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Aristos Endorses His Superiority Over His Rivals

By Mahendra Mallya | 21 Nov 2010 | MUMBAI


Aristos (S Zervan Up), winner of The A C Ardeshir Trophy Grade-III

Aristos (Okawango - Leros) scored a forceful victory claiming The AC Ardeshir Trophy (Gr 3) from end to end. Hitting the front soon on start, Aristos travelled at a comfortable pace initially. Juventus followed Aristos until the turn and then failed to produce his best. Diego Rivera was making steady progress, while Celestial Way was biding her time, waiting for daylight along the rails. The rest seemed just going through their motions. Aristos brought the field into the straight and jockey Zervan was too confident holding the Dr Vijay Mallya-owned horse in check even as Diego Rivera and Celestial Way started to get closer. This trio pulled away from the rest.

After a prolonged hold of the tight rein, Zervan stepped on the throttle nearing the distance post. Aristos responded gamely and surged forward. Celestial Way got the opening she was seeking in the final furlong and snapped at Aristos’ tail, with Diego Rivera also breathing fire alongside. Aristos, however, kicked on regardless and held his own, to prevail by a length. Celestial Way ended a neck ahead of Diego Rivera.

This was a good result for Dr Vijay Mallya as both his horses bagged the two top positions. “I was pretty confident the way Aristos was travelling right through. And with a bare back, I was sure he would carry on all the way. I wanted to ease him into the top gear. Hence I did not hurry on him. I didn’t have any doubt that we will sail through in the straight and I am happy I was right,” said Zervan.

Aristos comes from the stables of Bangalore-based trainer Dhariwal. In his absence though, trainer Nina Lalvani saddled the winner. Moon Star and Camacho locked horns for The Forbes Million, the added attraction of the day. Both contenders had strong support and the market trends were divided exactly 50:50! It was a fitting battle that followed between the two promising three-year-olds. Moon Star (Royal Kingdom - Au Revoir) charged into the lead soon on start and went at a good clip. Stardom Bound, Zafayona and Camacho followed close behind. Moon Star travelled extremely well coming into the straight, Camacho too was quick to improve position. Into the straight, Moon Star was firmly in command and was working up a good rhythm.

He was well in hand and jockey David Allan switched him on just past the 400m. Camacho, on the other hand, was asked for an effort much earlier. Jockey SA De Souza was pushing hard to cut down the lead and get closer to his main rival. Stardom Bound was always in the frame and refused to be shaken off easily. Past the distance post, Camacho was making his presence felt and even got past Moon Star’s tail. However, at precisely this moment, Camacho put a wrong foot forward. He drifted out! That proved fatal. Moon Star was all-out in the latter half of the stretch.

Camacho covered the maximum ground in the final 100 metres. Both riders were giving their best and so were their mounts. The battle was fierce, but Moon Star always had an upper hand, being in front. However, David Allan could never relax. Camacho had the task of making up a gettable deficit, but lit up far too late. A stride more and Camacho would possibly have made it. It went too close. Allan must have felt the threat and the winning post might have looked yet too far, through Allan’s riding goggles. He must have sighed in relief as Moon Star headed the wire just in time. For Camacho supporters, it was heartbreak. The ’So close and yet so far’ feeling would have been hard to stomach. Overall, it was a cracker and as thrilling as it could get, from the race-lover’s point of view.

To sum it up, Jockey De Souza would have looked heavenwards silently asking ’why’? While, on his inside, David would have been making the ‘sign of cross’ across his chest in gratitude! Elizabeth (Glory Of Dancer - Queenscliff) reigned supreme in The Joss Gourmet Sprint, an additional ’palatable’ race on the big day. This race was served as the perfect appetizer for the main course to follow - The Ardheshir Trophy and The Forbes India Million. Set Afire, coming from her Pune victory, set about the task of an encore, hitting the front with an alert start. She was followed by Star Of Venus, Ocean Legacy, Ocean Admiral, Elizabeth, Venus Rosewater and Angels Pursuit huddled close together. Brunello had a bad first day in office, as he faltered at the start, and worse, failed to stage a purposeful recovery.

