Cooji Katrak seeks to set the record straight with Venus Arising 
By Usman Rangila

Pune
Oct 17, 2004

A dozen three-year-old horses including four fillies will come under the starter’s order for the Nanoli Stud sponsored Pune Derby 2004, which will be run over a mile-and-a-quarter and offers a whopping Rs. 27.20 lac in prize money to the ultimate winner. 

Malesh Narredu has won this premier event astride Indictment, Tobler and Artois when donning the silks for Mr Khushroo Dhunjibhoy in the past. One common factor in the success of Mr Dhunjibhoy is that trainer Vinayak has saddled all his three Pune Derby winners. This year, however, it will be Venus Arising from the yards of Cooji Katrak, who will be the torchbearer of the Dhunjibhoy camp.

Venus Arising (Steinbeck-Lei) won the General Rajendrasinhji Trophy (Gr.3) in taking style in her only appearance of the season and the turn of foot displayed by the filly during her victory is likely to make her the first choice of the majority. Venus Arising, subsequent to her successful outing this season, has maintained her winning form and fitness which is amply evident through her recent track movements. Despite a prolific career, veteran Cooji Katrak is yet to saddle a Derby winner at any racing centre. Cooji has pinned his hopes on Venus Arising and the filly could provide her master the deserved opportunity to lead in a Derby winner. Malesh Narredu will, in the process, seek his sixth success in the Pune Derby.

Venus Arising (M Narredu up)

Dr M.A.M. Ramaswamy’s duo Elite Zone (Placerville-First One Home) and Southern Regent (Razeen-Allinda), and Mr Deepak Khaitan’s property Formal Invitation come into the reckoning if one has to look beyond Venus Arising. Jockey B. Prakash is undeterred in spite of Southern Regent’s failure at Hyderabad and has once again preferred him ahead of Elite Zone. The Deccan Derby winner has proved his versatility more than once and will remain a live threat to all. The responsibility of steering Elite Zone has been thrust upon the Irish professional Mark Gallagher. Vijay Singh-trained Formal Invitation (Steinbeck-Invitation Only) won effortlessly in his last effort at Mysore where he beat Al Qamar by nearly six lengths. Formal Invitation will have the services of C. Alford and will surely make his presence felt at the all-important end.

One horse that may be neglected in the betting ring but who has the potential to cause a major upset over the fancied ones is Gold Star (Steinbeck-Dazzling Star). This candidate from Arti Doctor’s barns was ridden off the pace for the first time when he ran third behind Proteus and Ocean of Angels in the S.A. Poonawalla Million. Gold Star was out for an educative run in the hands of S.S. Rathore, who had to overcome many a traffic hazard. Gold Star devoured good ground towards the end but Proteus had the race all sewn up till then. Jockey Suraj Narredu’s classic temperament will be put to test aboard Gold Star.