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The prestigious S.A. Poonawalla Million (Gr.2)

By Bob Sawhny | 20 Sep 2003 | PUNE


Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla (right & Mr.Zavaray Poonawalla (left) at the The Poonawalla Stud Farms. (The garlanded picture in the center is that of the Late Soli A Poonawalla)

The eagerly awaited and prestigious S.A. Poonawalla Million (Gr.2) which will be run on Sunday, September 21 is expected to draw a full house at the Pune racecourse.
 
The S A Poonawalla Million is aptly named after the Late Soli A. Poonawalla, the pioneer of horse breeding in India and an ardent lover of horses who founded The plush Poonawalla Stud Farm and is the father of Dr.Cyrus S. Poonawalla and Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla.
 
The prestigious Million race, to be run over a mile, is a terms event for three year-olds and the guaranteed stakes are Rs One Million, courtesy the sponsors - The Poonawalla Group. In addition, there will be exquisite trophies and prizes to the owner, breeder, trainer, jockey and groom of the winner. In deference to the wishes of Punekars, the sponsors have consented to give away a brand new AC Maruti 800 along with two other attractive prizes in " The Free Contest Of Skill " organized for The S.A. Poonawalla Million race.
 
Racegoers at the Pune racecourse who correctly nominate horses that come first, second, third and fourth will be eligible for the bumper prize which is a Maruti 800. Apart from the car, the other prizes are a DVD player and a Colour TV. The winners will be decided by a draw and in case there are more than three winners, there will also be consolation prizes dished out by the sponsors . The Contest Forms for " The Free Contest Of Skill " shall be given to each racegoer at the turnstiles of all the enclosures of The Pune racecourse and it must be noted that this exciting contest, is meant only for racegoers at the Pune racecourse on Sunday, 21st September.
 
Coming to horsepower, there are eight three-year-olds bred by different stud farms in the country who will be vying for honours in The 1600 Metres S.A. Poonawalla Million (Gr.2) on Sunday. They are Estonia 57 Kg, Highness 57 Kg, Wave Of Bliss 57 Kg, One O One 55.5 Kg, Orion 55.5 Kg, Pitlochry 54 Kg, So Shocking 54 Kg and Amazing Eyes 50 Kg. 
 
The quartette with the better credentials from whom the winner should emanate are Estonia, Highness, Wave Of Bliss and So Shocking. Herewith is a Concise Assessment: 
 
ESTONIA (Alnasr Alwasheek - Chloe's Delight)
She is a very consistent filly who has won twice from four starts in the last Mumbai Season. Her maiden victory in The 1000 Metres Sir Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy Tropy (15/12/2002) was very impressively gained and in her second endeavour she easily beat Hawke Bay in The 1400 Metres Dashmesh And Hargobind Stud Million (Gr.3). Although Estonia finished a dismal seventh in The Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million(Gr.1) on 16th February, she followed it up by running a good second to Wave Of Bliss in The Manjri Stud Fillies Championship on 16th March.
 
Estonia's sire Alnasr Alwasheek(Sadler's Wells - Someone Special) won four races at two to four years (7 to 10 furlongs) in England and U.S.A. including Homeowner's Dante Stakes (Gr.2) over 1-1/4 Miles at York and Craven Stakes(Gr.3) over a Mile at Newmarket beating the likes of Dr.Devious, Irish Memory and Muhtarram. Alnasr Alwasheek was rated 118 on the 3-year-old Classifications of '92 above Wolfhound, Lion Cavern and Paris House. Estonia has worked well but she is competing after a very long lay-off which definitely is a big minus factor. None the less, she should be a prominent runner and could clinch a place. 
 
Trainer: Cooji Katrak  Jockey: Mallesh Narredu Handicap Rating: 56
 
HIGHNESS (Conquering Hero - Scossa)
She is a powerfully-striding filly who is presently in terrific condition and is the winner of two races from four starts. In her last Mumbai Season win, she came home in splendid isolation in The 1400 Metres Enterprising Trophy on 25th April. In her only run in Pune, Highness who shouldered 55-1/2 Kg's trounced Class Three opposition in The 1400 Metres P.K. Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy on 15th August which revealed that a repeat performance is in the offing. 
 
Conquering Hero (Storm Bird - Wave In Glory) the sire of Highness won nine races in England and U.S.A. at two to six years (6 to 10 furlongs) including San Gabriel Handicap
(Gr.3). Storm Bird the illustrious sire of Conquering Hero was the champion 2-year-old in England and Ireland who won five races at two years (5 to7 furlongs) including William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (Gr.1). Highness possesses a terrific turn of foot and since she is going over her optimum trip, she shapes as a very strong contender for the prime spot. 
 
Trainer: Imtiaz Sait  Jockey: C. Rajendra Handicap Rating: 74
 
WAVE OF BLISS (Razeen - Canoeing)
A very well-bred and speedy filly who is a full-sister to that class one filly Lei and who has won twice from her three starts in the last Mumbai Season. She made an impressive winning debut whilst decisively beating the 
well-performed Southern Smoke in The 1400 Metres Lt. Col. Govind Singh VRC Trophy on 19th January but inexplicably finished a dismal sixth in her next endeavour -The Breeder's Produce Stakes (2nd February). However, after a six week's lay-off Wave Of Bliss asserted herself by winning The 1600 Metres Manjri Stud Juvenile Fillies Championship from pillar-to-post beating the likes of Estonia, Decent Proposal and Ramjet. Although Wave Of Bliss will be competing after a gap of over six months, she has excelled in her prep-work and a mock race run on 6th September which amply reveals that she is in the pink of condition.
 
Razeen (Northern Dancer - Secret Asset) the sire of Wave Of Bliss won three races at three years (8 to 10 fuflongs) and raced in England and U.S.A. The progeny of Razeen continue to fare extremely well at all centres of the Indian turf and this illustrious sire has produced several really classy thoroughbreds such as Indictment, Forest Fantasy, Star Supreme, Santorini Star, Amazing Grey, Snow Dew, Allaire, Congratulations, Pleasure Hunt, Altenburg and Wandering Star. Wave Of Bliss is running after a long gap but she is in terrific shape and suffice it to say, that if she is allowed to dictate the pace, she can win. 
 
Trainer: Miss Arti Doctor  Jockey: Pesi Shroff  Handicap Rating: 55
 
SO SHOCKING (Placerville - Shocking)
An impeccably bred filly who seems to have peaked at the appropriate time as was evident when she showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals in her last run - The 1400 Metres So Splendid Plate (24th August). She has also excelled in her prep-work and will be going over pet distance which is a mile. Her dam Shocking (Malvado-Schiaparelli)who won five races in Western India was a Class One filly and SO SHOCKING who has been spruced by her trainer is the Dark Horse in the race.
 
Placerville (Mr. Prospector - Classy Cathy) won three races from five starts in England at two and three years (7 to 10 furlongs) including The prestigious Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Gr.2) at Royal Ascot in 1993 in which he beat Urban Sea, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1). The progeny of Placerville continues to dominate racing events at all centres of the Indian Turf and this great sire has produced the likes of Smart Chieftan, Continual, The Pelican, Her Excellency, Six Speed, Simply Noble and Classical Act.
 
Trainer: Imtiaz Sait Jockey: David Badel  Handicap Rating: 46