Mystical lets his class to do the talking
By True Blue

Mumbai
Mar 26, 2006

“A champion is someone whom you can accept without any apology,” goes an anonymous quote. The bay four-year-old thoroughbred Mystical fits that bill.

Having won by diminishing margins in four of his last five starts and going down in the Indian Derby, which was probably the most important fight of his career, the wise analysts of Western India racing refused to accept Mystical as a champion horse. They resorted to the use of hypothetical lingo to speak their mind.

Mystical ridiculed his detractors by producing the most mature and polished performance at the picturesque Mahalaxmi Race Course on Sunday. He annexed the 2800-metre Indian St. Leger (Gr.1) in the style of a true champion. Mystical let his class do all the talking on the racetrack when the last classic of the season entered its final phase in the straight.

Flareon was about to call it a day at this juncture and Star Hopeful attempting to seize the initiative. Flashing Star also lunged forward and was about to storm into the lead when B. Prakash decided that it was time for him to let Mystical loose.

He relaxed his grip on the reins to alert Mystical of the task that lay ahead of him. The Poonawalla Stud-bred son of Alnasr Alwasheek out of Mystic Memory stretched out in style. His majestic strides left every single racegoer watching the race astounded. P. Kamlesh astride Velvet Rope adopted the same tactics which fetched them the Indian Derby but the ploy didn’t work on this occasion. Velvet Rope tried to swoop on Mystical but S. Ganapathy’s protégé moved farther away with each stride. The margin of defeat inflicted on Velvet Rope was seven lengths. Flashing Star and Holding Court were reduced to also rans.

No praise is too high for the champion horse of the year and credit primarily goes to his trainer, who remained unfazed by the opinions expressed by the so-called experts and had unwavering faith in Mystical’s ability. Jockey B. Prakash has also come of age and except for the momentary lapse that proved very costly in the Indian Derby, his artistry in the saddle atop Mystical was top-class.

Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy couldn’t share the eventful happenings at the Mahalaxmi since he was bereaving his life-partner’s death which occurred on Friday. The turf baron still didn’t forget to congratulate his entire team for the glorious feat and the stupendous success achieved by them this year.

Before leaving for Bangalore Ganapathy had no hesitation that Mystical was the best horse he has trained so far in his career.

The entire team of Indiarace.com shares the sorrow of Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy in his moment of grief and at the same time would like to congratulate him for owning the champion horse of 2006.