There was something amiss about the very composition of the field for this Grade II event. Most
significantly, not a single filly had accepted to run, including the best in station, Integral. That Rafaat
Hussain did not accept to run this daughter of Local Talent was quite surprising. It is
possible that she was tired after her 1000 Guineas campaign where she had finished second to Chilli Girl. The spotlight
would have surely been on her if she were around because she was the only Hyderabad filly to have done
well in the company of classic types in Bangalore. Her defeat to Chilli Girl was in no way a blemish to
her reputation because Chilli Girl too had improved only after matching strides with those classic types.
In the absence of fillies, who are better than their counterparts this year all over the country, and
trainers from other centres coming as ever with second-rate horses, local professionals seemed to have
quietly worked out their plans for their wards.
Obviously, Deshmukh was the one who entertained great hopes, for Red Orchid had won the Colts Trial. Donald
Netto consistently and judiciously prepared Onnu Onnu Onnu over a mile to dispel his own and others doubts
that the Young Senor – Gentle Spy gelding may not stay the distance. But only Leo D’Silva seemed to have
been confident that Coral Gables can pull it off for him.
“I had lot of faith in Coral Gables. In fact, we expected him to win the Colts Trial itself but it
didn’t happen as the jockey (Suraj Narredu) had got his act wrong,” said Leo D’Silva.
If the composition of the race was intriguing, so was its running. David Badel made favourite Master Craft
to cut his own pace; Harish held back habitual front-runner Onnu Onnu Onnu; Prakash failed to make
Fantastic Prince get up in the straight and SN Chavan kept Red Orchid too far back. So did Pesi Shroff with
Alphonso.
More than all these factors, what perhaps had greater bearing on the result was Onnu Onnu Onnu’s surprise
run in the straight. Turning for home, Harish took the tear away sprinter to the front and she was ahead
by over five lengths at the 300 mark. Badel was caught totally unawares and it took even Prakash some
time to react. Suraj Narredu, however, was aware of what was in store.
“I told him (Suraj Narredu) to keep a cool head, have Onnu Onnu Onnu in sight and go for it in the last
furlong,” was Leo’s instructions to his jockey. And Suraj faithfully followed them to land the spoils. Of
course, he seemed to be in a bit of trouble when Coral Gables appeared to drift out a bit but he
recovered in time to catch Onnu Onnu Onnu well before the post.
The Leo D’Silva – Suraj Narredu combination had struck earlier in the day with Annapolis, an
on-money favourite, in Category I Lingapur Cup (2200M). Annapolis came with a flourish in the straight to
overtake the pretentious Mohican Chief who at one stage had appeared to run away with the race.
Singularity, who had run so well in his last race won by Artistic Tribute, finished a distance behind the
winner.
The gold-brown colours of Dr MAM Ramaswamy flashed past the winning post only once in the day when Luxury
Cruise sailed to a fine win in the Cabaret Plate 1200M. The Warrshan filly was over six lengths behind
Diesel at the bend, but responded well to the urgings of Prakash in the last 200 metres to clinch the
verdict close home. Despite showing little improvement, it appears that Mansfield needs a little
more time to come into the winning zone.
Luxury Cruise’s barnmate, Forthcoming, however, failed to justify the favouritism in the Rock Of Gibraltar
Cup 1800M. He found it difficult to match strides with Clear Zone who proved superior to the bunch. The
KRK Raju ward, bred by Ilheus, won easily despite the unfavourable terms.
The most impressive winner of the day was Prasad Raju-schooled Burjo Fire. A last start winner, Burjo
Fire was written off by the course as he appeared completely stretched last time and was carrying 5.5
kilos extra now. But jockey Shinde took the horse to the front from an outside gate and never looked back.
Minivet came up with a late but good run despite this being her season’s first run. Oxford Days and Amazing
Dancer did well to take the third and fourth spots.
Abeam and Usquaebach clinched the two divisions of the Romantic Fantasy Plate, while Secret Deal scored a
surprise win in the Pristine Princess Plate.
HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Category II: Artistic Way, Oxford Days.
Category III: Sky Heights, Evening Bride, Grand Canaria.
