Taras Bulba embarked on
a pillar-to-post mission with rookie Riyaz Shaikh in saddle but Mansoor
Khan brought Force Nine through the shortest route when the field was
about to take the last turn and appeared to be coasting home for his
maiden success. But that was not to be as Force Nine veered out under
pressure and was seemingly happy when Taras Bulba relieved him of his
misery in the dying stages of the race.
Favourite One Good Thing never raised any hopes and punters rued their
fate and events that followed made them wish that they had never come
racing on that fateful day. Flying Rani (late Celubrious) and La Tremolo
never troubled the commentator during the entire journey except when it
came to describing the also rans.
Although dark clouds and brief spells of rain gave ominous signs since
early morning on Thursday, the RWITC was caught off guard by the heavy
downpour that started as soon as the horses left the paddock for the
start of the second race.
The Stewards had no options before them and it took hardly any time for
them to decide the future of the rest of the day’s card, which was
expectedly called off. In hindsight, one must say that the club was
hoping against hope for the sun to come out even if late in the noon.
When asked what made the RWITC go ahead with the programme looking at
the prevalent weather conditions, one club official replied that the
weatherman expected the skies to clear off in the afternoon as such the
club decided to go ahead with races.
