Favourite horses click to bring windfall gains for followers of form 
By Usman Rangila

Mumbai
April 16, 2004

There were windfall gains for the followers of form as no major surprises were thrown up in any of the seven races run on Friday. Adam’s Ambition, Acceleration, Airwave and Ascension graduated from the maiden ranks during the day. Except for Rise, who claimed the Regal Domain Trophy, the other six winners during day tasted success for the first time in the current season. The two upcoming youngsters Yogender Singh and Neeraj Rawal made full use of the opportunity provided by the absence of C. Rajendra and Malesh Narredu who stayed away from the action for one reason or another, to share the day’s honours. Both Neeraj and Yogender booted home a brace of winners.

Rank outsider Platinum Shock almost created a flutter in the curtain raiser, the Osman Chotani Plate. However, favourite Adam’s Ambition (White Crown-Adam’s Gold) got up in the nick of time to peg back Sangramsinh Joshi’s ward at the post and save the day for the punters. The winner, who was sent out by ex-jockey Hanut Singh, saw relentless pressure being applied on him by jockey Ravi Birmane as he went in chase of Platinum Shock who had stolen a march over his rivals. Yvresse raced more or less in the third position all the way and finished so ahead of Powell Power who returned lame after the race.

Hormuz Antia-trained four-year-old gelding Rise (Rebounding Thrill-Dauphine) was pit in the company of mediocre rivals and the bookies didn’t risk too much money on him by offering less than even- money for him to win the race. The grey gelding chased his look-alike Amaron into the home stretch and went sailing clear when apprentice Neeraj Rawal managed to find his moorings just as the duo reached the final furlong post. Firey Future, who ended third, and the rest of the runners ran without any hope throughout the nine-furlong journey.

After Hanut and Antia it was Altaf Hussain’s turn to lead in a winner which was provided by the four-year-old bay filly Acceleration (Don’t Forget Me-Lorelei Lee) in the Night Crown Plate. It was Cocaine, who had her own band of followers in the ring, who took charge of the running as the heads turned for home. Yogender Singh-driven Acceleration was not far behind the lead but her of favourite Acceleration had their hearts in their mouths as she hung-out in the straight. Yogender showed great presence of mind and corrected her drift after which the filly stretched out to live up to her name. Back In Action swung into action quite late and could only finish second. Cocaine retired to be third ahead of Open Season.

The three-year-old filly Airwave (Warrshan-Riverine) shed the maiden ranks in only her second career run. Saddled by the lady trainer Arti Doctor, Airwave raced in the mid-bunch till the half-way mark from where Pradeep Chouhan spurred her to gain the lead from Tomahawk and Helegonia. Once she had stormed ahead, none of her rivals could stop her from lifting the Rock Witness Trophy. Jockey F. Irani, who got the opportunity to don the silks of Dr Vijay Mallya astride the well-bred filly Crown Charter, failed to do proper justice to his mount as a result of which the Jaggy Dhariwal- saddled candidate ran a tame second.

The four-year-old filly Pitlochry (Razeen-Fate) earned an overdue bracket when she carried the public’s purse to victory in the Roundoff Plate. The Bezan Chenoy-schooled filly also made amends for the failure she had suffered just six days back. Rookie Yogender added one more winner to his burgeoning tally and had the confidence he has gained in recent days on display as he steered the filly to a comfortable victory over Absolute Dominance. King Of The Turf rallied late to finish a head away from the runner-up.

Although he is nine years old, Only For Don has not lost his zest for racing and the credit goes to his master Hormuz Antia for keeping him in a fighting fit condition. The Neeraj Rawal-ridden aged son of Classic Tale won the Grey Satin Plate in a tight finish from favourite Immortal Charm and Illusion. But for the interference received by the runner-up from Faisal Abbas’ charge when she was just beginning to accelerate, Immortal Charm, in all likelihood, would’ve turned the tables on her conqueror. The daughter of Tirol was making her comeback after being on the repair list for almost a year and she should make amends if her connections decide to race her for one more time before the season ends.

The four-year-old bay Ascension (Alnasr Alwasheek-Kilshannig) from veteran Janardhan’s yard looked a picture in the paddock and he produced a scintillating gallop in the final furlong to grab the lead from the wayward favourite Summer Wind, who was ridden by Pesi Shroff after Bajrang Singh failed to fulfil his engagements. Axelle, who is bred as half-sister to Top Gun, showed remarkable improvement over her previous efforts to finish second ahead of Summer Wind. Ascension can repeat again if not penalised harshly by the handicapper for his maiden win.