Running true to her name the four-year-old bay filly Radiant gave a sparkling performance to record her fourth straight win in the Turf Club Trophy (Grade 2), the star attraction during the weekend races here. The bay filly by Portroe out of Pas Plouc after running in close attendance of leader Mi Amante was given her head by C. Rajendra when the field negotiated the home turn. Radiant then stretched out beautifully for an impressive victory. Mi Amante held on grimly to the second slot from the late finishing Viking with Prince Nicholas grabbing the other place on the judges’ frame. The Manjri Stud-bred Radiant is the property of Mr & Ms Shapoor Mistry and Ms Magansingh Jodha and was saddled by trainer Magansingh Jodha.
C. Rajendra earlier partnered Moment of Truth (Tocave Botta-Miss Champagne) also groomed by Magansingh Jodha to a fine victory in the Nelson River Plate. It was another flawless performance in the saddle from the champion rider that contributed in a big way towards the success of Moment of Truth. Despite being jostled by Mallesh Narredu aboard Venus halfway during the journey, Rajendra kept his cool and balance intact astride Moment of Truth. Meanwhile, favourite Tout De Suite (Metal Precieux-Park Guest) had just got the better of Soviet Ride opposite the stands when Moment of Truth ranged along side. In the ensuing battle Tout De Suite had to eat the humble pie but there was no doubt that she had come across a better one and she lives to fight for yet another day.
C. Rajendra’s has kept steady pace with success and has been regularly sighted at the winning post ahead of his and never before has his dominance been more profound over any racing season. This unassuming knight of the pigskin deservedly received accolades for his diligence atop Daring Don on Saturday.
Coming into the final stretch, Stolichnaya snatched the lead from Sicalade and was being hailed as a winner for, at this stage, the shortest priced runner of the day appeared in deep trouble. And when all were about write him off, Daring Don (Don’t Forget Me- Momentous) started devouring ground. C. Rajendra’s magic wand had worked again as Daring Don stunned Stolichnaya at the post and even left Mark Gallagher dazed and wondering as to what had hit him.
It was simply a heady stuff coming from this superstar emerging on the horizon of Indian turf racing. One man who made no bones about Rajendra’s contribution was part-owner and the trainer of Daring Don himself. V. Khanna heaped praises on Rajendra and said "all credit of Daring Don’s victory goes to Rajendra and I owe him gratitude for his hardwork astride the winner."
With two racing tracks — the monsoon track and the main grass track, being used in keeping with the demands of the occasion, the Pune racing season has had a reputation of being kind to the bookies. More so when the tracks receive a heavy dose of rainfall on the eve or on the race day itself. But rains or no rains, the bookies were again at the receiving end this week.
Light showers that lashed the city on Saturday night continuing unabated through next morning and steadily built up into a heavy downpour and it appeared likely that the club would have to pull the curtains down on Sunday’s card. But, probably, the bookies were destined for a bashing at the hands of the punters. After being badly mauled on Saturday, the bookies were expecting a turnaround of fortunes on Sunday. Ironically, the rains and dark clouds had given them a ray of hope. But only just as their misery saw no end with form horses continuing to dominate on Sunday. Only Cliché and Money Magic provided some reprieve.
Oh So Quick, one of the most popular choices of all students of form this week, sank like a Titanic. And try hard as you did, the exact cause of this disaster remained a mystery. So listless was the performance of Oh So Quick (Alnasr Alwasheek- Junoesque) that this filly who had been a prominent fifth in the Poonawalla Breeders’ Million and then third behind Stavros in her subsequent run, failed to appear among the first six horses on the judges’ frame. Nevertheless it was Mallesh Narredu who availed of this opportunity to score as he powered Money Magic to a half-length victory over Candescent.
Had Mallesh shown the same zeal astride As A Rule in the last race of the day, he probably would have toppled the public choice Survee’s Pet at the wire. But that was not to be and the punters prospered as Zubin Engineer saddled Survee’s Pet to get his score ticking this season. Just one event earlier, Emmanuel’s Pet lasted out to win from Perfect Strides who came agonisingly close to beat him but the determination of jockey B. Prakash made all the difference at the end.
A bit of unwarranted overconfidence from B. Prakash on Saturday almost caused the downfall of Momentous Mover (Broto-Sarmatara) in the Sub-Area Commander’s Trophy. The bay gelding traveled three-four horses wide at the turn and shifted out further under pressure. Phalaenopsis came through the middle of the track but his valiant bid proved futile. Eventually the better horse won. Chelsea took the shortest way home to lead for a brief while and that was all about it. This Imtiaz Sait ward ended a close third.
Thundering Grey and Malada ran true to their form and were duly rewarded with success on Saturday. Thundering Grey overcame stiff resistance from Mallesh Narredu driven Heaven Sent. On the other hand it was cakewalk for Malada once she took over from Attia In Sunlight in the final run in for home. Special Crown proved to be a flop.
Two fillies Ally Mcbeal and Current Bay, both sired by Placerville scored their maiden victories. The former, a daughter of Ablaze, made a winning debut in the hands of Mallesh Narredu and this Arti Doctor nursed filly has a promising future ahead. Special Happening finished a faraway third but since the son of Tecorno was slightly hampered at the bend his debut performance was certainly not demeaning.
Jaggy Dhariwal-trained Current Bay, who ran twice in Bangalore before arriving here, literally gave a thrashing to her rivals on her maiden appearance here. The daughter of Night of Gaiety stormed into the lead as the heads turned for home and was in no danger of being caught by any of her rivals. Runner-up Dream Lover should gain in experience from this run. Watch out for Mach Two who ran fourth in this race and he should make it to the headlines in the near future.
The round up of this would not be complete without the mention of Stone Ridge who finally graduated from the maiden ranks on Saturday. The well-bred son of Razeen out of Fine’st had played second fiddle during his last four appearances starting with his controversial defeat at the hands of Count Dracula at Mahalaxmi. Since that run, trainer Dallas Todywalla always had Stone Ridge running to the front (as if to prove some point to our stipes and stewards alike) only to surrender to Yukon, Victory March and Crowning Moment on three different occasions. This time out Stone Ridge was run in check by Mallesh Narredu and that seemed to have done the trick for this Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy property. Anthology ran a game second and will be a different prospect when he ventures out next.
