Flareon, consequently,
finished seven-lengths clear of Campanero, Star Hopeful and Golden
Triangle. Both Star Hopeful and Golden Triangle appeared to be out for a
race gallop that could come handy a fortnight later in the Indian St.
Leger.
After emerging as the ante post favourite on the eve of the race, Frida
Kahlo, who had the terms in her favour and was highly fancied against
Southern Regent in the Eclipse Stakes where she ran a close third,
suddenly lost favour with the bookies. The odds against her spiralled
from 2-1 to 6-1 by race time. She raced at the rear
end of the field during the journey and one thought that P. Kamlesh was
riding her off the pace. Frida Kahlo’s mission eventually came to an
abrupt halt as she pulled up lame in the home stretch. She miraculously
escaped being put down on compassionate grounds but it seems that her
racing career is as good as over.
Orpheus was the only clear favourite apart from Flareon to oblige the
moneybags though Collateral, Arabian Lady and Generalissimo did rise to
the occasion as expected by those thriving on inside information. The
failures of The Dominator, Lucky Honey, Strawberry Fields, Definite
Spice and Bikini Bomb not only left a bad taste in the mouth of many
racegoers but also made big holes in the pockets of all unsuspecting
punters.
Be that as it may, Imtiaz Sait’s decision to cut down Olivia’s trip paid
rich dividends as the C. Alford ridden filly put in a sustained run to
first outwit The Dominator and finally contain the challenge of
Interlaken.
Rank outsider Call To Arms (Major Impact–Image Conscious) from Shiraz Sunderji’s yard went down by half-a-length to Quo Iboe but managed to
reverse the placing in the Stewards’ Room. Jockey R. Shelar raised a
successful objection against Quo Iboe’s rider Amyn Merchant, which was
rightly upheld. Favourite Council Of The Gods seized the running close
home but couldn’t sustain and ended a close third. Charlize ran on when
the race was over to finish fourth, a length-and-a-quarter behind the
winner. River Dancer, The Rising and Warrior Spirit ran disappointingly.
Merchant was obviously dejected after losing the earlier race but that
only hardened his resolve and inspired his narrow win astride Robert
D’Mellow’s trainee Dahana (Barood–Milady) in the next race. At the
receiving end was Magic Spell, who for the first time in her career was
putting her best foot forward. Take On flattered till close home and
ended third ahead of Open Season.
Lahinch (Major Impact–Machrihanish) proved a touch too good for his
opponents in the R.J.Kolah Trophy. Strawberry Fields was a rage with
the punters but Naill McCullagh couldn’t get her to accelerate in the
straight and she fell back gradually. Debutant Priapus took charge but
succumbed to the onslaught of Bezan Chenoy trained Lahinch, who
unleashed a powerful run under Malcolm Kharadi. Gruezi ended a tame
third.
Canny Lad (Forest Fair–Oxide), often a victim of his own bad temperament,
saw a reversal of roles as favourite Hugo Boss played truant leading to
the latter’s withdrawal from the fray. Frenchman Samuel Fargeat astride
Nina Lalvani’s ward chased no-hoper Wild Vegas into the straight and
pulled away to establish what turned out to be a winning lead. However,
the margin was bare minimum and Canny Lad should consider himself lucky
to have escaped the clutches of Sanskara. Dedication and High Opinion,
who were lesser fancied than only Hugo Boss, were up with the field till
entering the home stretched and faded away without much ado.
Vinayak saddled Orpheus (Razeen–Adored) made short work of his five
rivals including All The Rage to register an encore under Naill’s
guidance. The bay gelding swooped on leader Brezhnev at the turn and the
winner was sighted a long way from home. All The Rage couldn’t keep pace
with her adversary and finally lost the runner-up berth to Dilnawaz.
Hanut Singh trained Lucky Honey was unable to shoulder the burden
imposed on her by the public in only her second run of her career and
the opportunity was seized by Magansingh Jodha’s candidate Collateral
(Libor–Spring Water), to log his maiden win with P. Kamlesh’s
assistance. True Beauty, Hudson Bay and Easy Spirit were in close tow of
the winner. Both Hudson Bay and Easy Spirit could have fared better had
their respective riders allowed them the liberty to do so.
Zameer Sayyed piloted Arabian Lady (Diffident–Grundys Flame) from
Altaf Hussain’s barns made full use of the pull in handicap when she
overhauled her two fancied rivals Sword of Power and Incomparable. Get
Fresh, who is on a weight reducing mission, ended a close fourth.
The way B. Prakash rode favourite Definite Spice in the penultimate
race, it seemed that he had forgotten his Invitation weekend form at
home. He succumbed meekly to second favourite All Dancing (Major Impact
– Cambridge Ball), who was spurred to glory by C. Rajendra.
When P. S. Chouhan replaced jockey Y.S.Srinath in the saddle atop the
Asad Ali groomed filly Bikini Bomb, punters didn’t lose hope. Yet they
got a nasty scare when the odds against her went out of control with
each passing minute. Their worst fears came true when Bikini Bomb ended
third, albeit a close one to Generalissimo (General Monash–Pas de l’Argent), who has proved to be an ace up the sleeve of Narendra Lagad.
Interestingly, Sunny Chinoy aboard Generalissimo had played the role of
a spectator when S.N.Chavan delivered the goods astride stable-partner
Thundering Star late last month. The two riders exchanged the roles here
and Chavan let Chinoy hog the limelight. Bikini Bomb’s late flourish
hardly mattered as he money bet on her was already down the drain.
