Lady luck blesses veteran Bezan Chenoy with a winning brace
By Usman Rangila
u_rangila@indiarace.com

Mumbai, Dec 4, 2003

Dogged by ill fate, Dr MAM Ramaswamy-owned Top Executive bled through the nostrils in the Victorious Trophy to find his desire of making a successful comeback on the Mahalaxmi track remaining unfulfilled. The speedy son of Greensmith was travelling on the bit behind leader Secret Path till about 300m from home but couldn’t cope with the pressure applied by saddle partner B. Prakash as he sought to have the measure of early leader Secret Path. There was another hard luck story in the race. Samuel Fargeat astride Wikhed Idea got himself in all sorts of trouble as he waited to pounce on Secret Path and Top Executive. 

The Frenchman made desperate attempts to salvage the position but Prakash was in no mood to grant any favours to his adversary. As if to extend his misery, Malcolm Kharadi too brought Dreams To Reality into contention at a time when Samuel got an opportunity to the switch lanes. Having sealed Wikhed Idea’s fate, Malcolm Kharadi drove Shiraz Sunderji-schooled Dreams To Reality to seize the initiative from both Top Executive and Secret Path and went on to register an upset victory over the late finishing Wikhed Idea.

Dreams To Reality (M.Kharadi up) winner of The Victorious Trophy 

Pricelessly (B.Prakash up) winner of the Santorini Star Trophy being led in by trainer S.Ganapathy

The Bangalore-based professional S. Ganapathy made a successful season debut at Mumbai when the two-year-old filly Pricelessly justified the overwhelming support she received in the ring. The bay debutant brought in-foal to Time And Time and who is by Lake Coniston, allowed Lara Croft to call the shots early in the race but flew in response to B. Prakash’s call in the straight. Pricelessly then drew away under the whip leaving Lara Croft to wage a grim battle for saving the runner-up berth from Lilac Queen, who warmed up late. Ace of Hearts too came from nowhere to finish a reluctant fourth.

Lady luck surely seemed to have a soft corner for Bezan Chenoy at least on Thursday but for which the veteran trainer would’ve not been credited with the successful duo, Lochmaben and Dunbar. In the first instance, Lochmaben had finished second behind Narendra Lagad-saddled Island Pearl, who had been searching for a bracket since ages. 

However, the grey was relegated to the fourth position after two objections, first by Abhishek Habbu astride Kintyre against the winner ridden by apprentice Anil Baandal for bumping him thrice and the other of Verzzano’s rider I. Shaikh against Abhishek for squeezing him badly, were both upheld by the Stewards. Lochmaben was awarded the race on default and the decision expectedly drew criticism from certain quarters. Looking into the technicalities of the interference caused by Island Pearl to Kintyre, who then passed it on to Verzzano, the Stewards had no option to uphold both the objections.

Dunbar, the shortest priced runner of the day, survived a belated challenge thrown by Money Star and Irishman Naill McCullagh must consider himself very lucky to have hit the wire first. A proverbial whisker separated the two and had Zameer Sayyed alerted the Don Surti-trained Money Star a fraction of a second earlier, the favourite would’ve surely knuckled under. Finding Dunbar running short of fuel, Naill was repeatedly looking back in the final stages of the race to see if there is any imminent danger for him.

Island Pearl who won the race negated after two objection lodged against him. The revised results were LOCHMABEN (Win), VERZZANO(2nd), KINTYRE (3rd), 
ISLAND PEARL(4th)

Capture The Moment (Samuel Fargeat up) winner of the Dagino Plate

Frenchman Samuel Fargeat was entrusted the task of guiding Capture The Moment and he was more than happy to receive this ride from Imtiaz Sait. The Razeen progeny encountered hardly any resistance when he took charge from Keytothevaults in the home stretch. Strike Zone appeared to be out of sorts and finished last but one.

Premier Edition, who was making a late appearance on the racetrack, received enthusiastic support from all corners but the poor assistance in the saddle from P. Sandeep put paid to hopes of this well-bred gelding. Premier Edition, incidentally, was starting his career anew under the training of Dr Anil Kumar. Peronda latched on to the opportunity and was a length clear of the favourite. Earlier, Ixora had taken charge from Al-Gibran but failed to sustain the lead after raising some hopes for her followers.

The change of stables may not have clicked for Premier Edition but it certainly did for Borzu, who came to the yards of Mansingh Jadhav recently. The son of Pennine Ridge was ridden confidently by young S. Sunil to repulse the attack of Khushnaseeb towards the end.

Borzu (S.Sunil up) winner of The Dancing Memories Plate 
being led in by trainer M.K.Jadhav and owner Dinshaw.B.Irani