Quite often the best of the jockeys have failed to strike a winning partnership with horses which otherwise are capable. Like for example, Supervite who won the Indian Derby a few years ago in the hands of Ruzzan, didn’t perform to expectations when Pesi Shroff was astride. Likewise, Padmanabhan trained Antwerp is another who performed at his best when Irishman Paul Eddery was in the saddle.

Antwerp had reeled off five wins as a four-year old and on only one occasion was Aslam astride the gelding. Often, he took other mounts when he had a choice to ride Antwerp and when he did ride the gelding, it did not produce the desired result. As
such, the Green Forest progeny’s failure as a favourite in the 1600 metres K N Guruswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above, which featured Saturday’s races did not exactly come as a surprise though not for a large section of the race-goers reposed their blind confidence in Antwerp.

The Green Forest-Barefoot Contessa five-year old gelding Antwerp was backed to the exclusion of his rivals, with Hong Kong who had recorded a hard-fought win over Aerobee in his last outing in winter, being next in demand. Aslam Kader took the favourite on a start to finish mission but it was becoming increasingly clear to the backers of the favourite as the field approached the final bend that the Green Forest progeny was quickly running out of steam and Hong Kong Boy was traveling well within himself. Inside the final 300 metres, when Appu put Hong Kong

Boy in top gear, the Abeille progeny quickened nicely to go clear, to win by a widening margin of five lengths over Antwerp who barely managed to stave off Aerobee for the runner-up spot. The top-weight covered acres of ground in the run in for home but his task was hopeless as he was let to do too much by jockey Srinath. Hong Kong Boy thus recorded his third win under the charge of trainer Mohan Valavi.

Hong Kong boy incidentally is owned by the Poonawallas in partnership with the Hong Kong based Rusi M Shroff and Mrs Purviz R Shroff but unfortunately, the owners haven't been present even on one occasion to lead in the horse who achieved a hat-trick. Trainer Mohan Valavi has done well with the Abeille progeny. He is easily one of the best among the up and coming trainers at this centre. Perhaps some encouragement from sporting owners like the Poonawallas and their partners would help the talented youngster to make his mark in big league. Hong Kong Boy's next destination is likely to be Malaysia.

Manohar led in a winner through Border Bounty in the last race of the day, after waiting for eternity, courtesy trainer Ganapathy who is under suspension for breach of medication rules. While that in itself was an occasion to celebrate for the trainer to lead in a winner along with turf baron Dr M A M Ramaswamy, such an eventuality would not have come about but for D Patel who stopped owner mate Bold Tycoon too blatantly for comfort. Patel was promptly summoned before the

Stewards and with the jockey agreeing that he hadn’t let the horse to run on merits, he was suspended till March 31, 2002. For Patel, this has been a recurring happening. The jockey has been exploited to give runs but unfortunately, the jockey hasn’t perfected the art of giving runs without getting into trouble, despite being at it year after year! 

While jockey Prakash had a fortuitous winner through Border Bounty, he was in the news for other reasons as well. He had accepted to ride Star of Gaiety despite knowing full well that he would not make the riding weight, which was 48 kgs. Since he had carried overweight for the same owner on an earlier occasion at Mumbai, he might have been under the impression that he could do here likewise. Since Star of Gaiety was a fancied runner, the connections belatedly sought a change, which was permitted by the Stewards. Appu came in place of Prakash as he could make the weight comfortably. The unreliable Star of Gaiety galloped in snatches and was finishing on when the favourite Antequera had sewn up the Speaker’s Cup. Prakash ended up with a fine for his shenanigans.

Prakash who rode Border Bounty to victory, had earlier in the day, won on Icelandic Hope in a typically patented ride, marked by an aggressive finish. Blue Gardenia, the on-money favourite led all the way but not at the busy end as Icelandic Hope’s finishing burst floored the favourite in the shadow of the winning post. The runs of Street Smart and Echo Star were eye-catching.

Karan Singh trained Dancer’s Dream has been somewhat of a goldmine in the sense that every time money has come on the Poet’s Dream progeny, the four-year old has invariably obliged. Dancer’s Dream was available at a higher price than was warranted considering his credentials as money came in the direction of Time of War and First Principle. Jockey Shakti Singh took no chances with the favourite as he settled him in the second position and let Tina’s Tune call the shorts

till turning for home. Inside the final 300 metres, Dancer’s Dream surged clear to win with a measure of comfort. Time of War who is endowed with only a short burst had been used up while moving into a striking position from an outside draw and faded out in the straight to finish in the rut. Winning Charm found foot too late to be of any use.

Jockey Appu had ridden Nairn to the ground when Blue Hare was the winner in winter. The Razeen progeny, who is blessed with a good turn of foot, was taken on a start to finish mission by Appu and the favourite lasted out to win from Great Occasion who finished with a flourish. Fizaa was third ahead of Hyderabad’s Tooling who was sporting a visor for the first time despite which he did not run on an even keel. Padmanabhan trained Arcaro who was turned out in excellent condition, won the Esquire Plate (Div II) quite easily. Aslam Kader took the took the favourite to the front from the outside draw and Arcaro did enough to stave off the challenge of Elegant Monarch on whom jockey Ritesh was guilty of excessive use of whip. There was a flood of money on Amazon Gold who had finished ahead of Arcaro when the two had clashed in winter but the Rebounding Thrill progeny was a beaten horse long before the race took a serious turn.

Pride Valley was presented with a gift race as the Mangalorkar ward was set to take on a field, which comprised a combination of useless horses and non-jobbers. Shakti Singh had an armchair ride to victory, his only job perhaps was to restrict the margin of victory to escape a stiff penalty but he did not succeed as the Steinbeck progeny spared a distance at the finish to Imperial Force who took the runner-up spot, in the battle of non-jobbers.