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Still Will Sparkles under PS Chouhan

By Pearcey | 04 Jun 2011 | BANGALORE


Trainer S Dominic leading Still Will (P S Chouhan Up), winner of The K. N. Guruswamy Memorial Trophy Div-I

Leading professional PS Chouhan stole the thunder at Bangalore by scoring a superb hat-trick on Saturday. In an eight-event card, the lightweight jockey rode brilliantly to win three of the closest finishes witnessed during the afternoon. His cup of joy would have been full to the brim but for a slight aberration, wherein, he lost another race in the Stewards Room after winning it on the race track. The much sought after jockey is currently passing through an excellent phase in his career. The fact that he won the highest number of races in the country during the period starting from Bangalore Summer last year and ending with Mumbai Season last month, speaks volumes of the progress that he has made as a rider. Winning close to 170 events, and that too without a win at Chennai or Ooty, is an outstanding performance. After missing the opening weekend, the young man seems to be getting into his strides and looks set to mount a strong challenge for the "jockey's championship" this season. In the absence of Suraj Narredu, this may not be too difficult. He is one of the few jockeys who can make the lowest allocated weight in Indian racing, and that is a huge advantage. A nice seat, good balance, fine temperament and a powerhouse finish are the other qualities that may enable him to achieve higher goals in the coming years.

The KN Guruswamy Memorial Trophy, a sprint handicap for horses four years old and over, saw a large number of horses accepting to face the starter. This led to the race being split into two divisions. The day's feature had an "open" look, with most of the runners appearing to have a reasonable chance of landing the spoils. Since most of them had raced against each other in recent months, and quite a few of them were running for the first time this season, there was very little to separate the 11 of them. Present fitness and current form were bound to play an important part in determining the final outcome of this race. Prithviraj-trained Abnoba received strong support in the betting ring and started as a 5/2 favourite ahead of Neil Darashah's Friendly Bond. There was little help for those willing to back an outsider, as most of the other runners were available at 10's and over.

Rank outsider Another Destiny set a strong pace and showed the way to Friendly Bond, Abnoba and Sweet Surrender, while Superb Style and Eagle Claws led the rest as the runners tackled the first half of this race. The field began to bunch up near the top of the straight, and one could see the jockeys jostling to hold their positions. Friendly Bond overtook Another Destiny at that stage and under some forceful riding from Chary, assumed command of the proceedings. While Abnoba buckled under pressure and dropped out of contention, it was Sweet Surrender who went in chase of the leader. It was almost at the same juncture that the Dominic trained Still Will (Mischevious Music - Tal) appeared on the scene. Chouhan produced him on the wide outside and asked him for an effort. The blinkered horse came charging down the straight and managed to get the better of Friendly Bond near the winning post. Sweet Surrender hung onto his third berth while Montedoro came from way back to figure on the board. Abnoba burst her blood vessels to finish in the ruck.

The next race was even more exciting. Once again, it was Dominic and Chouhan who succeeded with a light framed three-year-old named Sivanta (Mr Mellon –Marquisa). This chestnut gelding came in for some spirited betting to head the betting boards ahead of Dancing Emeralds, Swiss Don and Ibelieveinmiracle. Those who had backed this runner lost hopes when they saw him missing the kick at the gates. Scenic Blast charged out of the gates and set a very strong pace in this five-and-a-half-furlong race. He led by more than five lengths from Ibelieveinmiracles and Dancing Emeralds as they turned for home. Sivanta was seen making some progress on the wide outside, but he was still more than ten lengths behind the leaders. Chouhan decided to save some ground by ducking inwards and this somehow helped his cause. He started covering ground on the inside and was soon in contention. With the front-runners beginning to feel the pressure, Sivanta made up lots of ground in the last 50 metres to beat Ibelieveinmiracles on the wire. It was an unbelievable effort from both the horse and the jockey. Dancing Emeralds and Swiss Don finished close behind the first two finishers. The last name is good-looking specimen. Swiss Don was given a feel of the Bangalore track today, and after this experience, the Hyderabad-based horse will be too good to miss in a similar event later in the season.

