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Amazing Desire Wins Pittie Million

By Mahendra Mallya | 05 Aug 2012 | PUNE


Trainer M Narredu leading Amazing Desire (Neeraj Rawal Up), winner of The Raja Bahadur Pittie Million

Malesh Narredu trained Amazing Desire (Ace – Bay of Angels), property of the Late Mr Ajit Agashe and Mrs Simantini Agashe produced his best for the Raja Bahadur Pittie Million and won the race holding Que Sera Sera and Commander at bay. Amazing Desire however, had it easier than the verdict suggests as he seemed well prepared for the targeted race.

Smart Strider was the one who was quick at the gates and led the field with Amazing Desire chasing him along the rails. Belmont, Zoom Zoom, and Commander came next and the rest were not too far behind. Smart Strider failed to quicken once they headed for home. Amazing Desire vigorously ridden by Neeraj Rawal, burst on the scene with telling strides and quickly built a handy lead. Que Sera Sera and Commander started to apply pressure but Amazing Desire was well up to the task to stay ahead all the way and notch up his maiden victory in a high-profile Million race.

Trainer Dallas Todywalla was on a song, sending out four winners from his stables. He started off on a big note creating the biggest upset thus far this season beating the Classy Alma Mater with his Star of Gibraltar for the Fair Haven Trophy.

This looked a one-horse-race with Alma Mater standing tall amongst her three rivals. The ante-post odds (30/100) too suggested it would be a no-contest for Alma Mater. However, at race time, smart money poured in on Star of Gibraltar and the odds started plummet on him and the quote on Alma Mater shot up more than twice closing at 70/100 at race time.

Star of Gibraltar (Alnasr Alwasheek – Dancing Image) took off to an alert start and he maintained his clasp on the race right through until the end. Star of Gibraltar made every post a winning one, with Alma Mater helplessly tailing him all the way. They got into some kind of a tussle on turning for home, but the 11 kilo advantage that Star of Gibraltar enjoyed was far too much for Alma Mater to scale.  Star of Gibraltar, bred at the Exhilaration Stud, romped home for a convincing victory and thus started a chain of success for his master.

Starlight Magic (Placerville – One Magic Moment) too created a flutter as he stuck to the lead which he grabbed on start. Coming into the straight, it was clear that there was no third threat in the race. It was Starlight Magic and the hot favourite Yuville that were fighting through the homestretch. Yuville cut the two-something lead that Starlight Magic enjoyed at the final turn. Yuville joined the leader and soon a grim battle ensued. Both Starlight Magic and Yuville fought stride for stride. It appeared that Yuville may finally have the measure of his stiff challenger, bur Starlight Magic certainly produced some sort of magic to reinforce his energies and with a fresh bout of challenge resurfaced to nose the wire ahead of Yuville in a terrific show of self belief! Starlight Magic won narrowly from Yuville who squandered a genuine opportunity to score.

Rising Power (Warrshan – Miss Rising) was Dallas’ next ward in action and arguably his best for the day. Rising Power, although in the thick of the betting, did have a tough set of opponents to counter. It looked a closely matched race but what panned out, was a simply amazing performance by Rising Power.

Rising Power shot into the lead and held that position all the way to the winning post. He eased into the lead and when they turned for home, Rising Power improved commendably and snuffed the fight out of the rest with his dazzling display. He outpaced and out-classed his rivals with complete authority and posted one of the finest victories of the day. Rising Power has shown immense talent and will surely be one of the better performers of the season.

Relic Hunter, the favourite, was never prominent, but did show up late in the race to end third, well behind Follow Me. Rising Power is owned by Mr and Mrs Mohan Thakur, Shikhar and Shagun Thakur bred by the Star Stud Farm.

Carlyle Hills (China Visit – Congratulations) seemed to have sported a pair of wings as she strode majestically in the homestretch to pull away from all and sundry to register a comfortable victory. Biding his time in the mid-bunch until they turned for home, Carlyle Hills surfaced early in the straight, and just when Phoenix Force was beginning to think he had things under control, Carlyle Hills pounced on him to sail away to thrill the Dallas Todywalla camp.

Pesi Shorff finally came to the party with a grand double. He set the ball rolling with Scarlet Pimpernel (Hold The Tiger – Margarita Rita) in the P Hadow Trophy a Class II handicap.  Scarlet Pimpernel languished in the rear for first half of the journey and made his progress to the front about five horses wide at the turn. Evidently, that didn’t take away any advantage and Scarlet Pimpernel stormed home to post an impressive victory. Agni Baan had an educative outing and will come out with pluses. Our Chieftain had his chances but failed to grab any of them.

Rosalind (Placerville – Free Radical) didn’t show any signs of rustiness as she came on to the race track after a long gap. He was clinical in her performance and shot out of the gates to lead them from the word go. She worked up a nippy pace and bounded forward to win on her own terms. She moved extremely well and looked in great heart. Another victory is on the cards for this Shirke filly bred at the Poonawalla Astonish Stud Farm.

Faisal Abbas was the other pro to have saddled a fine double. He must have been mighty pleased with his stable’s debutante Khamsin (Warrshan Leit Motif) bred at the Ruia Stud Farm. Khamsin, owned by M/s Fareed Karachiwalla, Jehan Sataravala, Jay Mathuria and Padmanabhan Ruia, made a rousing start to her career by posting a facile victory in a big field.

Khaimsin jumped out well and was quick to settle behind Three Roses who took charge soon on start. These two marched away from the rest and entered the straight with a commanding lead over the rest. Three Roses fought on bravely and resisted the favourite in the first half of the straight. However, coming into the final furlong, Khamsin made a decisive forward move and stretched out well to score an emphatic debut victory to promise a lot in her first run. Three Roses too did well for a first attempt and showed she would also not remain without a victory for too long, particularly showing good early speed, suggesting that she is suited for the shorter scurry.

Faisal Abbas had earlier pulled off a great coup with his well-backed ward Autumn Rush (Viking Ruler – Rihla) owned by Pawaan Seksaria and bred at the Hazara Stud. Autumn Rush with Imran Chisty chased Heavenly Prize until the straight and then surged forward to win going away. Heavenly Prize could not improve further after leading them into the straight and surrendered even the runner up berth to Neptune in the final furlong without even raising a fight.

Dallas Todywalla was by far the most successful pro of the day with four winners emerging from his stables. Shroff and Abbas chipped in with two each while M Narredu picked up the plum event. For the jockeys, B Prakash, Imran Chisty, and A Sandesh, picked up a double each.