Altlmara was on display on Sunday (Nov 26).
Although poorly rated(52) by the RCTC handicapper, despite
finishing a close fourth behind Allalre, Six Speed and Hello
Brother, in the Bangalore (Summer) Derby, the Deepak Khaitan-owned
filly walked away with the Command Calcutta 1,000 Guineas. The manner
of her victory was impressive as she clocked a timing of one minute 38.6 seconds
without having to be fully stretched. The timing for the 1,600m trip was 'very smart', and finally the
verdict recorded over the Calcuta Mansoon Derby winner
Alvarada was two and half lengths. It may not come as a
surprise if Altimara goes on to make a clean sweep of the local classics.
It was the 2-10 hot-favourite from trainer
Darius Byramji's yard, instead of her jockey Aslam Kader, who, in a
way, dictated her own course of running. Kader waited and watched as
Altimara helped positioned behind the leader, Alterezza, right after the start. Kader took the matter in his hands only at the final
turn and the gentle nudges signalled the filly to do the rest.
Nearing the last furlong, Altimara was pushed to accelerate
further but that was all before Kader dropped his hands 150m from
home.
The second placed Alvarada, the
owner-mate, was
marked superior to the other outstation challengers _Set Aside,
Silver Toy and Code Word who placed in the order named.
If Kader had an armchair
ride in the Guineas and
earned the reward, the champion jockey had to sweat it out and yet
taste defeat on the Khaitan's 8-10 favourite, Highland Flame, in the
Indian Gold Vase, a Class I sprint over 1,200. Ministerian was the
winner of the race. Incidentally,
the winner and the favourite both, hailed from Daniel's yard,
through the two sported different colours.
Highland Flame was, hardly
comfortable over the slated sprint. Kader was seen working hard on
the favourite, right from the 800m marker to retain the third
or the fourth position, while Mystic Hill had himself engaged in his
customary front-running role leaving the Darashah-trained second-favourite
Joe The Pro in a hot-pursuit till 300m from home.
With little over a furlong to go,
Joe The Pro was soon joined by Highland Flame but Ministerian
came with a menacing run from the rear to overhaul the two in the final
100m. Better known for his exploits over the middle distance, the
MAM Ramaswamy owned horse has been an enigma, not living upto
expectations he gave as a juvenile. Highland
Flame may do better over a seven-furlong trip. The coat of Joe The
Pro looked to be slightly on the dry side. He will improve during
the season.
Darashah, however,
led-in the
winner, Earl Grey, in the last race the Chevlot Handicap. Although
looking a shade jaded, the 9-10 favourite was able to account for
Lovely Prospect, the next horse in demand in the betting ring. Luck also
favoured Appu who guided the Razeen-Canoeing three-year-old to
half-a-length victory. A wide opening offered along the rails, in
the home-stretch, by the weakening leaders, Razz and Little Too
much, prompted Appu to shoot through and hold on to the slender
lead.
Ballet Master treated his nine
rivals with little respect in the 1,200m Sreepriya Cup. The fact
that the Conquering Hero colt is known to be more comfortable
over a 1,400m trip, his facile three-length-plus victory over Chivalrous
did come as a surprise. The Daniel David-trainee went to the start
as a 7-4 favourite and also went on to prove that he was a better
class horse.
The waiting tactics do not seem to
be suiting On The Bit who always enjoyed free running up in front.
The Stephens-ward was 'necked' out to the third berth. The fourth
placed Calculus was unimpressive.
The 8-10 favourite Cool Quest, on
the other hand, was an impressive winner of handicap race for horses in
the lowest class. The Darius trained three-year-old not only carried
his heavy impost of 61-kg to a shade under two length victory, the
Razeen-Ceder Point son also showed promise of an encore. His
progress may be watched with interest.
The second placed Airs Image,
too, seems to have improved. The Gold Discovery-Senora son, carrying
60-kg, covered good ground in the final 300m. The 7-4 second
favourite, Tsaynen Blue, failed to capitalise on her solid weight
advantage. She may have to look for a weaker opposition for a win.
The baby race, the Sun Lion Plate,
saw a piping hot-favourite and the most forward runner in the
four-horse-field, Astride, a Topanoora-Nishlla colt-winning.
-
Aalibaba
