Venus Arising escapes from being eclipsed by Queen of Fashion

By Usman Rangila

Mumbai
Dec 12, 2004

There were many firsts recorded on Indian 1000 Guineas day, Sunday, December 12th 2004. The Indian 1000 Guineas was run without a sponsor after a gap of nearly fifteen years. Pesi Shroff set his score board ticking by saddling his first winner as a trainer. Trainer Shiraz Sunderji got to saddle his first winner after a painfully long duration which included the Pune season 2004 where he had drawn a blank.

Venus Arising enrolled herself into the list of the few favourites that have managed to carry the public’s purse in the Indian 1000 Guineas when she just about managed to repel the aggression of Queen of Fashion. As anticipated by the majority, the Cooji Katrak saddled filly by Steinbeck out of Lei took charge swiftly when Malesh Narredu alerted her to the task but found a challenge coming from unexpected quarters in the form of Queen of Fashion. The bay filly carrying the hopes of Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy’s camp, but lesser fancied than owner-mate Pricewise, moved up from the rear to be within close range of Venus Arising opposite the grand stand.

Venus Arising (M Narredu up) winner of the Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr 1) being led by owners 
Mr. & Mrs. Z.K.Dhunjibhoy

Finding himself in a position to challenge the supremacy of the favourite, jockey P. Kamlesh pulled out his aircush whip. A couple of cracks later Kamlesh put his whip down and got busy with his hands and heels on Queen Of Fashion. Just a furlong from the winning post Queen of Fashion looked very menacing. Malesh was startled a bit but not overwhelmed by the surprise development. Determined to fight out every inch of the ground, Malesh kept up the pressure on Venus Arising and spared a head to Queen of Fashion at the wire. Frida Kahlo finished in the position as she had done in the Hyderabad Guineas followed by Si Gentille.

Mr. & Mrs. Z.K.Dhunjibhoy with the Indian 1000 Guineas (Grade I) trophy

Even before the horses could return for unsaddling, Kamlesh was accused of going soft on Queen of Fashion just to oblige Cooji Katrak. The stipes also seem to have some doubts of their own for they have reported to the Stewards that they will be looking into the running and riding of Queen of Fashion. It is very difficult to pass a judgement on whether Kamlesh had malafide intentions when he stopped whipping Queen of Fashion and if he could’ve turned the tables on her conqueror by using the whip near the post. Trainer S. Ganapathy did not lose his composure after the race and took the defeat of Queen of Fashion in his stride. "I would give Kamlesh the benefit of doubt," was all Ganapathy was willing to say when asked to comment about Queen of Fashion’s performance. 

Meanwhile Kamlesh had a close shave with punishment during the Steward’s enquiry called to examine his efforts astride Imogene just ten days ago. Before appearing before the Stewards, Kamlesh got Ronin (Placerville-Frost Queen) to oblige in a tight finish where Space Girl had all but upset the field.

Pinotage, who was running with blinkers for the first time, made every post of the Secret Star Plate a winning one as Frenchman Samuel Fargeat decided to adopt ‘catch-me-if-you-can’ tactics with the Metal Precieux filly. The ploy worked providing Pesi his first career winner. Pesi experienced some nostalgic moments as he led in Pinotage to the winner’s enclosure. More than two decades back, Pesi had earned his first win astride My Squaw in the ‘Dark Blue’ colours of Mr Shyam Ruia which Samuel Fargeat was sporting atop Pinotage.

Pesi’s two other fancied runners were, however, not up to the mark. Even-money favourite Some Time ran a poor fourth where Samuel rode Campanero (No Louder-Au Panache) for Subhag Singh and completed a brace of winners for Mr Ruia. Campanero sneaked into the lead at the bend and surged clear of his rivals. Fantastic Knight ran on from the wrong end to be second ahead of Connivance.

Pinotage (S Fargeat up) winner of the Secret Star Plate being led by trainer Mr. Shroff

Lapwing ridden by Niall McCullagh shortened his strides in the last furlong allowing Vrikodara to pounce on her close home. The Mansingh Jadhav trainee hit the front and looked in sight of her maiden win before she ran out of fuel. That lit up the eyes of Malcolm Kharadi astride Sunderji’s horse Vrikodara, who was always in chase of the leader. Malcolm wasted no further time in launching his assault with Vrikodara and found the favourite in a submissive mood. Niall was back to what he does best and steered a popular double via debutant Fear of Tears (Alnasr Alwasheek-Champagne Polka) and Oriental Express (Razeen-Perpetual). The former, who was the first of the three winners saddled by Cooji during the day, gave no anxious moments to the moneybags as Niall took the Cooji Katrak filly on a successful wire-to-wire mission. Later in the day, Bezan Chenoy saddled gelding Oriental Express proved far too superior for his seven rivals in the Maharashtra & Gujarat Area Trophy.

Mahroze Irani’s good placement of Excitement (Tirol-Angelina Ballerina) paid handsome dividends as R. Shelar rode the three-year-old filly to a confident and runaway victory in the curtain raiser. Magansingh Jodha trainee Power Zone (Meritocrat-Sunshine) went start-to-finish in the concluding race and won warding off the threat of favourite Open Season, who veered out under pressure when about to overtake the winner. Pramod Belose didn’t let his guard down and helped himself with another career win astride the grey.

Excitement (R Shelar up) winner of the High Party Plate Div I

Campanero (S Fargeat up) winner of the Homi Mody Trophy

Vrikodara (M Kharadi up) winner of the party Plate Div II

Fear Of Tears (McCullagh up) winner of the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (VI Bart.)

Ronin (P Kamlesh up) winner of the Venus De Milo Plate