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HURRICANE WIND BLOWS OPPONENTS AWAY

By Mahendra Mallya | 07 Mar 2013 | MUMBAI


Trainer Dallas Todywalla leading Hurricane Wind (A Sandesh Up), winner of The Radha Sigtia Trophy

Hurricane Wind (Steinbeck – Santorini Star) won the Radha Sigtia Trophy a lot easier than expected. He sailed past stable mate Swift Memories in the straight to romp home a clear winner. Swift Memories led them all the way into the straight and when it mattered most, failed to capitalize on the handy lead that she enjoyed turning for home.  

Sandesh had Hurricane Wind in third spot and made his move at the turn. He went past Rodeo to join Swift Memories soon on turn. Hurricane Wind was fresh and raring to go once into the straight and showed tremendous acceleration to bound forward and win drawing away. This was his third victory this season and he certainly looked comfortable going over the Derby distance for the first time. In the kind of form he is in, he could add another victory to his tally.  

Jockey A Sandesh went on to score a trophy double as he guided La Traviata (Chatham Strait – Star Liner) to an impressive victory to claim the Sahachari Foundation Trophy in a solid start-to-finish victory. The Dallas Todywalla trained filly showed impeccable quality from the moment she darted to the front soon at start. Ancient Warrior (Evens) and la Traviata (2/1) were the only two who usurped all the betting. Trisara was withdrawn at the gates. 

La Traviata entered the straight on a tight rein, with a handy lead as well. She quickened well and the favourite Ancient Warrior watched helplessly as la Traviata gathered momentum and galloped further away to widen the margin of victory. At no point was La Traviata under any threat and the hot favourite Ancient Warrior was no match whatsoever. Ancient Warrior ended chasing the shadow of the winner, finishing almost six lengths behind. La Traviata showed immense maturity for a second run as she galloped straight as an arrow with speed to match. She was all by herself in the final furlong and this win was as fashionable as one can expect. She looked fresh after this toil-less victory and certainly looks a good prospect. 

The other jockey to shine on the day was P Trevor who booted home a fine treble. He started firing in the day’s first race itself partnering Star Zone (Ontario – Dead End) from Narendra Lagad’s yard.  Trevor didn’t have it easy though, as he was always under pressure right from the moment he took the lead. 

Gararo led them in and was soon challenged by Star Zone. The duo grappled briefly before Star Zone accounted for the early leader. Zaracha started to move in closer and was putting up a stiff challenge. They fought all the way to the winning post and all the while, Gararo and Classic Ruler were right with them stretching the battle lines all through. In the end, Trevor with some hard riding, pulled off a sensational win with Classis Ruler improving to pip Zaracha for the runner-up berth. Gararo finished a short-head behind to take a place in the judge’s frame. 

Trevor then guided Altaf Hussain’s ward Arabian Glory (Epicenter – Queen’s Message), who was a rage in the betting ring. The favourite was confidently backed with the price falling from 5/4 to 10 to 8 on, at race time. Arabian Glory caused little anxiety as she quickened midway in the straight and covered a lot of ground to get past her rivals and romp home in style. 

Veneziano led the field homeward with Stylish Strokes in hot pursuit. The pair had a sizable lead when Arabian Glory started to improve positions. Stylish Strokes went into the lead past the distance post and although Arabian Glory had some ground to cover, it was evident early that she was finishing on with a lot of steam. It was a matter of time before she got past Stylish Strokes. She surged past the leader in the final 100 meters, which is when Purple Moon too gathered terrific momentum, but his challenge came far too late as by then, Arabian Glory had sped away. Purple Moon though, cut the deficit rapidly and ended on the haunches of Arabian Glory, which in itself was a good attempt that should not go unnoticed.

 Trevor signed off in style with another thrilling victory atop the well-backed Mumbai King (Major impact – Sun Streak) in the last race of the day. This one too needed a good effort from the saddle to assist Mumbai King to make the most of the ‘box seat’ position he enjoyed at the turn. 

Star Blessings and Al Zamarud were disputing the lead and had Walking Tall right behind. Mumbai King was up next with a bunch of horses in tow. Mumbai King attacked the front running pair with a forceful run and kept the momentum going. He took charge approaching the distance post and from there on worked hard right through, warding off a hopeful late bid by Walking Tall. Mumbai King won well and helped his master Altaf Hussain compile a fruitful double. 

