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Jockey Srinath corners the limelight

By Sharan Kumar | 02 Jun 2001 | BANGALORE


ROYAL SATIN (Y.S.Srinath up), winner of the Karnataka Police Cup being led in by trainer Arjun Mangalorkar

 

without doubt Y S Srinath is a jockey in the classic mould. Unfortuantely, the youngster has been dogged by weight problems that has often kept him out of action for considerable periods. He had a glorious 2000, with success on Alliare in the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby serving as an icing on the cake. The Derby win followed his splendid feat at Macau where he rode more than 25 winners, the only Indian to have won so many races abroad.

Just when he looked to have turned the corner, he had a nightmarish start to the new year as he was involved in a road accident where he had a miraculous escape. But the injuries he suffered ensured that he missed action for six months and by the time he was ready for the fray, he had put on so much weight that it took a Herculean effort to shed weight which could qualify him to ride in the region of around 56 kgs. Srinath's performance on Saturday where he booted home four winners brought him back to the limelight once again and it is for him to capitalize on it and do justice to his talent. He abilities compare favourbly with that of Pesi Shroff although he has a long road ahead of him if he wishes to emulate the stalwart.

Be that as it may, Srinath was at his best when driving out Royal Satin to victory in the 1400 metres Karnataka Police Cup, the feature event of the day. Royal Satin has been a genuine customer and he has always lived up to the expectations of trainer Arjun Mangalorkar. With Allocated, a rousing performer last Summer, yet to get back to peak fitness, the Green Forest-Colour Me In four-year old gelding came in for spirited betting and he readily justified the support, with a resolute run in the home stretch. Desert Gold who runs best when she is allowed to run freely in front, however, was out of depth in this company as she shot her bolt after bringing the field into view. Allocated led for a brief while but lacked the fitness to kick clear. Srinath drove out Royal Satin through the middle to stave off the challenge of Comet Star who showed up from the rear to be an eye-catching second. Bank Balance who ran detached from the field till turning for home, found his bearings only in the final two furlongs and was full of running at the finish. Srinath made use of the whip to get Royal Satin to quicken at a crucial stage of the race. Axe who is plagued by a tendon problem, was done in by the steep penalty he incurred for running an unexpected second behind Tempt Me Not in his last run. Allocated who finished fourth, would be a different proposition next time out.

The Dashmesh Stud progenies have been in good nick this season, with horses sired by the now deceased Green Forest in great heart. Michael Eshwer trained Judge Jules who was a failed favourite when classic hopeful Astor Place decimated the opposition at Mumbai, was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the Tudor Jet Plate, a seven furlong affair for maiden three-year olds. The Green Forest-Jerwah gelding Judge Jules readily justified the support. Srinath kept Judge Jules a handy third as St Lucinda showed the way before letting the favourite assume command inside the final 250 metres. Judge Jules went clear in a trice to win pulling up. Scoring Shot lost considerable ground at the start.

Srinath brought off a stunning upset on Flaming Tower in the Rare Gem Plate, a six furlong affair for three-year old maidens. Pettalumma who had run behind some good horses in winter, was expected to have an easy outing and the bookmakers too refused to look beyond the filly so much so that she was money back in the ring. Jockey Aslam Kader took Pettalumma on a start to finish mission but the filly began shorten her strides inside the final 100 metres. With Srinath going all out on Flaming Tower, the battling duo went past the post locked together. For the naked eye, it looked as though the favourite held on but the the photo-finish  picture showed a different picture. Much to everyone's surprise, Flaming Tower had won by a whisker. It was difficult to explain the poor run of Pettalumma and as one racing official put it: `` I thought Pettalumma would win by a distance but the filly's run is hard to explain. It is one of those days when the filly performed far below potential.'' 

Srinath rounded off the day with the fourth win of the day, on Arjun Mangalorkar's Jungle Cat who led from the word `go' and then went clear of the field in the run in for home. Discuss who was strongly fancied to win, packed up after showing up prominently rounding the final bend. Forest Boy, despite M R Singh's inept handling, dragged himself to the second spot ahead of Suhasini.

Jockey Rakesh was doing a policeman's job on Weapon Alpha or so it appeared as he pushed out fancied Draggers Drawn out at around the bend. Hope And Faith, a hat-tricker in winter, appeared to be in danger of being passed first by Draggers Drawn and then by Refresher, but the game Broto filly, despite loosing her stride at the bend, regained her composure and responded gamely to jockey Appu's urgings who was handicapped by the loss of the whip at a crucial stage. Refresher flattered to deceive and Draggers Drawn was a disappointing third.