The entire field of
seven was closely bunched when they turned for home. Ardmore had the
upper hand briefly before Silken Star produced a fluent gallop to settle
the issue. Pamela Bordes came with a laboured run to take second spot
ahead of Ballybunnion with Ardmore receding into the background to end
fifth.
Nina Lalvani’s Persephone (Greensmith–Night of Gaiety) ran like a
scalded cat in the Rock Witness Trophy and left his rivals stranded a
long way from home. Frenchman Samuel Fargeat kept the second favourite
on course after the favourite Dance Diva failed to reproduce her
brilliant morning track performance during the race. Niall McCullagh
chased the winner till the last two furlongs but faded away without a
whimper. It was left to Culture Shock, Storm Regent and Golden Circle,
all hailing from S. Ganapathy’s yard, to fill the frame. All three are
potential winners in the coming months. Storm Regent especially
impressed a lot during this debut run.
Niall was earlier seen in action atop the expensive failure Clas in the
curtain raiser. The Shiraz Sunderji trainee appeared on the right course
till C. Rajendra set alight the rank outsider Ponyta (Razeen–Time After
Time). M. K. Jadhav’s ward was in full flow as the winning post
approached and Clas had no option but to surrender meekly. No Time ended
third after a forward run and was followed by the uninterested Thief of
the Knight.
Niall however had some consolation after giving a workmanlike
performance aboard Rehanullah Khan saddled Body And Soul (Diffident –
College Princess). The Faisal Abbas trainee Ring Bearer threatened to
run away with the race before going astray in the last furlong. High
Voltage ran resolutely throughout and reaped rich rewards in the form of
place dividends for his connections, who were delighted to see him land
the spoils. Inner Instinct, after wandering without any real intent,
ended up fourth but sought the intervention of the Stewards, who
promoted him at the expense of the wayward Ring Bearer.
Touch A Star, the got-abroad filly nurtured by Pesi Shroff, proved to be
a big flop after she ran a dismal last on debut. The filly with Mallesh
in saddle was a rage with the moneybags but was unable to raise a fluent
gallop in the race. She was in striking distance of leader Keisha in the
initial stages of the race but couldn’t make any headway thereafter. It
was the Dr Anil Kumar trained mare Second To Go (Cruachan–Southern
Princess) who was steered to victory by H. G. Rathod. R. Rupesh ridden
Indian Fashion was given too much to do in the straight and trying to
collar the winner was clearly an uphill task after shouldering a
back-breaking 61kg.
Just as the punters were in the process of coming to terms with the
defeat of Touch A Star, the 110 to 1 fluke Noble Desire struck another
disastrous blow to them. The five-year-old gelding from Saeed Shah’s
yard stunned the favourite Major Roberts virtually on the post. Sunderji
suffered the ignominy of witnessing his charge biting dust for the
second time during the day. Thundering Star also ran a grand race and
ended a close third, separated by a neck and short-head from the winner.
There was nothing in the performance of Excellento, Fear of Tears and
Oprah that could be written home about.
Arti Doctor saddled Secret Paradise (Tecorno – Afsheen) was given an
inspired ride by young Neeraj Rawal as she waged a grim battle with the
highly fancied duo West Coast Eagle and Don Gama and also a spurned a
spirited bid from the 20 to 1 long-shot Viceroy.
The race appeared to be a touch and go affair between the four horses
spearheaded by West Coast Eagle before Secret Paradise gained a narrow
lead in the final furlong. Ante post favourite Black Warrior lost favour
in the betting market and the writing was clearly on the wall as far his
chances were concerned.
He didn’t disappoint the market pundits and ran down the field. This
“poor” show has inspired the Stipendiary Stewards to look into Black
Warrior’s performance but it is unlikely that anyone would be wiser
after the authorities conclude their investigations.
