.png)
India's first & foremost horse racing portal
Register Now 
Stewards found lacking, hand out dubious decision
By Sharan Kumar | 15 Nov 2003 | BANGALORE
Ramjet (SurajNarredu up) winner of The KUNIGAL CUP being led by trainer Padmanabhan
Things don’t seem to be going well for the new committee that is at the helm at the Bangalore Turf Club. There have been a series of questionable decisions, the most appalling of them being the decision to hand the race on a platter to One Magic Moment at the expense of Beat It Dude who had won it on merit.
Favourite Grosvenor Square was in full flow when One Magic Moment shifted out of the rails and caused the ones coming on her outside to shift course. Beat It Dude had to be pushed through the middle, causing Grosvenor Square to go farthest of the grass track. Beat It Dude finished ahead of One Magic Moment and Grosvenor Square in a three-horse photo finish. Jockey David Badel of Grosvenor Square objected against Ashwin Rao who rode One Magic Moment for causing a chain reaction by being unable to keep his mount on a straight course and Mark Mathias who was astride the winner for shifting out and causing interference to him which cost him a certain race.
Going by the precedents set in the past when the question that was considered was whether the
interference made any material difference to the result, the objections should have been overruled. But to the surprise of everybody including the professionals, the first objection by Badel against Mark Mathias of Beat It Dude was upheld, relegating the winner to the third place and One Magic Moment who had caused the chain reaction, was gifted the race! The casting vote of the chairman supposedly was the reason for this turnaround, giving scant regard for precedents. But then, the present set seem to be hell bent on throwing all the precedents out of the window and setting new and dubious ones!
Coming back to the race, Grosvenor Square who had won the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes was the overwhelming favourite to win the Ashwapriya Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above. One Magic Moment had her own share of supporters. Trainer Padmanabhan had wisely chosen a five-kg claimer to ride the daughter of Tirol because that was the only way One Magic Moment had a realistic chance of pulling it off. Beat It Dude who had won at Hyderabad during the monsoon season, had credentials but found little support because Mark was assigned to ride him and it was only the second ride for the talented apprentice.
One Magic Moment hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the seven-furlong trip, with Siberean in close attendance. Grosvenor Square who was running after being last seen in action in July was obviously less than 100 per cent fit and was finding early pace to be hot to stay in touch with the front-runner. Beat It Dude was in the rear of the field. One Magic Moment came into the straight about three to four lengths clear of the field, with Grosvenor Square and Beat It Dude improving their positions on the wide outside One Magic Moment drifted out of the rails under pressure even as Beat It Dude picked up speed faster than Grosvenor Square and challenged the front runner strongly. Beat It Dude had to change course and in the process went out and Grosvenor Square was inconvenienced as a result. Beat It Dude spared a short head at the finish to One Magic Moment who in turn was a neck ahead. The resultant objection saw a strange ruling by the Stewards, causing One Magic Moment to get the race, which she had clearly lost.
Grosvenor Square was clearly in need of this run and should improve by leaps and bounds by the time he races next. As far as One Magic Moment is concerned, she has stamina limitations and her outer limit is seven furlongs. She will be more at home over a sprint where her speed will stand her in good stead. It was a pity that Mark who had steered a winner in only his second ride of his life, had to lose it this way.
Yet another strong favourite bit the dust in the Kunigal Cup, a rich terms race for three-year olds. The race, which served as a lead up race for classic hopefuls, saw Lancaster garner all support, with Ramjet who showed out in the paddock parade in pink of condition, getting inspired support. Top Executive set a scorching pace, with Ramjet in about fourth position while Lancaster struggled for initial pace and graced the wrong end of the field. Top Executive hung on resolutely in front but his reserves ran out in the final furlong and Ramjet surged ahead even as Lancaster was picking up momentum. While Ramjet quickened nicely and spared a length at the finish at Top Executive who battled on, Lancaster was only successful in bridging the gap and was a close third. Suraj Narredu rode a fine tactical race on the winner. Though this was a below par performance by Lancaster, he should improve a great deal after this run. Ramjet has definitely shown improvement since her Summer campaign and she should be a force to reckon with in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas. Frenchman Ronen Thomas will partner Ramjet in the Guineas. The visiting Frenchman has over 100 winners in the last one year and is rated highly back home. Top Executive has potential but then he has always been underrated.
Tal who had run a noteworthy second behind Star Falcon at Mysore, did one better when winning the Poottannah Memorial Plate (Div II) in a close finish from Almonar. Tal picked up momentum in time to edge out Almonar who was shaping like a winner. Adventurous World failed to sustain the front-running effort but managed to nose out Strange Beauty for the third spot. The upper division of the race saw Strombolix too win likewise in a close finish from Sunny Spice and Maurya. Favourite Cold Fire gave a poor show. Make a note of Sunny Spice.
Air Marshall sprang a surprise by bursting clear of the field at the top of the straight to win in great style from Glenfarclas Gal who was left to chase the front-runner in vain. The Soothsayer, who came in for spirited support, was a tame fourth, with Agnivarsh snatching the third spot. Jockey S Ramesh had it easy on Brave Dash who flashed home with a flourish to get past the front-running Rivolitta. Jockey Abhay Singh who was back in action after more than a year, took Rivolitta on a start to finish mission and had a big lead over the opposition. He relaxed close home and was caught napping. Abhay Singh was slapped a suspension by the Stewards for losing a race he could have won. Silent Memory won the day’s opener where on-money favourite Tunisia put up a poor show.
News Letter
Contact
Email: info@indiarace.com
✕
- HOME
- STUD FARMS
- ARCHIVES
- GLOSSARY
- CLASSIFIEDS
- EX-NAME SEARCH
- DAM
- SIRE
- ROLL OF HONOURS
- FEEDBACK
- HORSE TALK