The 2001 Monsoon and the following Winter were the high points in this Young Senor – Coaltown gelding’s career. He picked up eight races during that period and thereafter consistently won two events every season until he hit a roadblock this Monsoon which was the only barren season in his checkered career.
With handicap races going out of his purview due to his high rating and penalties favouring talented youngsters in terms races, Artistic Tribute had to spend the entire Monsoon season waiting for his handicap mark to drop below 110. And the first time he got that opportunity, he translated it into a win in his previous start. And then on Sunday, he cashed in on the same form to win the Indian Navy Rolling Challenge Trophy, a terms race.
Amazon Bronze, who has not picked up a single terms race in Category I, was lodged the favourite over Artistic Tribute, Wind Chimes, Scott, Singularity and Change Over. What seemed to have influenced the decision making was the presence of Michael Poirier in the saddle. But as it turned out, the stable reposed its faith in Singularity and not Amazon Bronze. For, while Amazon Bronze faded out even before turning for home, Singularity attempted to run away with the race. The gamble, however, failed with Dinesh Singh riding a brilliant race on Artistic Tribute who got the better of the leader in the last 100 metres.
But the timing clocked by the winner was far from impressive and something that even caused the eyebrows to raise. At no rate, 1:58.63 seconds is good for a nine furlong race in Category I, that too on a ‘No False Rails’ day. In this background, Amazon Bronze’s run should be best ignored and in the same breath not much should be read into Singularity’s run. If anyone, it was Wind Chimes who impressed. He came out of the gates well, looked keen throughout and at one stage moved better than Artistic Tribute. There is a win for him before this month end.
Dinesh Singh rode another good race at the start of the day’s programme, steering a grossly neglected Rudraksha to an upset win in the race for maidens, The Bobbili Plate. Favourite Dependable proved the antithesis of his name by letting his followers down for the second time. He appears to have the speed but not the dash like his predecessors in the stable – Calando, Coming Along and Native Glory.
Like some horses which perform better in winter, RB Shinde has started to do well as the cold season has set in. His riding on Burjo Fire was something that warmed the cockles of connoisseurs. In a highly competitive bunch of speedy customers including favourite Awesome Win, Magician, Treasure Gift, Days Best, Great Combination and Line To Conquer, Burjo Fire showed his fire, as it were. Coming out from the gates first, he ran for the rails from the last draw and never surrendered the advantage. Shinde appeared to empty the fuel tank long before the finish line, only to prove that it was a fake as he got Burjo Fire to get up again in the last 100 metres to hold off Awesome Win by half length.
Suraj Narredu also showcased his talent in the process of guiding Shakira and Eyes Right to victory. On both occasions, he conserved the energies of his horses well to come with a stretch run.
While Shakira’s win settled the pretensions of an over-rated Artistic Way, Eyes Right proved is detractors wrong. Opening as a hot favourite, Eyes Right saw his odds drifting after he looked gross in the paddock. But what many did not know was that the Young Senor – Transcend colt is a ‘double-bone’ horse. That looks can be deceptive was proved right when Eyes Right came literally from the tail end to score a fluent one-length victory over Dauntless who once again came late on to the scene.
Outsider Citi Front and favourite Abundance clinched the either division of the Category IV Oriental Beauty Plate.
HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Category I: Wind Chimes.
Category II: Sugar Mine, Awesome Win, Treasure Gift, Days best, Great Combination, Line To
Conquer.
Category III: Statesman, Dauntless, prince Of Forest.
Maidens: Manchester Babe
