Battle Launch, Hidden Dragon deny bookmakers a fair share of the booty 
By Usman Rangila

Mumbai
January 14, 2004

In the aftermath of the bloodbath that took place at Mahalaxmi on Tuesday, the bookies found the next day’s results arriving as a big relief. Their faith in Goddess Mahalaxmi probably reaffirmed. Also, many took heart from the fact that their deity had not deserted them completely. Though not a single first favourite obliged in the six-race card of Wednesday, the profits were insufficient to wipe out the huge losses suffered a day earlier. The reason: A couple of successful coups that prevented the bookmakers from reaping a rich harvest. The main sufferers on Wednesday were the loyal students of form.

Trainer Nana Raghunath’s property Battle Launch was the destroyer-in-chief for the bookies. Last-outing winner Sparkle received some support on sufferance but the additional 10.5kg on her back on this occasion proved too heavy a burden for the Cooji Katrak-trained filly to carry. 

Sparkle, drawn the widest of all in the twelve-horse field, was pushed to assume command by jockey Bajrang Singh. Before taking charge of the running, Sparkle caused a chain reaction of interference. Passing the two-furlong marker, Sparkle started sending distress signals for want of fuel and succumbed far too easily to the onslaught of Battle Launch who was pushed to seize the initiative by her rider Hanumant Singh. The grey mare lasted out to win from the late finishing Handsome Lad. Sparkle was relegated to the fourth place after the Stewards decided to uphold the objection lodged by jockey I. Shaikh, the rider of Light of Justice. Jade Hunter finished on leisurely to end fifth.

Bajrang was associated with another unsuccessful runner Anna Karenina, who failed to oblige her followers. In a run that was almost identical to that of Sparkle, Anna Karenina streaked ahead at the start but went bust soon on entering the straight. Second favourite Hidden Dragon, who had the services of Naill McCullagh, went surging clear to lift the Bay Beauty Trophy. The pre-race paddock looks of Anna Karenina suggested that she had gone ‘over the top’. No wonder if Naill, who had piloted the Shiraz Sunderji-trained filly during her last victory and was also involved in exercising her during the morning trials, preferred Hormuz Antia-nurtured Hidden Dragon ahead of Anna Karenina.

There was a quiet touch on the Sangramsinh Joshi-candidate Political Power in the curtain raiser. Panic set in the betting arena as wagering took a one-way traffic route in the direction of Political Power. The four-year-old filly, however, failed to deliver the goods. On the other hand, the trial and error method adopted out by Narendra Lagad worked in favour of Eaglecrest who went wire to wire in the hands of whipless Anil Baandal. After running over a mile, nine-furlongs and also a mile and quarter in his previous outings, the gelding trained by Narendra Lagad relished the six-furlong journey to the extent that he earned his maiden career success. Both Berliet and Norton found the winning post coming too soon for their liking.

The piping-hot favourite Canny Lad refused to go quietly inside the gates and his headgear came off as the handlers tried to blindfold him. The chestnut son of Forest Fair was declared a non-starter to due paucity of time. Bruno, entrusted to Ravi Birmane by Altaf Hussain, swept past leader Czai at the bend and held on gallantly to thwart the attempts of Leopardess to overthrow him. The Imtiaz Sait-saddled filly joined the issue with Bruno in the home stretch but despite the strong urgings of C. Rajendra she had to play second fiddle for the third time in succession this season.

Imtiaz did not have to sulk long after the defeat of Leopardess as Frenchman Samuel Fargeat partnered The Polynesian to a glorious victory over favourite River God and Name of Love. The son of Young Senor moved up from the fourth position at the bend and pulled away from the pack. River God broke a blood vessel as he went in chase of the winner. Rest will surely prove to be a weapon for Olympico, who appeared to be a spent force after his current gruelling campaign and never made any headway after hopelessly in the rear.

It was a case of better late than never for Al-Gibran, who finally graduated from the maiden ranks at the age of six. The son of Cristofori, now trained by ex-jockey S.M. Johnson, made full use of the favourable handicap and wore down Malada and the top-weighted favourite Danger In Sight close home. Both Malada, who had stolen a march over her rivals, and Danger In Sight were disputing the issue till Pradeep Chouhan set alight Al-Gibran. Pradeep used his whip freely to purge the lethargy out of Al-Gibran.