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Daring Don springs a surprise
By Sharan Kumar | 29 Jul 2004 | BANGALORE
trainer Mr. Samar Singh leading Daring Don (Shahbuddin up) winner of the K N Chennabasappa Memorial Cup
Daring Don seems to have taken a liking for the Bangalore course. The Samar Singh trainee sprang a big surprise when staving off the challenge of Chilli Girl in the feature event of Thursday, the penultimate day of Bangalore Summer Racing. Daring Don, who was a modest performer at Mumbai before he was re-located to Bangalore, has won thrice at this center and consistently made his presence felt against good opposition in the highest class. Perhaps the son of Don’t Forget Me is more at home on underfoot conditions which has a considerable `give in’. Favourite Chilli Girl had everything going for her but found Daring Don in a galloping mood and put paid to her hopes virtually in the final stride. Master Craft flattered to deceive. The one for the notebook is Iflookscouldkill over a slightly extended trip.
The highlight of the day was not certainly the action on the turf but in the Stewards room. Kolkata champion Christopher Alford is a jockey hard to comprehend. One cannot be sure whether he is a competent jockey or a mediocre one because a bad ride invariably follows one good ride. What is more, he seems so casual in the saddle that it is no surprise that he incurs the wrath of the authorities consistently. He made a fatal error on favourite Formal Invitation in the Maj Newton Davis Memorial Cup by relaxing close home, oblivious of the fact that Pamela Bordes was charging home. His lackluster effort saw Pamela Bordes win at the expense of the favourite. The Stewards suspended him for eight races days for his negligence. The jockey should consider himself lucky because he was not charged with the more serious offense of compromising the interest of a public favourite because such happenings can result in riotous situations. Fortunately, the public frenzy was limited to hurling abuses.
Formal Invitation was the overwhelming favourite to win based on his debut win over a mile that was top class. Alford hurried Formal Invitation to take charge on turning for home and sailed into what appeared to be an unassailable lead. No race is won till crossing the finish line is the racing adage but Alford made the cardinal sin of not being alert to his job till crossing the winning post. He eased the horse close home not realizing that Pamela Bordes was in top flight after wading her way from behind. The finishing burst of Pamela Bordes ensured that a long neck beat the favourite. There is one tribe in racing that refuses to learn from past mistakes and that is the jockey fraternity. Jockeys have been punished innumerable times for dropping hands before the winning post but they don’t seem to get over the habit. In this instance, Alford dropping hands before the winning post, whether the eventual winner would have in any case beaten him, does not condone his fault. A veteran jockey was of the opinion that Alford was certainly oblivious of the other horse charging at him. His dereliction certainly cost everybody dear.
Jockey Pesi Shroff too was handed out a suspension of four race days for his ride on Perpetuate. Only a fortnight ago, Perpetuate was withdrawn on veterinary grounds but the well-bred filly ended up as the overwhelming favourite because the rest appeared to be modest types. Shroff took Perpetuate on a start to finish mission and had a good lead over the rest but the filly slackened inside the final furlong and was beaten fair and square by the eventual winner City Zip. Rounding the final bend, the favourite appeared to be traveling well with the rest of the runners including City Zip were already off the bridle but she faltered paving the way for City Zip to win. Perpetuate however was well clear of the rest. The Stewards took objection to his riding and handed him a suspension of four days besides fining him Rs 5,000. The action was excessive because Perpetuate was a debutant with no form other than her track work to warrant support. City Zip is a good type.
The controversial Taurian finally obliged after an agonizing wait when edging out Storm The Fort in the Ruia Stud Plate (Div I). The use of blinkers seemed to have a calming influence on Taurian who behaved himself well at the gates not throwing his usual tantrums. He broke off well and though favourite Storm The Fort tightened him on turning for home, he managed to come on the wide outside and record his maiden win in Bangalore. Taurian has somehow proved to be the nemesis of jockey Srinath who was astride Storm The Fort. Srinath suffered a long suspension at Mysore for his ride on Taurian and now he is being hauled up before the Stewards for what the Stipes consider as ``foul riding’’. The lower division of the race went the way of Top Executive who just about lasted out to win from No Excuses. Jockey Prakash nursed top Executive, a known bleeder, to victory.
Silva steered Faustino to a start to finish victory over favourite Supreme Power. For the `confused’, jockey Alford was aboard the Darius Byramji trained favourite Supreme Power, owned by Deepak Khaitan and his partners. Alford somehow does not inspire confidence when his horse carries public money.
Jockey Suraj Narredu drove out Exuberant to keep Supreme General at bay in the 2000 metres Leading Stud Cup. Though Exuberant was conceding chunks of weight to Supreme General, the filly managed to carry public expectation safely past the post.
Dominic trained Mount Titlis was in trouble at every stage of the race but nevertheless managed to pip Wonder Splendour to record his second straight win in the 2400 metres Ministerial Plate. In the day’s other action, Saddler’s Quest had it easy against Amber King who is running into form.
Jockey Ravi Biramne has had a fruitful season in Bangalore. He had no difficulty in guiding to Crown Charter to a comfortable win in the concluding race of the day. There was inspired support for first-timer Great Seal but the son of Glory of Dancer out of Golfing would surely make his mark once he is asked to cover more ground than six furlongs.
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