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Confusing scenario in winter classics

By Sharan Kumar | 05 Nov 2003 | BANGALORE


Chilli Girl

The 37-day long Bangalore Winter Season will start on Saturday. The contentious issues, which threatened the prompt start to the season, have been sorted out at a joint meeting of the Stewards, the Owners and Trainers Association on Monday. Unlike the previous years when the classic picture was more or less clear, this season, the picture is hazy, with most of the stars being more or less evenly matched. Brown Sugar and Hawke Bay have been sidelined by injuries. The classics should revolve around Glorious Colours, Fond Fantasy, Lancaster, Grosvenor Square, Allies Serenade, Son of the Light, Own Vision, Ramjet and Chilli Girl.

On any given day, the results can go any which way as there is no overwhelming superiority enjoyed by any of these horses. Artois who won the Pune Derby in great style, Estonia, Secret Romeo and Rapidash are some of the stars based in Western India.

The Bangalore Summer Classics always have had a bearing on winter classics all over India. But this year, one cannot say with conviction that any of the classic winners of the season would have a big say in winter classics. Glorious Colours won the Kingfisher Derby in testing conditions but it is quite possible that the heavy going could have put paid to the hopes of the others and they might have under performed while the winner reveled under such conditions. But then all this can only be in the realm of speculation and Glorious Colours does deserve healthy respect. The daughter of Razeen out of Time And Place, Glorious Colours deserves support till she disproves the expectations of her optimistic supporters. As she is expected to figure in the early part of the season along with the other classic hopefuls in the first fortnight of racing in Bangalore, interesting racing is in prospect.

Fond Fantasy has not done anything wrong despite being asked to do too much. She won the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes and finished second in the Derby and then followed it up with wins in the Gr 3 Nanoli Stud Million and Gr 3 Mysore 1000 Guineas. Although she won both her outings at Mysore, one got an impression that the other fillies were catching up with her. Wisely she was rested after the Guineas and judging by her track work, she should bounce back in great style. There is no doubt as to her superiority up to a mile and she has the breeding to tackle the extended trips. She may be targeted for the Gr 1 Indian 1000 Guineas though she will have a stint or two at Bangalore before being sent out for greater glory. Glorious Colours and Fond Fantasy enjoy the pride of place in the Ganapathy stable, which commands both quality and quantity to dominate the show during the long winter season.

Lancaster has been pretty unlucky not to get his share of glory. He ran behind Secret Romeo in the Poonawalla Million and lost narrowly to Grosvenor Square. In the Derby, he sported blinkers and bolted to the front, stayed gamely in front, and was beaten only in the final 50 metres. He is showing out in the workouts and Lancaster is being systematically targeted for the Bangalore 2000 Guineas and the Indian 2000 Guineas by trainer Michael Eshwer. First season sire Glory of Dancer has had a great start to his stud duties in India and should Lancaster cap it with success in the classics, it would have done a world of good to the fortunes of Kehelan Stud Farm.

The Byramjis have a fair share of horses with classic pretensions. Grosvenor Square won the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes during the Summer Season but flopped in the Derby. He is back after a break and Grosvenor Square too is capable of making his mark though he has had his share of problems that have prevented him from living up to his potential. Allies Serenade who won the Gr 1 Poonawalla Mysore Derby was always highly rated though inconsistency has dogged the talented filly. Son of the Light burst on the classic scene at Mysore and though he has stamina limitations, he will be a force to reckon with in the Guineas.

Padmanabhan does not have much to look forward to in the winter classics as Hawke Bay is still to come out of the tendon injury that sidelined him in Summer. But then the talented trainer has always had results even when least expected and it is quite possible that he may have a surprise or two in store.

The Kunigal Stud Farm bred Chilli Girl should also acquit herself well considering the improvement shown by her during the monsoon season. It is quite possible that the ones, which might have a decisive say in the classics, could come out of the horses that are not mentioned in this column. Horses like Storm Again and Saddle Up were no where in sight at the beginning of the winter season and they were the ones which went on to wite a glorious chapter in the history of Indian racing. 

The entry of juveniles during the winter season also lends excitement to the racing programme.