Set Afire brought the pack homeward and was fighting a losing battle. Star Of Venus soon took charge and the challenge from behind was mounting. Elizabeth was in the middle with horses in front and on either side. But before the freeway got too crowded, De Souza bludgeoned through a small gap and tore through to the lead. In an amazing turn of foot, Elizabeth stretched majestically in the front and De Souza never had to ‘earn’ the victory. It was as easy as consuming the delectable Joss Cuisine! Elizabeth sped away effortlessly and clocked the best timing for the day for the six-furlong sprint, even better than Forest Flair in the top class! And this, under not-so-ideal underfoot conditions.

Forest Flair (Placerville - Tide of Fortune) came into his own and notched up an authoritative victory, implying that he relishes the Mahalaxmi track most. Although confronting a small field, Forest Flair dominated his rivals in the straight. Ares led the field homeward and weakened soon thereafter. Forest Flair who had the five-kilo claiming apprentice Roushan astride, moved powerfully inside the last 400.

Attila tried hard to get at him but just could not measure up. El Tropico was clearly over-burdened and was never in the hunt. Forest Flair left nothing to chance and Roushan did everything right to pull off a welcome victory for this reputed gelding owned by Dr MAM Ramaswamy. Su Chaliyo (Royal Kingdom - Bajo Grande), the shortest priced favourite of the day, made it easily without causing much anxiety to the on-money followers. The four horse field was closely huddled all the way until the turn with Apache Indian, Showstopper, Endearment and Su Chaliyo in that order. Showstopper inexplicably took the turn in an exaggerated fashion, as if she was skirting around a large field. Endearment had to do the same, as he was alongside Showstopper.

De Souza was seen pushing Su Chaliyo vigorously just before the turn and that was about the only anxiety his backers had to fear. Fortunately, this fear was momentary, as Su Chaliyo went sailing clear approaching the distance post. Showstopper did appear to make some headway but was making no impact on the winner, who came from Faisal Abbas’ yard. Wild Torronaado had worked everything to a plan. However, a late blitz from Blumarine put paid to all the hard work of Sandesh as Dashrath Singh astride Blumarine (Glory of Dancer - Star Wind) piped him on the post. Wild Torronaado was alert at the jump and hit the front almost immediately. Agha, Highland Flame and Blumarine were up close, then came Lago Medio and Dear Liza were right behind.

Wild Torronaado went smoothly ahead leaving behind Lago Medio who raised no hope. Dear Liza wasn’t making any headway either. Highland Flame struggled to surge forward and it was Blumarine who turned the sole challenger. Into the final furlong and still it appeared that Wild Torronaado had just about enough lead to hold on, but with a sustained gallop in the last fifty, Dashrath Singh managed to snatch victory and clinch The Shantidaas Askuran Trophy in a scintillating finish.

Altaf Hussain trained Tzigane (Royal Kingdom - Laurie Begone) struck like a thunderbolt in the day’s first race. For once, latecomers would be thanking their stars and blessing the cabbies that refused to ferry them. Tzigane was a rank outsider with no current form to even be considered. He notched up his first victory when least expected. Steely Dan was the casualty. Appalina took over from Fortuner who led briefly, to lead them into the straight. Tzigane was prowling in the third with Saffron and Steely Dan close behind. Steely Dan took the turn wide and this forced him to make his final dash on the outer half of the track closer to the stands.

Meanwhile, Appalina fought hard to survive but Tzigane was looming large and intimidating her. Soon Appalina caved in and Tzigane didn’t seem to mind the attention he was getting. Steely Dan made a forceful final bid and had Tzigane faltered even a bit, Steely Dan would have consumed him. But Tzigane held on and earned his winning bracket by a length. Steely Dan ought to be given another chance. Arabian Empire (Royal Kingdom - Cinora) sat unperturbed behind a crowded front bunch scrambling to take a vantage position. Secret Talk was in front with Ashwa Prahar, Medtias Pride, Top Action the favourite, and The First lady. As they wheeled round the corner, Arabian Empire shot through from the rails and then stretched forward with complete disregard to the field. In no time, he put the issue beyond doubt. The scramble now changed to vying for the minor placing. Top Action just managed to salvage the runner-up berth from The First Lady. Jockey SA De Souza was the only pro to score a double.