Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

Vivid Dreams wins a thriller

By Sharan Kumar | 01 Dec 2001 | BANGALORE


Vivid Dreams (Aslam Kader up), winner of the Sprinters trial stakes being led in by trainer/owner M.Eshwer

Jockey Aslam Kader is somewhat of an enigma. Without doubt, he is one of the all time greats of Indian horse racing and a controversial one too. He has had a chequered career, often interrupted by lengthy suspensions. He has been consistently hauled up by the authorities with or without justification but there is no taking away the fact that when his mind and heart is on the job at hand, there is no better jockey in pulling off difficult wins. Vivid Dreams’ victory against a formidable opposition in the Sprinters Trial Stakes that featured Saturday’s races was one such essay.

Favourites and Aslam Kader do not go hand in hand but it has been a different story as far as Michael Eshwer’s Vivid Dreams is concerned. For the second time running, Aslam Kader’s driving finish enabled the daughter of Classic Sport to exploit the pull in weights to win over rank outsider Allabreva in the shadow of the winning post. Though Vivid Dreams was taking on a seasoned opposition for the first time, the three-year old filly was backed with conviction and the optimism was not ill directed as was evidenced by the gutsy win of the favourite.

Allabreva set a fast pace, with Vivid Dreams in close attendance, followed by other fancied runners like Symphony of Fire, Alylady, Royal Satin and the rest. With Allabreva not giving up and continuing to fight doggedly, it looked as though an upset was on cards but at the finish, Aslam’s riding made the difference. A mere neck separated the first two finishers, with Alylady three lengths drift. Symphony of Fire who was expected to have a decisive say after her suggestive run last time out, faded out under pressure and the sprinters cup heroine is surely well past her best and seems to be ready for paddock duties.

The day’s races ran kindly for punters with several favourites coming through to give some respite to them. The son of Warrshan, Portman Square made a winning debut, putting it across Flowington with ease in the December Plate, a race for juveniles. Flowington is a full brother to the celebrated Running Flame and the latter never won over a sprint and considering the limitations imposed by the pedigree over this scurry, Flowington was always going to find it difficult over this sharp affair. All Rainbows whipped around at the start and raced at the outer sand track. 

Hero Worship was undoubtedly a cut above the rest in the Dr S K Pillay Memorial Plate (Div I). The Conquering Hero progeny, Hero Worship won from end to end, without having to be fully extended. Jai Bharath chased without hope while taking the runner-up spot. Native Red continued to be a big let down. The lower division of the race went the way of another of Rashid Byramji’s wards namely Swinging Conquest who too was the son of Conquering Hero. Jockey Pesi Shroff had little difficulty in keeping the favourite at a safe distance from his pursuers. Big And Blond came from way behind to finish second.

Appu’s driving finish enabled Al Habib, hitherto an expensive failure, to record a narrow win over a late-finishing Star Festival. Appu had Al Habib dictate the pace from the word `go’ and the Broto progeny held on gamely even as Star Festival was picking up momentum at the finish. The fact that Al Habib had a leeway of over three lengths on turning for home tilted the scales in favour of the top-weight. Barassie, who had been given a light ride by Appu last time out, slammed the opposition in the Udupi Cup (Div II). In the lower division, Anzac continued to be a failure, with the race going in favour of Radcliff who proved too speedy for the opposition while recording his second straight win. The long wait with Cashflo finally paid off as the rank outsider put it across Daiimio to record the biggest upset of the day.