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Grosvenor Square stays unbeaten

By Sharan Kumar | 15 Jun 2003 | BANGALORE


Grosvenor Square (David Badel up) winning the Colts Trial Stake (Grade I) from Lancster (P.Shroff up)

Frenchman David Badel guided Grosvenor Square to a splendid victory in the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes on Sunday. Grosvenor Square thus maintained his amazing winning sequence and placed himself as a frontline contender for the Kingfisher Derby scheduled for next month.

Trained by veteran Rashid Byramji, Grosvenor Square provided his sire Local Talent his first Gr 1 winner. Ill-luck continued to dog Lancaster who finished second best. A lackluster ride by Pesi Shroff put paid to the hopes of the son of Glory of Dancer. Hawke Bay, who was expected to have a bold show, was asked to do it the hard way by taking charge from the word `go' but the favourite was beaten for speed at the decisive stage of the race. Hawke Bay did not quicken on turning for home though he did not slacken and kept going at the same pace. Grosvenor Square showed good sprinting qualities when assuming command inside the final 250 metres and then gamely grimly holding on to win from a late-finishing Lancaster who was given too much to do in the homestretch.

 

Though Hawke Bay appeared to be coming with a second wind, it looked so because while there was some deceleration on the part of Grovenor Square, Hawke Bay continued to bowl along merrily at the same pace. The style of running suggested he would relish longer trips. What also went against the son of Alnasr Alwasheek was the fact that the sweltering heat in the last couple of months had taken its toll on the dry-coated Hawke Bay.

With the fillies lacking in class, the outcome of the Derby would be confined to these three colts and on their day, any of these can triumph. There is nothing much to chose as they are more or less equally well matched.

Hawke Bay, who had recorded a smashing win at Mumbai over a mile during March, was fancied ahead of unbeaten contestant Grosvenor Square and the luckless Lancaster. Much to the surprise of many, the official handicapper of the Bangalore Turf Club had placed Grosvenor Square ahead of Hawke Bay when the ratings for three-year olds was released at the start of the season, he was proved right though the majority felt that the son of Alnasr Alwasheek would prove the handicapper wrong. It was not to be as Hawke Bay continued his errant ways by putting up a tame show. Significantly, Hawke Bay has failed every time he has met top class opposition but on his day, he has shown out to be spectacular. 

Malesh Narredu took Hawke Bay on a start to finish mission. M R Singh on Smart Striker, who was assigned to cut pace with the favourite, was a pathetic site. Despite his best efforts, Smart Striker could not pace with Hawke Bay for even four furlongs. Grosvenor Square was nicely placed along the rails in the third position while Shroff on Lancaster was at the rear of the field. Shroff, perhaps realizing that he had erred on keeping Lancaster far away from his main rivals, quickly improved on the wide outside at the steepest part of the track where the gradient has been the undoing of many a good horse and brought the son of Glory of Dancer into the picture. 


Hawke Bay failed to quicken the way one expects a horse of his caliber and after a brief tussle, Badel was able to get Grosvenor Square to stave off the favourite even as Lancaster came into contention on the wide outside. Though Lancaster covered plenty of ground, Grosvenor Square had reached the safety of the winning post. Grosvenor Square spared a length at the finish to Lancaster who in turn was ¾ lengths ahead of Hawke Bay. Brown Sugar was not sighted though Silva was cause for despair to quite a few jockeys in the race by her inability to keep a straight course, which caused interference chiefly to Royal Lord in the early part of the race and in the straight to Smart Supreme. Silva was suspended for four race days for persisting with her errant ways. On the last occasion, Brown Sugar was lucky to keep the race despite knocking out favourite Lancaster from contention. Lancaster who finished more than 10 lengths clear of Brown Sugar drove home the point that the Stipes and the Stewards had erred in not upholding the objection. One of the ``learned'' Stipes had opined that the main reason for not upholding the objection was that the interference made no material difference! A similar interference on Sunday saw them act differently, this time the beneficiary again being Silva Storai!

Shroff does not ride often enough these days and as such; his rhythm is not the same. Shroff at his best would have ensured a better result for Lancaster. It is a pity that the talented rider is making only an occasional appearance. Even the best of batsmen in the world lose their touch if they are not in constant touch with the game and the same goes for the jockeys.

Jockey Suraj Narredu has faltered more often these days especially when great things were expected of him. He failed to keep a straight course on favourite Saratoga Sizzle, which ruined the chances of the Tejano progeny. His inability to have proper control of the mount meant that he ruined the chances of Fabulous Jet who was continuously hampered so much so that the got abroad gelding had to change course repeatedly and raced on the wide outside. Attorney who was touted as a classic prospect at one time, showed that he is at least a good handicapper by winning his second win on the trot. Things fell in place for Attorney who could slip through the middle after the front-runners went wide. Ampersand and Double Eagle took the second and third slots much against expectations.

It was good to see Aslam Kader drive out a winner after a longish gap. Ne Tlus Ultra had to be fully stretched to win from Pleasantries in the upper division of Her Majesty Plate. In the lower division, City of Angels came up with a stunning run after circling the field rounding the final bend and won in impressive fashion. Three-year old Brush With Fame won a handicap race in great style. The filly could have easily picked up a race meant for maiden three year olds and higher stakes as well.