Rapidash and Estonia have the best credentials in the 1000 Guineas

By Bob Sawhny

Mumbai
Dec 12, 2003

The first Classic race of the forthcoming Mumbai Racing Season - The Indian 1000 Guineas, to be run on Sunday(Dec.14),has attracted a field of 14 three-year-old fillies, but the winner, in my estimation should emanate after a very close tussle between the Western India duo of - Rapidash and Estonia who have the better credentials. Dancing Greens, is capable of upsetting the apple-cart of the duo, but only if she can get the mile trip, which is open to question.

ESTONIA 
(Alnasr Alwasheek-Chloe's Delight). 
Trainer : Cooji Katrak. Rating : 82 

A very classy but temperamental filly who has won thrice from five starts. Her debut win in The 1000 Metres Sir J.Jejeebhoy Trophy(15/12'02) was impressively gained and she then went on to decisively win The 1400Metres Dashmesh Stud Million (16/1/03) in the manner of a champion. In her last run of The Mumbai season,- The Manjri Fillies Championship this sprightly chestnut daughter of Alnasr Alwasheek finished a commendable close second. 
Estonia,however, redeemed her reputation, by trouncing the opposition in The 1600 Metres S.A. Poonawalla Million(16/3/'03) by a widening 8-1/2 lengths in a smart time of One Minute 39.89 seconds, without being extended. Estonia's last victory in Pune was truly sensationally gained and suffice it to say, that if she reproduces that same devastating turn of foot, she will be the one, who all will have to beat.

Estonia
 

Rapidash 

RAPIDASH 
(Greensmith-Starstruck Actress). 
Trainer : Cooji Katrak. Rating : 86 

A very versatile and judiciously raced filly on the upgrade, who has a meritorious record of being unbeaten in her four starts. After her scintillating debut win in The 1200 Metres Every Time Plate(18/3/'03), she won The 1200 Metres Gool S. Poonawalla Million(6/4/'03) in an impressivel manner, as she trounced the opposition by a widening 2-3/4 lengths. Thereafter, despite a long gap of 5-1/2 months, she decisively triumphed in her first endeavour at Pune in The Class III 1200 Metres Aristotle Plate(20/9/03) and augmented her unbeaten tally by trouncing her rivals in The Class II 1400 Metres Sir Sultan Chinoy Trophy(12/10/'03).

Rapidash who has yet to peak, and who has the best Handicap rating of 86, seems to have overcome her drawback of drifting out in the straight and her prep-work has been excellent. As such, I feel that her chances of winning in a close finish, seem the best by….. a wee bit.

DANCING GREENS 
(Greensmith -Dancing Designs).
Trainer : Altaf.Hussain. Rating : 81

She is a very well conformed and impeccably-bred late-maturing juvenile on the upgrade, who is unbeaten in her three starts. In both her endeavours, over sprints, in the last Pune Season, the sprightly daughter of Greensmith came home in solitary splendour, albeit against mediocre opposition, which purely revealed that she definitely possesses blistering speed. Thereafter, she showed that she settles well, as she came from behind to easily overtake the front-running Secret Romeo at the 300 Metres, for a decisive victory over Rave and Secret Romeo in The 1400 Metres Maharaja of Morvi Trophy. However, the question still looms large whether she could have won, if Secret Romeo had not broken a blood vessel.

Dancing Greens

Be that as it may, it will only be appropriate to say that Dancing Designs (Portroe-Gold Prospect) the dam of Dancing Greens, was a pure and classy sprinter in Western India. As such, Dancing Greens ability to get a mile is open to question, but if she can garner her energy in the final furlong, she could well be right there at the finish. 

The rank outsider in this coveted race, who in my estimation, could clinch a place, is The Altaf Hussain -trained FAIR ALWAYS, who is the winner of three races.