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Mumbai season off to a flying start

By Usman Rangila | 18 Nov 2001 | MUMBAI


Queenscliff (M Narredu Up), winner of the Deepali plate

Giving ample time to the professionals for relocating to Mahalaxmi racecourse, the Royal Western India Turf Club very thoughtfully planned the flagging off of the 2001-2002 racing season on a Sunday. Thus, eight races were on the card with competitive fields to complement. 

The entire stretch of the Mahalaxmi track was lush green and both the enclosures had a bridal make-up of sorts that gave a pleasant feeling to all those who came to witness the sport on the inaugural day. With the labour problem off his back for good, Mr Nanjappa, the estate officer of the Mumbai racecourse had ample time on his hands to give a refurbished look to the turf lawns. The surroundings of the weighing room as also paddock have been given a facelift like never before. The estate officer and his staff deserve kudos indeed for all their hard work. 

Followers of form fetched handsome rewards for, barring the exception of Foreign Connection, no outsider hit the board. Lightning Arrow set the tone for the season when he held on gamely to win from the late finishing Marion Jones. Favourite Ride The Lightning bowed out of the fray without much ado though he did manage to flatter when taking over the running mid-way through the race.

Celtic Son entered the winner’s circle with a smashing victory in the hands of C. Rajendra. Accademia and Lek failed to make any impression on the winner once he took charge of the running about two furlongs from home. 

Trainer Hanut Singh had an ace up his sleeves in debutant Royal Honey who made mincemeat of his seven rivals including the on-money favourite Blushing Minstrel. The son of Sir Bruce thundered on to the scene as the horses straightened for home and was never in any danger of being caught thereafter. Blushing Minstrel ran green and R. Rupesh was never able to get the Dallas Todywalla ward to run on an even keel. Rising Passion gave notice of an impending victory when finishing a leisurely third. Later on My Opinion provided Hanut with his second winner of the day though T. S. Jodha was forced to use his whip freely to get the Cruachan progeny into his stride. Coronado, Thrilling Lights and Safari Girl finished in that order behind My Opinion all these three horses are in line for a bracket sooner rather than later.

Queenscliff (Razeen-Tick Tock) from the yards of trainer Cooji Katrak stole the limelight with a winning appearance that can only be termed as classy. The three-year-old filly, one of the many aspirants for the Kingfisher Indian 1000 Guineas to be run later this season, swamped the opposition despite running after a long gap of precisely eight months. Showing a tremendous turn of foot, Queenscliff romped home in style after Malesh Narredu loosened his grips on the reins passing the final turn. Abbeydoran finished second, a long way back but only a neck ahead of Destiny Calling. Flasher, who was bidding for a hat-trick, was outpaced as he went in chase of Cooji’s decoy Zeta Jones.

Jockey Mark Gallagher gave a heart-warming performance astride Aspiring Star (Broto-Thunderous) as he drove him to stay clear of the rank outsider Consortium. The chestnut from Arti Doctor’s barns showed plenty of speed when he shot ahead from the barriers and held on rather valiantly due to Gallagher’s resolute riding. Days of Glory could match strides with the winner in the initial stages and also lacked proper assistance in the saddle that explains her dismal performance.

With Afilado opting out of the fray, racegoers rallied behind Columbus without considering the fact that the five-year-old has drawn a blank as far as winning is concerned. Those who realised that there was an opportunity in investing their money on the five to one Ocean Breeze had the last laugh. Ocean Breeze, as is her wont, went streaking into the lead and made every post of the seven furlong trip a winning one. 

Again, all those who rushed to back Scarlet Lake had disaster awaiting them. The Alnasr Alwasheek filly was sluggish at the start and although she was brushed up into the lead, she petered out tamely as Foreign Connection struck like a bolt from the blue. Track Emotions burst her blood vessels and did not complete the race as Mark Gallagher decided to dismount a furlong away from the winning line.