Chouhan scored the first point in his hat-trick with Darius Byramji's Missoni (Hurricane State – Aryawun). This speedy filly was sent to Kolkata last year to have a tilt at the numerous five-furlong sprints that are conducted at that centre. However, she failed to live up to the stable's expectations and returned empty-handed from there. Running in a six-furlong handicap today, she rediscovered her lost form and managed to hold onto her early advantage. Taking off from the widest draw, she was assisted by Chouhan to race prominently till the bend. She was pushed into the lead thereafter, and under some forceful riding from her jockey, was able to contain a strong and powerful challenge from the even-money favourite Crown Vision. The latter could have turned the tables on the winner but for an unenterprising ride from her jockey. She was held back till well into the straight and was asked to do too much thereafter. Crown Vision is in good form and it will pay to follow the light framed filly in her next engagement.

The opening race of the day witnessed another close finish. Britto's Not Not Seven received one-sided support to start as the shortest priced favourite in the day's card. Chouhan tried runaway tactics and led from the very beginning. He was chased all the time by Unchallenged (Ajaad – Royal Engagement), while the others felt the pressure and faded from the scene. The two runners raced in close order till the top of the straight. Valdir De Souza brought Unchallenged with a nice run towards the centre of the track and tackled Not Not Seven near the two-furlong marker. The two of them raced side by side till the winning post. To the delight of the betting public, Not Not Seven crossed the wire a neck ahead of Unchallenged. However, their delight was short-lived. De Souza raised the expected objection against Chouhan on the grounds of bumping and interference. The TV replays clearly showed the infringement and the stewards took little time in unanimously altering the official placings.

Arjun Mangalorkar and his regular jockey S John were also associated with a fine double on Saturday. Big made Mountain Range (Razeen- Alix) carried his top weight to a gallant victory over nine furlongs. Tackling a small group of six runners, Mountain Range tracked Waikato till the bend before sailing past the leader. He confirmed his favouritism efficiently and managed to hold onto his advantage till the very end. Fist Of Rage, Castro and Waikato finished in a heap and the judge had to call for a photo to separate the three of them. The winner looks to be one-paced and his trainer is bound to exploit him over staying trips in the future. The pair of them added another point to their tallies by scoring with Sky Glider (Puerto Madero – Pure Cream). After running last of 11 runners only a fortnight ago, she was reverting to racing amongst horses in her own age group. Sky Glider raced prominently till the bend before overtaking A Move To Remember and Don Diego. At almost the same juncture, Mark Gallagher brought the strongly fancied Mystic Dawn into contention. The two of them waged a ding-dong battle in the final furlong. Mystic Dawn managed to put his neck in front but that wasn't good enough. Sky Glider fought back relentlessly and managed to pip the favourite in the last few strides of this race. Strongly fancied Supremacy ended a faraway third.

Arjun and John were unable to score with the strongly fancied Florida in the lower division of The KN Guruswamy Memorial Trophy. This unbeaten filly was racing for only the third time in her career. She was coming into this race with a heavy penalty. It was unusual to see a winner of two races at the age of four being handicapped in Class II. However, there were many amongst the racing public who chose to back her with confidence, and the filly started as an even-money choice in this race. She darted out of the gates, made all the running, led into the straight and called it a day. She shortened her strides in the final furlong to fade away from the scene. Being alert to the situation, Noel Callow was quick to seize the advantage. He pushed Attaolahi's Corleone into a narrow advantage over Citrali and Romance In The Air. The three of them raced alongside in the final furlong. In the hands of apprentice Pradeep, Citrali got up on the very last stride to get the better of Corleone.

Trainer Ganapathy kept his board ticking by saddling Forever Glory (Alnasr Alwasheek – Forever Elegance) to her maiden success. The Southern Regent Trophy had attracted a nice bunch of horses. Sartoga Spring, Top Secret and Forever Glory were expected to be the top contenders in this event. With the first-named picking up an injury on the morning of the race, it turned out to be a match between the other two. Top Secret's second behind Dancerella earlier this season was considered to be good enough to win today. Ladjadj Stephane had things under control in the last furlong, when he was more than two lengths clear of Forever Glory. Mark Gallagher refused to give up and kept urging the filly. She responded gamely, and came charging in the last 100 metres to go past the favourite. Top Secret will have to wait a little longer before he gets an opportunity to enter the winner's enclosure.