Mumbai Winter Meet Races

Sunday,  December 23  2001

Wild Eagle makes them all run in McDowell 2000 Guineas

By Usman Rangila

Wild Eagle, the 7 to 4 against favourite to win the McDowell Indian 2000 Guineas (Grade 1), not only kept his top-billing of being the best three-year-old horse on the Indian racing circuit intact but at the same time destroyed the reputation of his outstation rivals.

Going out as the firm favourite to win the second Indian classic of this year, Wild Eagle took charge immediately on entering the home stretch and made his rivals look like novices. Mark Gallagher rode a superb race on the Arti Doctor-trained gelding in not hesitating to hit the front with Wild Eagle even though a good three furlongs of the mile journey was yet in balance. The chestnut gelding showed a tremendous burst of speed and streaked clear of his rivals and had a commanding lead of five lengths at one stage. Quick to sense the imminent danger of Wild Eagle going beyond their reach was Aslam Kader who alerted his mount Ansbach and got a gallant run in response. But the best Ansbach could do was finish second as both Wild Eagle and Mark Gallagher refused to be intimidated by his flourish and carried on unpertubed towards the winning post. The Manjri Stud-bred Wild Eagle is owned by Mr & Mrs Mohan Thakur and Mr Shagun Thakur. This incidentally was the first Indian classic winner saddled by a lady trainer Arti Doctor.

Dr Vijay Mallya’s private trainer Jaggy Dhariwal, Irish jockey Mark Gallagher and local champion C. Rajendra shared the day’s honours with a winning brace each against their name.

Stifle-lock prevents Radical Force from galloping

The McDowell Indian 2000 Guineas day ended on a dramatic note as favourite Radical Force stopped galloping after having travelled only two furlongs of the mile-and-a-quarter journey of the Paragaon Plate. 

Jockey Niall McCullagh-ridden Radical Force, who was the even-money favourite to win the last race on the day’s card, was seen dropping back gradually after having taken a smart jump from the gates and hitting the front. Punters were aghast to see jockey McCullagh pull Radical Force giving rise to some suspicions. But on close scrutiny of the video replay of the race, it was found that Radical Force had suffered a stifle-lock on his right hind leg and McCullagh was left with no option but to pull up his mount.