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D'artagnan Wins The Juvenile Million

By Pearcey | 24 May 2009 | BANGALORE


D'artagnan (Wyne Smith Up), winner of The Fernhill's Place Juvenile Million Gr-III

Padmanabhan's D'artagnan confirmed his place amongst the top three year olds at Bangalore by making every post a winning one in The Fernhills Palace Juvenile Million (Grade II) on Sunday. This big made horse had left a fine impression while winning his maiden start in top class timing, an effort which had seen him starting as an on-money favourite in the last of the Winter Millions in March. He had blemished his copybook by running an insipid race on a day when Aboline had swept the opposition off their feet. His supporters were ready to forget that single aberration, and gave him another chance to show his capabilities. Although Cruising had beaten him in their previous clash, D'artagnan was fancied ahead of the filly. Attaolahi's Cielo Rey started as a marginal favourite ahead of D'artagnan, Astral Flash and Forest Flair. Cielo Rey was drawn four in a field of nine runners. He had played up on the way to the starting gates and was a bit troublesome at the time of loading. He suddenly rushed the starting gates and parted company with Suraj Narredu. The gate got damaged , and the horse ran riderless on the track. He was soon apprehended, checked by the veterinary doctor and re-stalled. As per rule 156 of the" Rules Of Racing", a horse shall be stalled on the wide outside if his assigned gate is found to be damaged. In case all the gates are occupied, the said horse shall be withdrawn. Cielo Rey was accordingly stalled in gate number ten. The stall number made no difference to his performance, as he was totally disinterested in the proceedings. He failed to respond to Suraj's urgings. The favourite put up a lacklustre performance, and finished way behind the leading group. Wayne Smith lost no time in easing D'artagnan into an early lead, and showed the way to Miss Everywhere, Forest Flair, Astral Flash, Cruising and Star Of Marmalade. The order remained more or less the same as they took the climb and entered the straight. D'artagnan quickened nicely thereafter, and began to draw away from the pack. The top weight took its toll on Forest Flair, who began to lose touch with the leader. Astral Flash was seen making up some ground along with Star of Marmalade and Cruising. D'artagnan hit the wire three parts of a length ahead of Astral Flash. Star Of Marmalade and Cruising finished another half a length behind the first two. The winner obviously relished the front running tactics employed by Smith, and showed that he likes to race in front. Pesi Shroff's Astral Flash put up an impressive display , as she was handling the local conditions for the first time in her career. She was gaining ground with each stride and showed her penchant for a longer trip. She shall be a frontline contender in The Fillies Trial stakes. Inspite of giving chunks of weight to his rivals, Forest Flair ended a fair fifth. The Colts Classic is bound to turn out into a close contest between Aboline, Forest Flair and D'artagnan. The D'artagnan connections had the pleasure of leading-in another juvenile winner during the afternoon. The well bred Messalina (Alnasr Alwasheek-Palazzio) covered acres of ground as she came from the rear of the field, and downed the colours of Brunetta. Brunetta had received one sided support and had started as a half money favourite to win this event. She had overtaken the early leaders and shaping like a winner before Messalina arrived on the scene. Messalina had looked very soft in the paddock, and today's performance augurs well for the future. The winner shall be a different prioposition in her next start, and is destined to race in top class company. Becket was another horse from Padmanabhan's stable who was expected to win his race. The dark bay colt apparently got disturbed by the band playing at the Club's premises.He played up and fell while being led towards the saddling enclosure. The withdrawl of this market leader saw huge money flowing in the direction of Karthik Ganapathy's The Pearl. This Prakash ridden filly had performed creditably at Mumbai, and was touted as a certain winner amongst maiden company. She was trotted a couple of times near the starting gates before the "vets" certified her fit to race. Their early doubts were confirmed on the track, as the favourite began to send out distress signals near the final turn.The Pearl began to drop out of contention. Suraj Narredu was quick to qeize the opportunity, as he produced Sans Pareil on the wide outside and stormed to the front. Mallesh brought Natouchka with a nice run, and joined issue with the leader. The whips were flying for a while before Sans Pareil assereted her superiority. The unluckiest runner in this race was Savvy Concept. The big made chestnut recieved a major check near the bend, and Frenchman Breux was lucky to remain in the saddle. Savvy Concept regained the lost ground, and ended a commendable third. He will be too good to miss in his next start. Suraj had earlier won with Dhariwal's three year old Captivating. A winner of all three starts in Winter, Captivating was rated at the top of Class III. She was set to face a bunch of older horses and stood tall amongst the eight starters. Captivating was a rare money-back favourite in this race. Suraj did not have to move a muscle, as the nice looking filly cantered away in the straight. Second placed Pelikano, who was given an easy run , should win a race for horses in his own age group. Ganapathy's Mystic Quest was another short priced favourite to romp home to an easy victory. This filly had run a close second to some of the better three year olds during Bangalore Winter. She definitely looked superior to today's opposition, and she confirmed this on the track. Prakash took her to the front, and despite Imran Chisty's best efforts on Portobello, ran away from the field. In fact, it was Spark of Bronte who got stronger at the finish and displaced Portobello from the runner-up berth. On the basis of this run, Spark of Bronte should be able to give Prasanna Kumar another winner later in the season. The day started with C Alford taking Darius Byramji trained Glorioso on a start-to finish mission over seven furlongs. Tanzanite had recieved good support close to race time, and this had resulted in the odds against favourite Glorioso expanding to 7/4. Imran Chisty and Tanzanite were always racing close behind Glorioso, but the leader quickened nicely in the last furlong and put the issue beyond doubt.Third placed Hatsuhaana looked a bit soft in the paddock, and should improve on this run. Duke Of Windsor was given an easy run, despite which he ended a close fourth. He has been brought here for summering and will be exploited after returning to Pune. The only other race in the day's card was easily annexed by Amit Caddy's Xel. P S Chouhan took no chances as he brushed the filly into an early lead, and kept the even-money favourite going till the end. She passed the winning post almost eight lengths clear of her opponents. The handicapper is likely to get her measure,and this small made filly shall have to come down in the scales before repeating today's performance.