www.indiarace.com - Bangalore Winter Season 2002-03 Live Photographs

Bombay Sapper annexes Sitarama Raju Trophy

by DIABLO
diablo@indiarace.com

Hyderabad
December 20, 2003

The secret of trainer Leo D’Silva’s success is his ability to secure returns for his owners. On Saturday (20.12.2003), Leo showed instant results by saddling Col SB Nair-owned Bombay Sapper to a fluent win in the Kosuru Sitarama Raju Trophy, the main event at Malakpet. It was the three-year-old’s first run after joining Leo’s stable.

In the seven-furlong race in which a majority were youngsters, Bombay Sapper came up readily after main challenger Smile Of Success shot his bolt in the straight. The smooth and steady run camouflaged the powerful finish of this Warrshan – Demotte colt who now appears to possess a lot more potential than one had ever thought he had.

If Bombay Sapper attracted strong backing in the ring, it only indicated punters’ faith in the trainer rather than the horse. For, there was not the same rage when he had run in similar company and also received weight from others. This time, despite conceding weight to all the other youngsters, he was favoured and to be handsomely rewarded.

It’s not as if Bombay Sapper has improved overnight in the hands of Leo. In fact, his win has only proved that the horse had inherent class, but it was not properly exploited. In this aspect, Leo has acquired the skills to squeeze the best out of his wards which is why we see that the maximum number of horses reaching the top category every year come from his stables.

It is easy to argue that Leo has with him owners who believe in class and that reduces the trainer’s task of taking his wards to the top category. But isn’t it true that there are other stables too which have similar pedigrees, but the end results don’t reflect that.

This is perhaps one reason why owners like Col Nair who swear by class prefer to keep their strings with trainers like Leo. In fact, Col Nair indicated such a switch a couple of years ago when he moved Blazing Rock to Leo’s yard. The association got strengthened last year when he gave Leo a couple of youngsters and the deal got finally closed last week with the entire string falling in Leo’s lap.

Prasad Raju’s Smile Of Success fell short of expectations yet again. He seems to be nowhere near the class he had shown as a first seasoner. Maybe the trainer has some bigger plans for the son of Young Senor in the New Year. Meanwhile, the well-bred Spring Dawn (Razeen – Ampula) showed traces of elegance when she came storming in the last part to get the third spot behind Aware.

The Rajus continue to have a whale of time with the youngsters. If it was dad KRK Raju in the first two months, son Prasad has taken over the reign now. The junior Raju saddled winners in both divisions of the Meghalaya Plate. Although he should thank Ravinder Singh rather than his stable jockey B Shinde for Exclusive Run’s victory, Cosmic Run won with a measure of comfort.

Ravinder Singh did everything not to allow Royal Award to get the race for trainer Silvester. First, he didn’t allow the horse a free run even as he fought for his head and then he didn’t drive out his mount after he passed the eventual winner in the final furlong. What surprised the patrons was while everyone talked about it openly and patrons accused Ravinder Singh of hooking the horse throughout the day, the Stipendiary Stewards, however, feigned total ignorance. The Stipe’s report too was silent on the incident.

Prasad Raju finished the day with a treble by having Access Speed score a pillar-to-post win in the lower division of the Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup, 1200M. The other division went to Sr Raju’s Aunt Sally (Dinesh Singh). Both scored authoritative wins and should now run with fair chance in Category II.

French jockey Poirier helped Priyam and Stornoway to shed their maiden status by steering them to comfortable wins in the Nelston Plate, a seven-furlong race run in two divisions.

Other winners on the day were Sundial, a last stride winner over Turtuk in Category II Loveable Princess Plate, Sans Burg and Royal Gift in Category IV races.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Category II: Spring Dawn, Smile Of Success, True Blue
Category III: Flawless, Gemini, Sky Heights, Irish Nip.

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	Bombay Sapper annexes Sitarama Raju Trophy by DIABLO diablo@indiarace.com Hyderabad December 20, 2003
	The secret of trainer Leo D’Silva’s success is his ability to secure returns for his owners. On Saturday (20.12.2003), Leo showed instant results by saddling Col SB Nair-owned Bombay Sapper to a fluent win in the Kosuru Sitarama Raju Trophy, the main event at Malakpet. It was the three-year-old’s first run after joining Leo’s stable. In the seven-furlong race in which a majority were youngsters, Bombay Sapper came up readily after main challenger Smile Of Success shot his bolt in the straight. The smooth and steady run camouflaged the powerful finish of this Warrshan – Demotte colt who now appears to possess a lot more potential than one had ever thought he had.
If Bombay Sapper attracted strong backing in the ring, it only indicated punters’ faith in the trainer rather than the horse. For, there was not the same rage when he had run in similar company and also received weight from others. This time, despite conceding weight to all the other youngsters, he was favoured and to be handsomely rewarded. It’s not as if Bombay Sapper has improved overnight in the hands of Leo. In fact, his win has only proved that the horse had inherent class, but it was not properly exploited. In this aspect, Leo has acquired the skills to squeeze the best out of his wards which is why we see that the maximum number of horses reaching the top category every year come from his stables. It is easy to argue that Leo has with him owners who believe in class and that reduces the trainer’s task of taking his wards to the top category. But isn’t it true that there are other stables too which have similar pedigrees, but the end results don’t reflect that. This is perhaps one reason why owners like Col Nair who swear by class prefer to keep their strings with trainers like Leo. In fact, Col Nair indicated such a switch a couple of years ago when he moved Blazing Rock to Leo’s yard. The association got strengthened last year when he gave Leo a couple of youngsters and the deal got finally closed last week with the entire string falling in Leo’s lap. Prasad Raju’s Smile Of Success fell short of expectations yet again. He seems to be nowhere near the class he had shown as a first seasoner. Maybe the trainer has some bigger plans for the son of Young Senor in the New Year. Meanwhile, the well-bred Spring Dawn (Razeen – Ampula) showed traces of elegance when she came storming in the last part to get the third spot behind Aware. The Rajus continue to have a whale of time with the youngsters. If it was dad KRK Raju in the first two months, son Prasad has taken over the reign now. The junior Raju saddled winners in both divisions of the Meghalaya Plate. Although he should thank Ravinder Singh rather than his stable jockey B Shinde for Exclusive Run’s victory, Cosmic Run won with a measure of comfort. Ravinder Singh did everything not to allow Royal Award to get the race for trainer Silvester. First, he didn’t allow the horse a free run even as he fought for his head and then he didn’t drive out his mount after he passed the eventual winner in the final furlong. What surprised the patrons was while everyone talked about it openly and patrons accused Ravinder Singh of hooking the horse throughout the day, the Stipendiary Stewards, however, feigned total ignorance. The Stipe’s report too was silent on the incident. Prasad Raju finished the day with a treble by having Access Speed score a pillar-to-post win in the lower division of the Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup, 1200M. The other division went to Sr Raju’s Aunt Sally (Dinesh Singh). Both scored authoritative wins and should now run with fair chance in Category II. French jockey Poirier helped Priyam and Stornoway to shed their maiden status by steering them to comfortable wins in the Nelston Plate, a seven-furlong race run in two divisions. Other winners on the day were Sundial, a last stride winner over Turtuk in Category II Loveable Princess Plate, Sans Burg and Royal Gift in Category IV races. HORSES TO FOLLOW: Category II: Spring Dawn, Smile Of Success, True Blue Category III: Flawless, Gemini, Sky Heights, Irish Nip.