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Haunting Memories on course for fillies classic

By Sharan Kumar | 21 May 2006 | BANGALORE


Haunting Memories (B.Prakash up) winner of the Karnataka Juvenile Million (Gr.2) being led in by trainer Mr.Ganapathy & owner Dr.Ramaswamy

Haunting Memories toyed with the opposition in the Gr.2 Karnataka Juvenile Million on Sunday and advertised her readiness to win the Gr.1 Fillies Trial Stakes next month. The full sister to the celebrated Six Speed, Haunting Memories already has an imposing reputation, having won four races on the trot and considering the manner in which she had swamped the opposition in the Gr.1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million, not many were prepared to take the filly on except those who chose to pick up whatever stake money that could be had by fighting for the minor places. The field was completely outclassed so much so that Haunting Memories’ pacemaker Bold Faith ran on to finish second ahead of Super Speed while Einstein was not seen in true colours as he finished down the field. The Juvenile Million had always produced absorbing contests and had proved to be a pointer to the shape of things in the classics. While there is no denying the fact that Haunting Memories will bag her share of races, the rest in the field have no such hope and at best are average performers. Haunting Memories picked up from where she left off at Mumbai and her debut in Bangalore re-emphasized the fact that she continues to be on the boil. Bold Faith set a fast pace as Prakash settled Haunting Memories comfortably behind in the second slot and the filly settled down nicely though she had won the plums at Mumbai with start to finish attempts. Rounding the final bend, Bold Faith moved out to give way for Haunting Memories along the rails and the daughter of Placerville slipped through and sailed away for an effortless win. In the form that she is in, it is hard to visualize anybody toppling her over trips up to a mile. Jockey Mark Gallagher incurred the wrath of the Stewards for losing the whip in the final furlong on Magical Mystery who lost by a whisker to favourite Knight of Hearts. The favourite appeared to have lost the cause as Magical Mystery had the race under her grasp at the top of the straight but lost in the final stride as the jockey had to ride without the aid of the whip and considering the closeness of the contest, it surely made a material difference to the result. Gallagher is a jockey who does not inspire confidence in the race-goers and his past must have come to haunt him as the Stewards viewed the loss of the whip as a serious lapse. As such, the suspension should be considered light as the Stewards felt that the loss of the whip was not accidental. The day’s racing was lackluster as the races did not attract quality opposition. One of the good types of horses to be seen in action was Flashy Wings who proved too good for the opposition, accounting for Kodava Fire and Cascabel without much fuss. Those who put faith in the abilities of five-kilo claimer Harsha and backed Seize The Knight on the concluding race of the day ended up regretting their decision as the apprentice could not aid his horse in any appreciable manner. As such, Seize The Night who could have made things hot for Chief’s Dream was a lost cause at the final turn. Chief’s dream had no difficulty in checking in well clear of Olympic Crown, Alagi and Seize The Knight. Mumbai jockey T.S. Jodha recorded his first in Bangalore when he got a fortuitous opening along the rails as favourite Sunny's Instinct rolled out from the rails and the jockey managed to push Rebellious to win at fancy odds. Fancied Axara had all the chances but did not quicken appreciably at the all important end. There was inspired support for Hyderabad challenger Sir Onslaught but the favourite packed up after pacing with the eventual winner Chiquitita up to the final bend. Chiquitita, who had failed to deliver in winter, led the field from the word `go’ and won quite competently from a late-finishing Amazing Gem who found foot when the race was in the safe keeping of the front-runner. Another Hyderabad challenger, Traditional Chic, however, had earlier obliged as a strong favourite in the day’s opening race with a start to finish mission, with Little Robin chasing the winner without hope. In the day’s other action, Lovely Empress justified the strong support she received in the ring, beating a disinterested opposition. For the record, Sandokan and Amazing One occupied the next two spots.