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Shubh Shubh Breaks Brahmaputra’s Record

By Parjanya | 08 Sep 2009 | DELHI


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An electrifying turn of foot helped Shubh Shubh to create history by becoming the third horse ever at the National level to complete a 1,000 m race under 0.59 seconds at the Delhi races here on Tuesday. Forest Flair (Mumbai) holds the record with 0.58.04seconds and Rosmini (Pune) with 0.58.52seconds. En route to make a back-to-back double within a short span of three weeks, he broke the year-old record of Brahmaputra - a mighty local hero who never tasted defeat at the Delhi race course. Coincidentally, ace jockey Rajinder achieved a unique feat of guiding both the horses. Shubh Shubh is presently at devastating form, a welcome turn after Dream Debut handed him over two narrow defeats during the previous calendar. The bay colt was in receipt of 5.5 kilos against the arch rival. But the wining wave of Shubh Shubh swept away all including Dream Debut. He had an easy task while taking on class three field on the opening day of the season and more or less in the similar way he returned to the winning block. He took quick start but had to wait for less than half-a-furlong to snatch the issue from King Challenge. However, once six-furlong track record-holder Degas did dare to match strides until the duo straightened for the homestretch. Rajinder simply urged the colt slightly and the outcome made the judge to declare him as the new five-furlong turf record-holder. The son of Hymn and Miss Discreet bettered the previous record of 59.25 second to 58.63 seconds. "Undoubtedly, he made me proud. I had never expected that he would break the record," Sunil Kumar Verma told me. "Champion Sprinters Cup (which will be held in October) is on his agenda and I wish him to keep his head aloft," he said. "He suffered from jaundice after the outbreak of equine influenza and that came as a shock for the stable but despite this he ran bravely in the classic," trainer Ishwar Singh Parmar said. The winning duo later completed a double with Sonic Boom. The race goers spent first half of the day cheerfully with three favourites crossing the wire safely but the later half made them sweat. A youngster Saphire began the show while making every post a winning one in the upper division of the Astana Plate. Following the footsteps of the former, Te Quiro was the other favourite to rule the roost in the lower division of the competition. But after the victory of Shubh Shubh, choosing a winner became a difficult task for everyone. Sonic Boom who landed spoilsports in the World Trade Tower gave the visiting jockey AJ Nilesh his first victory at the soil of the National capital. The senior division of the Jungle Steps Plate saw the first nail-biting finish between Gandiva and Beatrice. The former, under the guidance of S Raju, foiled the start-to-finish bid of the latter (should make amends). The Ladyisshady caused an upset in the lower division of the similar event. Jockey SA Shah and Trainer Aleem Khan were the other professionals to score a double. Earlier, the pair got united in the Saphire's success. The Dukes and The Boss, who came from behind to finish second and third respectively would be able to earn a bracket. The notable runners: Ashwa Pallavi sought strong handling. The run of Dream Debut (fourth) and Take a Chance (who finished off the board) should be kept aside. Polish Beauty, who ran late second to Te Quiero, should soon raise a winning gallop. Red Mesa bears watching. Global Spirit and Silver Girl should strip fitter. King Challenge and Dolton Power, who was not offered any assistance in the straight due to lack of passage, may strike soon.