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Secret Punch Justifies Favouritism

By Pearcey | 18 Nov 2011 | BANGALORE


Trainer F Sirajuddin leading Secret Punch (P S Chouhan Up), winner of The Kabini Cup

Runaway victories for the Sirajuddin trained pair of Secret Punch and Win Again, and a superb debut from first-timer Cielamour dominated Friday's racing at Bangalore. All three performances had a similarity, as they were achieved in an identical manner. The Kabini Cup, a sprint handicap for horses rated 60-85, featured an ordinary card of seven events framed for the afternoon's action at this centre. With many stables choosing to await their turn, the number of runners participating in today's races were perhaps the smallest that we have seen in recent times. The day's feature had an overwhelming favourite in Secret Punch. This three year old had improved by leaps and bounds after his first success in summer. After winning another race on the local track, he had gone to Malakpet. The manner in which he had handled the strong challenge from some well performed Hyderabad based opponents was remarkable. Travelling over his best trip of six furlongs, he had given weight and a beating to all of them. He subsequently clashed with Silken Touch on Derby Day at Mysore. Lacking stamina over an extended trip, Secret Punch was unable to match strides with the filly. Sirajuddin chose to revert to a sprint, and ran him in handicap company today. Since the opposition was weak, the bookmakers had no option but to install him as an odds-on choice in this race.

The action unfolded on expected lines. The speedy Romance In The Air made the early running and led into the straight. Secret Punch waited patiently before making his bid. It was only a question of when PS Chouhan would move with the favourite. The brakes were released near the bend. Secret Punch overtook Romance In The Air and led a procession towards the winning post. Youre Wonderful moved from the rear of the field and took the third place ahead of Casanova. The winner has the ability to win again on promotion.

Win Again gave Sirajuddin the pleasure of completing a double. This three year old had scored a narrow victory over Capote and Decorated in the same class at Mysore. Even though he was given a winning penalty, the burden was marginalized by Vaideeshwaran's allowance today. However, the punters had other ideas. With money flowing in the direction of Bryant Park and Lads Ability, the odds against Win Again kept on rising till the horses reached the starting gates. The race itself happened to be a one-sided affair. Win Again took a good jump, led from the start and kept increasing his lead till he crossed the wire. He won by a widening margin of almost seven lengths in a timing fractionally slower than Secret Punch's in the day's feature. Lads Ability, Unique Show and Shoot Out filled the rest of the frame. Bryant Park was totally out of depth amongst the present set of runners.

An outstanding performance from Martin Dwyer, who scored with three strongly fancied runners, stole the limelight on Friday. The easiest of these victories came astride Attaollahi's Cielamour. This well bred filly (Burden Of Proof-Ciel) was participating in the first race for maiden two year olds this season. On the basis of her brilliant track work, she was installed as a firm favourite in this race. Some late support for Maths Baby added to the excitement. After taking a level start, Martin Dwyer had little problem in settling Cielamour behind the leader. A mere nudge at the top of the straight was enough to increase her momentum. Cielamour quickened like a seasoned campaigner and strode away from a late finishing Math's Baby and Quick Enough. The winner is definitely blessed with a lot of talent.

The other two wins were achieved with a pair of Padmanabhan trainees. The first of them was Formidable. The four year old colt had run a couple of poor races in summer. The trainer decided to increase his trip to a mile. In the hands of Christopher, Brave Cat received strong support to start as a firm choice of the punters. With Super Spectacle setting a strong pace ahead of Brave Cat, Dwyer and Formidable were seen in mid-group as the runners traversed the first half of their journey. The leading pair went further ahead as they came into the straight. Formidable was still running off the pace. Jockey Christopher confined his efforts to overtaking Super Spectacle, and somehow missed the lurking danger behind the two of them. He was caught napping in the final furlong. Dwyer and Formidable came with a flourish to floor him near the winning post. Christopher's injudicious handling of Brave Cat earned him a 12 day suspension from the Stewards of the Club.

The MS Krishnappa Memorial Cup gave Martin Dwyer an opportunity to complete his treble. On all known form, Cherelle had the requisite credentials to start as the favourite in this race. With Royal Surprise and Super Surprise showing out early in the straight, Cherelle was forced to make her move towards the outer portion of the track. The talented jockey found galloping room on the wide outside. Cherelle was given a nice balanced ride thereafter. She responded gamely to her jockey's strong urgings, lengthened her strides and put it across Super Surprise and Royal Surprise. The last named was ridden by Spaniard Jorge Horcajada. This was the first day that he was seen riding in India. It may take him a while before he gets used to the local conditions, track and professional competition.

Arjun Mangalorkar's Simply Best had been running some forward races in recent times. However, the presence of first season apprentice Mudassar somehow made race goers ignores his chances today. Warren Singh's Thejaguar cornered late support to start as a marginal favourite ahead of the others. After collaring Catmaran inside the final two furlongs, Thejaguar assumed command and charged towards the winning post. He had no answers to the final onslaught of Simply Best. In the hands of a raw apprentice, rank outsider Simply Best came with a sustained run to beat Thejaguar and a tired Catmaran in this sprint event for horses in Class IV.

The day ended with an exciting victory for Britto's Absence. The winner had led from the gates and had kept increasing his lead till well into the straight. It was it this stage that PS Chouhan had to use all his skills. Realizing that Absence was losing steam, he pulled out his stick. Under some forceful riding in the final stages, Absence managed to sustain a strong and determined challenge from Star Crest. Only three parts of a length separated the two of them. Sun Rich managed to retain the third spot in this race. Having already ridden Secret Punch to victory in the day's feature, this effort helped PS Chouhan to complete a well deserved double for the afternoon.