.png)
India's first & foremost horse racing portal
Register Now 
Ansbach asserts his class
By Sharan Kumar | 19 May 2002 | BANGALORE
Ansbach (C.Alford up), winner of the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar cup being led in by trainer Vijay Singh
There is no substitute for class and Ansbach proved this in no uncertain manner when claiming the first graded race of the season, the Gr 3 Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup, a rich terms race for four-year olds that featured Sunday’s races. Snow Dew, who had gone sour after a series of wins in classics, appeared a pale shadow of the brilliant performer that she was and from now on, one can expect only a downslide and the others who had been beaten by her to get the better of her. Ansbach, despite being short on preparation, came up with a striking acceleration to easily overhaul the front-running Bold Chieftan with a great deal of comfort. With jockey Aslam Kader loosing out the retainer-ship of Deepak Khaitan, C Alford did duty on the Vijay Singh ward. The striking jockeys of the Jockeys Association of India saw more desertions on the second day and it is clear the majority would return should they get the chance to exercise that option.
Snow Dew had been showing out in the pre-race preparation and as such, race-goers expected the daughter of Razeen to regain her sparkle and made her the favourite to win. History was against her as fillies that have lost their orientation, have rarely back come to show the old sparkle. Snow Dew who had gone sour after her win in the Indian 1000 Guineas in December last, had run listlessly thereafter, showing a dislike for racing.
The ultra-consistent Ansbach, who had just one bad run in the Invitation Cup under his belt, was offered at nourishing odds. Bold Chieftan, no mean customer, did the job of pace making and Hyderabad’s Mega Top who failed to hit the front, as is his wont, failed to match strides and hence was never a threat. Ansbach was handily placed along with Taipan, while Snow Dew, after being held up in the rear, was moving up suggestively.
Bold Chieftan kicked on gamely but was found wanting when the son of Alnasr Alwasheek, Ansbach came up with his patented burst. Ansbach easily sailed past the front-runner and retired home with something to spare. He should make further progress after this run. Snow Dew’s challenge fizzled out even before it began and the filly finished a tame third behind stable mate and pace maker Bold Chieftan. Taipan, who was favoured by the terms of the race, lacked the class to pose a serious threat to the more accomplished runners in the fray and finished fourth.
Soviet Bay’s win in the 1200 metres Kunigal Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 45, only confirmed this writer’s assertion that the son of Bold Russian will reach the highest class. It is mystifying as to how it took so long to do so and the facile victory in a tough bunch only confirmed the early suspicious runs. The performance of Noble Executive was mystifying and his run has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Even assuming that Soviet Bay had the credentials to win, Noble Executive should have beaten the rest of the brigade by a convincing margin. Instead he was a poor third and Noble Executive’s performance could be attributed to the fact that he was quoted at most cramped odds. Soviet Bay who was held up in the rear, moved up smoothly on the wide outside and won going away. Golden Collection was a surprise second ahead of the favourite.
With jockey Shakti Singh having been part of the striking brigade, trainer Dominic sought the withdrawal of Cold Fire who was a firm favourite in the ante post betting. Dominic said that he did not want to risk running an on-money favourite with an apprentice jockey and his wish was granted as it was within the new rules framed that prohibits a full-fledged jockey being replaced by an apprentice. The Stewards were however compelled by the situation to overrule their own ruling and allow apprentices to replace full-fledged jockeys due to the strike by a section of the jockeys. With Cold Fire out of the fray, Cape Martin became the firm favourite and the Cristofori progeny duly obliged in the hands of apprentice J Chinoy who had a most fruitful week in his first appearance in Bangalore. Almonar served notice of an early success with a late flourishing run while Network was another who had a profitable outing.
The Mount Everest Plate, a seven-furlong race for three-year olds, saw Hyderabad’s Royal Carnival lose out in virtually the last stride to Strombolix. Royal Carnival shaped like a winner as he went storming clear at the top of the straight but the lack of a race run on this track told on him as he grinded to a salt, enabling Strombolix to pip him on the post. However, trainer Leo D’Silva managed to lead in a winner through the well-backed Sherie Rose who managed to survive a close call from the late-finishing Francophone. Hyderabad challengers had found it tough to win in Bangalore but this time out; a success has come the way of challengers from this centre, in the very first week itself.
Trainer Dominic led in a winner through Kimera who hammered the opposition in the 1400 metres Littleover Plate (Div I). Kimera who had recorded a narrow win on the last day of the Bangalore Winter Season, was advantageously placed as the yearly drop of three kgs had enabled the son of Classic Sport almost nullify the penalty for his last win. Further, with apprentice J Chinoy claiming an allowance of 1.5 kgs, Kimera ran with hardly any penalty. Surprisingly, Rio was the public rage but the favourite was left to chase without hope once Kimera assumed charge inside the final 300 metres. Kimera spared four lengths at the finish to Rio while the rest of the field was a distance behind. Trainer Mohan Valavi kept up the tradition of winning a race in the first week of a season through a rank outsider. Indigenous won the lower division of the same race from Anchor at fancy odds. I Ant Gentle was the on-money favourite and how this son of Elusive Pimpernel attracted such money remains a mystery.
The drifting odds in the betting ring made no difference to the fortunes of Ride With Pride who came home ahead of Shara, with hardly any effort on the part of jockey Raja Rao. Arzillo rounded off the day’s proceedings, winning at nourishing odds. Arroganto who came in for spirited support, flashed home late but he can be expected to be a force to reckon with, next time out.
News Letter
Contact
Email: info@indiarace.com
✕
- HOME
- STUD FARMS
- ARCHIVES
- GLOSSARY
- CLASSIFIEDS
- EX-NAME SEARCH
- DAM
- SIRE
- ROLL OF HONOURS
- FEEDBACK
- HORSE TALK