Ill fate struck once again as Amazing Power bled
internally during the race and ended down the field.
Returning to Mahalaxmi there appeared to be cautious optimism in Amazing
Power’s camp. He went through his paces once again and very recently he
was
entrusted to McCullagh. Amazing Power’s original plans for the Indian
classics were being retraced.
With the problems plaguing Amazing Power being voiced all over the
racecourse, some bettors starting viewing Raudo and Taanush with
optimism. The bookies too increased their risk by hundred per cent when
they offered 10 to 9 on for the victory of Cooji Katrak’s candidate. But
Amazing Power proved them all wrong. He strode away majestically for an
emphatic win. Naill powering him at the right moment but not firing all
cylinders as he cruised past Heart of Danger and mocked at both Raudo
and Taanush, who tried being aggressive but were left fighting for the
crumbs.
The weather suddenly turned dreary and the skies were overcast since
Wednesday. Many people started complaining of sore throat, cold and
fever. It seems like this climate had an adverse effect on some equines
too. Prominent to show these signs were the three horses that ran in Dr
M. A. M. Ramaswamy’s colours: Queen of Palms, Secret Dance, Star
Millionaire and Among Dreams.
In the Scorpio Plate, Queen of Palms had no say in the running of the
race till the heads turned for home. Secret Path and Blazing Speed (Dark
Nile-Wonderful Babe) spearheaded the pack but it was the latter who
scored a stunning upset. Poor B.Prakash looked helpless as he could do
nothing to get rid of Queen of Palms’ lethargy.
Pesi Shroff trained Acerenzza looked dangerous till jockey K. Deepesh
started acting like a cartoon featuring in a comic strip and was content
playing second fiddle. The Stipes have pulled him up but, realistically
speaking, does Deepesh have the guts to commit this act on his own?
Imtiaz Sait saddled filly Scarsdale (Diffident-Song of Myself) shed the
maiden ranks warding off the threat posed by McCullagh ridden Glory. The
latter who is a full sister to Venus Arising, was breathing down
the neck of Scarsdale all through the home stretch and was tantalisingly
poised to overtake the winner. But Scarsdale scraped through after being
hard-ridden by Malesh Narredu.
The Stipes seemed unhappy with the efforts of McCullagh, who explained
that the filly was throwing her head up and he had ridden to the best of
his ability. The Stipes have noted McCullagh’s explanation for future
reference. As for Secret Dance, here too Prakash could do nothing about his
mount’s ailment and ended a tame third.
Powered by the McCullagh’s riding, Altaf Hussain’s ward Dancing Image
(Placerville-Moving Image) surged past Tarascon, who was looking to hit
the wire first but fell short by half-length.
Agha (Glory of Dancer-Anusha) gave a thrashing to favourite Star of the
Season when Malcolm Kharadi put Bezan Chenoy’s four-legged machine in
top gear. Havana received a check and fell back but looking at the way
he was struggling at that stage, it can be safely presumed that the
interference hardly mattered. Following the footsteps of his stable-pals
Star Millionaire laboured on to finish third. Chenoy had earlier led in
Secret Charm (Tirol-Sound Insight), the shortest priced runner of the
day who was given a torrid time by Reign of Fire right from the word go.
Among Dreams was the best performer from Dallas Todywalla’s lot; he
managed to finish second. With Among Dreams unable to bother him, M. P.
Jodha trained colt Last’n Impression (Reasonable-June Show) was steered
to victory by Pramod Belose.
S. S. Shah’s barn is in roaring form these days. Great Giver was right
on course in the curtain raiser till favourite Genesis (Tirol-Double
Quick) stormed into lead and open the account for her master Hosidar
Daji. Shah landed a coup when Golden Key (Concordial-Karibuni) was ably
piloted by T. S. Jodha and who went on to defeat the favourite Blazing
Arrow near the post.
