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Priceless defies stiff odds
By Sharan Kumar | 26 May 2002 | BANGALORE
Priceless (B.Prakash up), winner of the Knock Out Million (Grade II) being led in by trainer S.Ganapathy and owner M.A.M. Ramaswamy
Priceless confirmed the highest rating that is accorded to her, with a gutsy victory in the Gr 2 Knock Out Million, the traditional lead up race for the Summer Classics. Priceless, by virtue of having won four races, was set to concede weight to her adversaries but despite coming worse by the terms of the race, the daughter of Placerville fought resolutely in difficult conditions to overhaul the front-running Portman Square in virtually the last stride. Heavy rains the previous night had rendered the underfoot conditions soft and as such, the victory of Priceless, despite it being hard earned, augurs well for the talented filly. Priceless should have a decisive say in the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes next month. The biggest disappointment of the race was the performance of Prince Valiant who was expected to run the favourite close but the son of Green Forest struggled was a dismal fourth.
Priceless and Zurbaran are easily the best three-year olds stationed in Bangalore. While the latter is yet to show up on the racetrack after his winter campaign, Priceless who won the Gr 1 Poonawalla Multi Million at Mumbai, had advertised her fitness in the workouts prior to the race. Trainer Ganapathy chose to give a lead up race to the forthcoming classics in a tough bunch, with the terms being against the filly. However, Priceless showed her mettle though the narrow victory came as a surprise because it was the less heralded Portman Square who nearly pulled it off.
Perfect Venue did the job of pace making, with Portman Square, Prince Valiant and Priceless in close attendance. Prince Valiant was the first to bow out of contention, failing to accelerate. With Portman Square kicking on merrily, Priceless had to be driven out fully to get the nod on the post. Just Brave was a surprise third. Prince Valiant ran below par and whether he is as good as his debut run suggested, remains to be proved all over again.
The Knock Out day has traditionally seen the punters getting a knock out punch! Though a couple of lesser fancied runners came through, the short six event card had enough surprises to make things difficult for the punters who ended up at the receiving end. Horses sporting saddle cloth number 7 dominated the day, with Priceless being the solitary exception.
Astigmatic set the trend in the day’s opener, with a successful start to finish dash, with favourite River of Stars putting in a late bid. Bansuri who also well supported in the ring, did not run on an even keel and appeared a lost cause. Some Romance had a profitable airing.
Front-running horses had greater success on the day and another one who profited by such tactics was Rainbow Velvet who established a useful lead at the top of the straight and then held on to win from Allespagne. Prince Thunder, who was prominent, was a suggestive third.
With the stablemates of Astrologica faring poorly in the first two races, the son of Tejano, who was blazing the track, was allowed to run at nourishing odds as Assumer who had fair winter form, getting all the support. In the event, Astrologica made an impressive debut, winning from Assumer who would be better off for this run. Noble Regent too picked up momentum late as the Ooty import lacked the requisite fitness.
Imtiaz Sait’s Potential Force seems to relish the Bangalore track. The five-year old gelding Potentia Force, who drifted out of the straight course while negotiating the home turn at both Mumbai and Pune, is running straight as an arrow at this centre. The son of Batzushka recorded his second straight win, flooring the opposition, with a powerful run through the middle to win in great style. Favourite Enterprisor was flat-footed by the turn of foot displayed by the eventual winner.
I Me And Mine had all along been an expensive failure but the moody five-year-old mare decided to put her best foot forward when least fancied by her connections to record an impressive win over Stingaroo and Authentic Power. Nuraaz (late Love Unlimited) was backed to the exclusion of his rivals as racegoers perhaps believed that trainer Samar Singh could after all turn out to be a magician! The change of stables did not help Nuraaz who ran out of steam at the final bend and finished last.
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