Octopaul (Black Cash – Go Go Go) brought off a dream coup for his backers and won without dropping sweat. It was the bookies who sweated, if at all, as Octopaul was slammed in the ring bringing down the odds from 6/1 to less than 9/4 at the last minute, resulting in the odds drifting from 16/10 to 5/2 on tote favourite Distant Promise.   

The slow initial pace for the mile race helped, as Octopaul lost a couple of lengths at the start. Jockey Zervan, who stood in for the injured Dashrath Singh, was patient with Octopaul and stayed in the rear until the turn. 

Into the straight, Mountain Warrior tried to run away from Tell Me More when the others started to close in. Zervan produced Octopaul from the wide outside and came in with a bullish charge. In split seconds Octopaul devoured ground and zipped past ‘em all to pile a winning lead in the final 100. This was Octopaul’s most prolific run that produced his best victory ever. He had won from a difficult position in his last victory in Pune a few seasons back, but he bettered both those victories, as he romped home literally leaving his opponents flat-footed! 

Set To Fly (Home Affairs – Set The mood) made a timely and persistent bid in the homestretch to edge out Winston in the final furlong. Winston had taken over the running from Tachyon soon on entering the straight. Set To Fly was right behind him and was gradually gaining on Winston. Seven Seas too was improving positions and was not too far behind coming into the final furlong.  

Winston was fighting hard to stay afloat, but Set To Fly was dominant. Apprentice Jockey Ishwar Pardeshi went all out in the final stages to draw away from Winston who was giving a chunk of weight all around. Set To Fly shook off Winston to post a well-deserved victory. Seven Seas ended a good third, while Mon Ami ran on to end fourth, coming from the rear. 

El Clasico (Marju – Merwaha) trounced the opposition and scored an impressive victory in the six-furlong sprint, his first victory this season and third overall. He led soon on settling down and went at a decent clip. Golden Memory who was in chase all the way, ended doing so. 

There was a tragic collision past the 400 m mark when Dashrath Singh was trying to steer Marine Zone between Sterling Silver and Diamondzip. Dashrath was caught between the two and his mount clipped and buckled, throwing him off the saddle. The fall looked bad as Dashrath tumbled along quite a distance. It is learnt that he is out of danger, but has fractured his arm. Sadly he will be out of action for a while. 

El Clasico marched on once into the straight and quickly piled up a good lead. Golden Memory just could not match up and the rest were nowhere close to make a fight of it. El Clasico won unchallenged and by a comfortable margin. Oriental Sapphire ran on to claim place money. 

By The Way (Inhabitant – Bette Noir) scored a belated maiden win at age five and in his 22nd outing! He had been showing forward form of late and finally had the sweet taste of victory. He was right up in third or fourth position at the turn, close behind leader Krypton, Cornelian and Castletroy. 

Another accident occurred soon on start when jockey Akash Agarwal sustained a fall after jumping out astride Dolmabache Palace. He was placed under observation and is reportedly out of danger. 

Krypton did not slow down in the straight and left the others to do the catching up. By The Way moved steadily through the rails, passing Cornelian from the inside. Favourite Viva Zapata was getting nowhere. He along with Castletroy made no impact on the race despite being in prominent position to do so. Krypton galloped on gallantly and it was in the last 100 meters that By The Way sprang forward to snatch a memorable win. Krypton ended runner-up, clear of Cornelian. Viva Zapata finished a poor fourth. 

Jockey I Pasha partnered Victoire (Major Impact – Victory March) to a closely fought victory and later had to survive an objection that was lodged by Danny Grant who rode Zanthos. It was a clustered finish as Victoire had to contend with the front running group of Run Like The Wind, Fajr, Polar Zone, Zanthos all bunched close together with Nigella on the outside.  

The heat was turned on as soon as Run LikeThe Wind led them into the straight.  Victoire and Polar Zone got past the leader and started to gallop towards the winning post. Behind then, Zanthos was looking for room and found Victoire in the way and by the time he got a free run, it was rather too late.

Victoire had a narrow lead coming into the final furlong and he capitalized on it galloping on with determination, eventually holding on by a head in a scramble for the first four placing. Grant astride Zanthos who ended second, later lodged an objection citing interference from the winner. There was also a stewards’ enquiry as Nigella had moved inwards resulting in CS Jodha sustaining a fall. The objection was overruled and rightly so. The order of running remained unchanged.

For the professionals, trainer Dallas Todywalla saddled a treble, while trainers Narendra Lagad and Altaf Hussain scored a double each. For the jockey P Trevor scored thrice and Sandesh twice.