Chilli Girl too hot for 1000 Guineas field
By Diablo

Hyderabad, November 23, 2003

Chilli Girl proved too hot for her eight rivals in the Golconda 1000 Guineas at Malakpet on Sunday (23.11.2003). Bred at Kunigal by Tejano out of Asian Lady, the S Singh ward showed remarkable improvement over her last run at Hyderabad in the Fillies Trial Stakes.

She was the course favourite but at lucrative odds of 3-1/2 to one. If anything, that was an indication of a lingering doubt in the minds of her backers that may be she has not improved as much as her runs in Mysore suggest. Of her three runs there, Chilli Girl won the 1000 Guineas and finished close behind Fond Fantasy and Allies Serenade, both frontline contenders for this year’s Invitation Cup. And both the times, it was clear that she was not fancied by her stable, considering that it was not Dr Vijay Mallya’s retained rider Pesi Shroff in the saddle but a relatively inexperienced Harish. 

The very fact that Chilli Girl did well in races won by Fond Fantasy and Allies Serenade is enough to put her in exalted company because so far this year fillies which ran in last year’s Bangalore Trial won by Fond Fantasy have been the bench mark for others. 

Look at the order of finish in that race: Fond Fantasy, Fiorenzza, Ramjet, Integral, Allies Serenade, Glorious Colours, One Magic Moment, Metalique, Life IsBeautiful, Royal Affinity and Supreme Treasure. Blame it on rain or call it luck, Glorious Colourssubsequently won the Bangalore Derby; Allies Serenade won a million race and then the Mysore Derby; Ramjetwon the Kunigal Cup beating some highly-rated colts and geldings including Lancaster; One Magic Moment too won a million race. 

This goes to show that any horse that matches up to the above ought to be given a second look. And on this count, Chilli Girl was an outright choice for the 1000 Guineas. It was no accident that Integral, the only horse in the current race from that Fillies Trial field, was the one who put pressure on Chilli Girl. For that matter, Royal Affinity too would have finished on the board had she not been hampered for room on the rails.

True to her name, Speed Mistress came from draw numbernine to quickly take over the lead from Self Appointed who further dropped down to let Sunshiner to contendwith the leader. Pesi Shroff kept Chilli Girl constantly in third-fourth positions followed byCentralito, Decent Proposal, Royal Affinity, Integral. Local runner Starry Shine was last. 

The way Shroff had Chilli Girl breathing down the neckof the front-runners, it appeared as if Shroff would take Chilli Girl to the front as soon as the field turns for home. But that did not happen and Speed Mistress continued to be in the lead until about the last 300 metres. Only when Centralito, Self Appointed and Integral from the outside and Royal Affinity on the rails started to move up that Shroff changed the gear. He took Chilli Girl ahead and no matter what Integral and the rest did, they found the Girl too hot.

Of the four who followed Chilli Girl to the wire, it was Royal Affinity who looked the best, but jockey B Prakash, for all his experience, positioned his mount on the wrong side. As he was moving well to squeeze through the gap between the rails and Chilli Girl, Centralito veered in taking with her the other two to take Royal Affinity’s ground. 

Integral stretched out well in the last part to get to half-a-length of the winner. The Rafaat Hussain-trained Local Talent filly should be too good for any other bunch here in distances up to 2,400.

Red Orchid completed the formality of winning his second race in Category I, but Battle Honour disappointed his followers by failing to follow Red Orchid home. He finished a far away third, that too seven lengths behind Satin Gold who showed that he is ready to strike. After Seranova and Satin Gold did all the running, Red Orchid went through a wide gap to win without much ado. 

Dr Ramaswamy owned One More Time (Sir Bruce – Nimble) scored an attractive win in the maidens race, The Grace Hanover Plate. The way he stretched out in the straight to ward off Diesel, another good type, One More Time appears to be the best of the two-year-olds one has seen this season. 

Taking off well, One More Time went to the front and maintained a clear four-length lead despite Prakash keeping a tight hold on the reins. Initially, Fannan attempted to keep pace but was left gasping for breath. Then Diesel picked up the gauntlet on the bend, but he too couldn’t make an impression. Going on to win at half pace, One More Time made it virtually an armchair ride for Prakash.

Prakash had another such win on Henceforth later in the day, while his Mumbai colleagues C Rajendra and Mallesh Narredu won a race each on Mr Bureaucrat and Splendid Fantasy, respectively. 

The day’s surprise was the withdrawal of Nordic Star in the Bakranangal Plate and the race being picked up a totally neglected True Blue. The announcement that Nordic tar has been withdrawn between paddock parade and horses’ journey to the starting stalls was quite intriguing. Many wondered as to what could have gone wrong during that time. His withdrawal, however, made the finish interesting as four others went for the purse and in a blanket finish bottom-weighted True Blue earned a head verdict over Turbanator. Another head away was Divine Perfection. Forthcoming who got squeezed out in the melee finished fourth.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Category I: Satin Gold.
Category II: Run For Roses, Smile Of Success,Forthcoming, Turbanator, Divine Perfection, Clear Zone.
Category III: Sabdavega, Flawless.