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Public Protests Delay Races

By Secretariat | 22 Jul 2004 | PUNE


The hapless punters after taking a drubbing the first two days of Pune surely felt optimistic with the favourites looking strong for the third day and so they arrived with a hope and prayer only to find that the gods had deserted them yet again.

In the very first race, Madonnaofthepinks was a very cramped favourite and based on her Mumbai runs, her visctory seemed a mere formality. We have learnt that there is many a slip between lip and cup and to the horror of everyone Madonnaofthepinks did not jump. Colour Of Joy's jockey, P.S. Chouhan sensesd her absence and promptly took Colour Of Joy to the front from where he kept extending his margin to a 6 and 3/4th length victory over Gracy. But the punters where having none of it and a demand for an explanation began to get out of hand when none was forthcoming and from scenes reminiscent of the Mumbai protests when Secret Warrior was relegated, the demands for explanations began to become unruly. Obviously, the stewards have remebered their lessons from Bombay for the police were called in to escort the horses off the track and thus the delay lasted for only about 25 minutes.

And then the gods came to rescue the punters. Anil Bandaal, the young apprentice who was on the favourite Anchors Aweigh, protected him from the head wind by tucking him behind the S.M. Johnson charge African Beat. When they turned for him the result became a formality as he took the split between African Beat and Rising Passion to draw away for an effortless victory from Rising Passion.

The third race showered more manna from the skies when the favourite, Amazing Strides, in the colours of Dr. MAM Ramaswamy held off a determined challenge from the improving Aboslute Dominance (running with blinkers for the first time), Adam's Ambition and a late finishig Classy Devil. Classy Devil missed the kick by about 4 to 5 lengths and hers was an exceptionally notable run especially when she goes longer.

After the dubious ride that Temple Tune was given by A.J. Nilesh in Bombay and as aresult of the Stewards's wrath she seems to have found exceptional improvement in the last 3 months. She continued her winning streak by going out early to the front and coming out on top after a great stretch battle between herself , Our Own Girl, Fantastic Knight (who looked like a furlong more could see him in the winner's circle) and Kimberely Star. With a furlong to run, the result looked uncertain as either of the four could have gotten to the post first but despite shifting off the rail, Anil Bandaal won his second race of the day. At an extremely long price, Temple Tune gave the punters yet another reason to groan.

The groans became shouts of jpy when the S.S. Shah trained Incomparable went pillar to post to win effortlessly in the fifth. She looked fit in the paddock and her trouble free win gave the punters back some money to proceed to tle sixth and last race of the day.

Dallas Toddywalla is the strong favourite to win the trainer's championship this season and he added to his tally when his favourite, Supreme Chancellor made all to beat the S.S. Shah trained Texas King. Texas King travelled wide at the Turf Club turn and it has to be noted that it was better riding from B. Prakash that won the day for the punters and the favourite. Mansoor Khan was unable to keep Texas King from keeping a straight course up the straight - but the punters aren't complaining!