Punters back on their feet after Sunday’s battering
By True Blue

Mumbai
Mar 21, 2007

It was an auspicious start to the New Year being celebrated by the Hindu community on Monday in this part of the country. Punters got back on their feet after the severe drubbing they had received a day earlier.

Racegoers got to hear more of owner Haresh Mehta, trainer Pesi Shroff, jockeys Malesh and Suraj Narredu as Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy has decided to maintain a low profile firstly as the season’s classics are all but over and secondly, his trusted aides S. Ganapathy and B. Prakash are incapacitated.

Pesi and Malesh began disastrously when on-money favourite Totalitarian came a cropper right at the start of the day. Malesh made a runaway bid astride Totalitarian but caved in meekly when challenged by Magansingh Jodha trained Fiery Fortune. For the second time in quick succession, Suraj Narredu was seen getting the better of his illustrious uncle as he drove Fiery Fortune (Hymn – Sparkling Champagne) with a solid intent.

The wounds inflicted Totalitarian healed soon when Pesi led in Rockefeller (Razeen – Roccobarocco) in the very next race. Second favourite Aqua Glow was withdrawn at the starting gates as C. Rajendra got hurt during the stalling process. This made the task of Rockefeller fairly easy. Malesh did the honours on the winner, who ran in the colours of Haresh Mehta.

The same colours went past the winning post first when Magansingh Jodha saddled Haifa Victory (Hymn – Panchelitta) made every post of the five furlong journey for the Simarow Plate a winning one. Haifa Victory was carrying a notional weight on his back with feather-weight rider Dashrath Singh in the saddle. The bay gelding took full advantage of the pull in weights and had no trouble in weathering the challenge of Star O’ War and Appreciate. Steel Butterfly graced the rear for most part of the journey after being involved in a jostling incident at the gates. The Pesi Shroff trained grey filly staged her entry when it hardly mattered and ended a close fifth.

The Pesi - Malesh duo was in business once again when Cotswold Arms (Labeeb - Tres Bien) claimed the Jimmy Bharucha Trophy. Cotswold Arms avenged the defeat of stablemate Totalitarian at the hands of Fiery Fortune when he vanquished Fiery Fox. Suraj Narredu ridden Fiery Fox hit the front right from the word go but came under heavy pressure from Cotswold Arms in the last furlong or so. Cotswold Arms got stronger at the finish and stayed clear of the late finishing Star Always. Jockey Amyn Merchant replaced the injured Rajendra in the saddle astride Star Always but was a miserable failure when it came to doing proper justice to his mount. Peninsula ran a forward race and retired. She is probably not cut out for sprint events.

Malesh completed a treble when he was offered a ride on Honeyday (Mischevious Music – Afsheen), who was originally supposed to be ridden by Rajendra. The S. S. Shah trained chestnut colt came with a flourishing run to go surging past the leaders Flying Jaguar and Teaser. Teaser was once again in the money and was followed by Tehrani, who came with a long stretched run to put his neck ahead of Power Zone.

Rookie Riyaz Shaikh gave admirable support to the temperamental mare Dancing Bride (Concordial – Flyway Bride) in the saddle which helped the Altaf Hussain trainee to bring home the bacon. Favourite Lunar Queen made the entire running from the barriers and was being hailed as a winner before Dancing Bride asked her the question. Riyaz rode the winner forcefully with hands and heels and had a satisfying victory against one of the top riders in the game. Incomparable ran on to finish third ahead of Lady Trooper. Precision was sluggish at the start and never recovered after that. Premier Image ran a forward race and was the best of the beaten brigade.

Hormuz Antia trained Simply Perfect (Placerville – Zelka) was rewarded for his consistency where Haresh Mehta owned and Mansoor Shah trained mare Goldeen seemed to have her way in the bookie ring itself. Goldeen failed to live up to the promise shown in her last run though she was entrusted in the strong hands of Suraj Narredu on this occasion. Hector came from way behind to finish second ahead of the favourite who had Cavalry Brigade in close tow.

Adam’s Pleasure (Alnasr Alwasheek – Adam’s Treasure) made it to the winner’s enclosure finally. The Bezan Chenoy trained four-year-old bay unleashed a powerful run in the hands of S. N. Chavan in the final two furlongs of the sprint event. His main adversary Mazan was in control of the situation briefly after Sidhiksha (formerly Nach Baliye) had thrown in her towel. Malesh however failed to repel the winner’s assault. Nucleus ran on to finish third ahead of the exhausted Sidhiksha.