Free Radical retraces her steps towards the winning enclosure after a year

By Usman Rangila
u_rangila@indiarace.com

Mumbai, Dec 16, 2003

Tuesday’s stuff at Mahalaxmi, coming close on the heels of some exciting fare dished out on Guineas’ day, was quite bland yet the moneybags found it palatable and were not grumbling. Free Radical’s year-long hunt for success coming to an end in the Maharaja Sir Pratapsingh Gaekwad Trophy was one of the high points of the day apart from the obliging act performed by Albany, Anna Karenina and Adams Beauty.

Subsequent to her 1000 Guineas’ gain last year, Free Radical’s efficacy always remained under a cloud in all her future assignments. The Poonawalla Stud-bred daughter of Virginia Princess and who is by Diffident failed miserably in all the terms events she took part in. Addressing her limitations, Imtiaz Sait decided to enter her in a handicap race towards the end of the Pune season. Free Radical caught a tartar in Rapidash then. On Tuesday, Free Radical found herself in Class II-company that was anything but a threat to her supremacy. Free Radical completed the formality of taming her five rivals in an efficient manner.

Chris Lemaire seemed to have regained his composure after Sunday’s troublesome experience in the saddle and did not make any false move astride Free Radical. After chasing The Avenger and Ungaro in the initial stages of the seven-furlong race, Chris allowed Naill McCullagh to flatter atop Ungaro till the last furlong and then put the question across to Free Radical. The four-year-old bay filly didn’t hesitate in putting her best foot forward. It was only a matter of time before Free Radical could assert her superiority as she raced away for a comfortable win after a minor scuffle with Ungaro.

Free Radical (C. Lemaire up) winner Maharaja Sir Pratapsingh Gaekwad Trophy being led in by owner Ms.Deina S Poonawalla & Michelle Y Poonawalla. Also seen trainer IMtiaz Sait (extreme left) 

Anna Kareinina (N.G.McCulLagh up) winner of the Les Gris Cheval Trophy Div II being led in by trainer S.K.SUnderji , owner Mrs. Avi B. Doctor & Rustom. H Vakil.

Naill, having played second fiddle astride Ungaro, soon registered a back-to-back double via Anna Karenina and Adams Beauty. The former, hailing from Shiraz Sunderji’s yard, overcame the hurdle of being badly drawn by making the most of her initial speed in the lower division of Le Gris Cheval Trophy. Fleet-footed Anna Karenina waltzed away to her second career victory. Not that it would have put Anna Karenina in a spot of bother but none of her opponents were in a mood to play spoilsport. Titania and Celerity were simply outpaced while there was no changeover in Star Prestige’s roguish character.

Adams Beauty gave a minor scare to her supporters as she found herself trailing the nine-horse field at the start though the gap from the leader was not too wide to create panic. Naill kept working on the Bezan Chenoy-trained daughter of Tirol out of Adam’s Fortune and the bay maiden gained momentum with each stride. She first took toll of Ameerat and then Bird of Paradise. Apprentice Nirmal Jodha and Imperial Thriller, who finished second, staged their appearance only when the curtains were coming down.

Horses may not be machines but none can stop the various insinuations that crop up after the downfall of horses like Amazing Strides especially when their prices are cramped. The three-year-old son of Razeen out of Wayward Lady really had no business to lose against Truffles. The truth is Amazing Strides succumbed meekly to the onslaught of Truffles and the reasons for this defeat cannot be surmised at least for now.

Silver Lancer who ran fourth behind Blue Butterfly in Class III just a fortnight back put on his galloping shoes to win by a widening six lengths when his master Ivor Fernandes opted to have a go with him in Class IV. It may be recalled that Silver Lancer had failed to oblige in the hands of Naill McCullagh at the odds of 6 to 4 against him. Seems like the grey son of Excalibur’s Lake, who won in both his outings on this same track last year, did not like the company of Naill and also hated wearing aluminium shoes. Ivor entrusted Silver Lancer to the 5kg-clalimer Neeraj Rawal and switched over to steel shoes. The odds were scrumptious too on this occasion. The grey ran like a scalded cat and made every post a winning one. Candavega who went out as a favourite was simply outdone for pace and finished third behind Silver ‘N’ Gold.

Silver Lancer (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Les Gris Cheval Trophy Div I being led in by trainer Ivor Fernandes & owner D.F.Pestonji.

Hosidar Daji-saddled filly Albany (Sir Bruce-Hyppocrene) made a winning debut in the hands of P. Kamlesh. The debutant collared the early leader Rassasa and then shrugged off the threat posed by Elezibeth Arden and Celestial Fire. After a choppy run throughout the race, favourite Celestial Fire displaced Elezibeth Arden from the runner-up position. The two grey juveniles should emerge from the maiden ranks soon. Earlier, the Samuel Sorab Jilla-nursed and Fargeat-partnered rank outsider Royal Standard produced an astounding gallop in the straight after toiling in the rear till the turn to surprise the opposition in the Shocking Plate.