Guineas’ aspirants had mixed fortune
By Aalibaba (indiathoroughbreds@hotmail.com)

Kolkata
November 24, 2005

The Deepak Khaitan owned Aleksei won the 1600-metre Bangalore Turf Club Trophy by a length and a half but had to pay a big price. The Razeen-Remembren son was clearly in trouble as he struggled to retain his lead over Gaslight and Magic Mantra in the final 300m of the race. The reason was known shortly after he passed the post and it was soon comon knowledge that the Vijay Singh trainee had bled during the race. This puts a big question mark on his participation in the Calcutta 2000 Guineas on 10th December.

Expectations were also high from Khaitan’s other Classic aspirant, Arturo, and everything went right for trainer Darius Byramji’s ward in the 1,400m Aphroze Cup. He won by a shade under four lengths despite his crushing impost of 61 kg in a Class II race.

Assagi, the 6-4 fancy to win the 1,400m Whiplash Handicap, was in full command of the three-horse field after shaking off 300m from home. At that stage of the race, the even-money favourite Melodramatic, was trailing the field by about 12 lengths but Assagi was already beginning to display some discomfiture having burst blood vessels. As Assagi shortened his stride, Melodramatic made a dramatic appearance from the rear to have a cakewalk over the field.

Trainer Harvinder Singh Bath’s father, Puran Singh, perhaps, inspired the dry-coated Satluj to take a level jump out after numerous letdowns. The ex-RCTC chief handler, now settled in Canada, was there to lead-in Sutluj who won the 1,200m Clamp Handicap from the word ‘go.’

Star Phoenix was the public-rage in the betting at 6-10 in the 2000-metre Phoenecian Handicap as Oklahoma’s connections hardly sounded enterprising. Yet, Oklahoma thrashed the favourite, thanks to the favourite's rider, Gajender Singh, who for no reason chose to take a circuitous route. The apprentice’s dare-devilry prompted the trainer to unleash verbal and physical punches in full public view.

The 6-4 second favourite Mr Music provided some excitement in the 1,100m Star Flame Handicap before the Daniel-ward managed to get the better of Royal Valour. In fact, the friendless Royal Valour came close enough to do the damage but his jockey Rafiq Ahmed pretended to falter at the crucial stage of the race, prompting the stewards to order an enquiry.