Rapidash should keep her unbeaten record intact

By Usman Rangila

Mumbai
Dec 14, 2003

Trainer Cooji Katrak is hogging the limelight even before the winner of the London Club Worldwide sponsored Indian 1000 Guineas can take the centre-stage. The reason: He is saddling the two top favourites in the race, Estonia and Rapidash. The former is owned by his unflinching patron, RWITC chairman Khushroo Dhunjibhoy and will be piloted by Malesh Narredu. Another staunch supporter of Cooji, Capt. Jamshed Appoo, is the co-owner of Rapidash along with Sunil Jhangiani. Rapidash will have the services of Frenchman Chris Lemaire.

Cooji finds himself in an unenviable position and none would like to be in his shoes at least till the running of the first classic is over. The two chestnut fillies have been star performers from among the lot of three-year-olds that he trains and one would like to have a peep into Cooji’s heart to know which filly he thinks can win the 1000 Guineas. The master craftsman that he is, Cooji will keep his cards close to his chest as long as he is permitted to do so. Yet if one looks closely into the past performance of the two fillies, one cannot help but give Rapidash an edge over Estonia. 

Estonia (Alnasr Alwasheek-Chloe’s Delight) has won thrice in the five starts she has had to date. She has experience on her side as she made her debut exactly a year ago on the Guineas day. Estonia ran only once during the Pune season where she won the S.A. Poonawalla Million convincingly over a mile trip. She has been kept under wraps after her last victory and has been tuned away from the prying eyes for this Guineas’ appearance. Estonia will certainly prove to be a hard nut to crack. 

Rapidash started her career in the mid of March and it can be said that she has come to hand a bit late as was evident when she ran for the first time in Pune and beat Sixty Seconds over a sprint. On promotion to Class II, the daughter of Greensmith out of Starstruck Actress defeated Free Radical, the winner of previous year’s edition of the 1000 Guineas. Agreed that Free Radical was conceding 7kg to Rapidash but the latter was simply unstoppable in the final stages of the race. Rapidash thus served notice that she is going from strength to strength. She has been working consistently well in morning trials since the end of the Pune season which suggests that she is in fine nick and ready for the battle royale.

No doubt horse racing is considered as one of the sports of glorious uncertainties yet, a majority view among the racing pundits will be that it is a toss up between Estonia and Rapidash for the 1000 Guineas. I will call Rapidash, keep my fingers crossed and wait for the coin to fall in my favour.