Oasis Star (Senure – Gumbaru Etsu), property of the Mistrys and Tariq Vaidya and coming from the yard of Cooji Katrak, had the entire patronage at the Pune racecourse and those who witnessed her all across the country on the screens in a spell of shock and awe! Shock, at the ridiculous ease with which she set a new course record at Pune and awe, for her sheer prowess, rarely witnessed at this centre.

Oasis Star walked majestically out of the paddock looking as fresh as ever to take on 10 rivals for the Turf Club Trophy (Gr3). Juventus too looked in great heart and seemed worthy of the ‘main rival’ title attributed to him.
 
Beyond Belief hit the front soon on start and was joined by Cotswold Arms, Oasis Star, Juventus and Spica raced together, Personified and Aquilo were a bit slow at the gates. Juventus shot ahead in the straight but his lead was short lived. Oasis Star had only to be niggled by YS Srinath and the mare swung into action mode. She devoured ground at an awesome pace and whizzed past Juventus to one of the most convincing victories of her career. She has eleven of them now in all, including this one and four track records to her name as well. She won back to back the Sprinters’ Cup and the Dhunjibhoy Million at Hyderabad during the invitation weekend on Saturday and Sunday respectively re-writing the course record on both occasions. She holds the six-furlong track record in Mumbai as well. She got the Pune record with her latest run and then, who can forget that stupendous ‘coming-from-behind’ run in the Dr SC Jain Sprinters’ in Mumbai the season before?

Trainer Cooji Katrak deserves all praise for keeping the mare in top condition. He has nursed her well and kept her forward with astute acumen. The champion trainer was confident that his charge would fare well but he too would have been pleasantly surprised at the manner of victory that Oasis Star pulled off with little effort and lightening speed! Katrak has been doing extremely well and one cant but help admire his achievements on the track.

Oasis Star is a true Champion and a specimen that, in my opinion, has to represent India on the international scenario. The EI epidemic last year was the main reason why Oasis Star could not race overseas. The quarantine and other formalities make it that much more difficult for Indian horses to be raced abroad. However, all must be done by the powers-that-be, to make a collective effort and ensure that horses like Oasis Star do get an opportunity to showcase their talent on the international arena.

Part owner Tariq Vaidya was thrilled to see his mare notch up her 11th victory. “It is the best feeling to see your favourite mare compile a stylish win time and again..Each time we expect her to do well, Oasis Star comes up with something extra and it thrills us to watch her performance. Yesterday’s victory proves beyond doubt that she is the best in the business. You saw for yourself that she was not pressed at all at any stage. We are yet to see her full potential. We would love to see her match strides with horses overseas and will be working on her immediate future assignment. I strongly feel she is one Indian race-horse today, capable of taking on stiffer competition,” Mr Vaidya told Indiarace.