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NURAY GALLOPS AWAY WITH THE BANGALORE WINTER MILLION

By Pearcey | 15 Feb 2014 | BANGALORE


Ms S Rohini Iyengar & Trainer Neil Darashah leading Nuray (Suraj Narredu Up), Winner Of The Hosmat Hospital Bangalore Winter Million (Gr.3)

An absolutely brilliant performance in the saddle by Suraj Narredu was the highlight of Saturday’s racing at Bangalore. The leading jockey almost swept the day’s card by winning astride all his mounts. At the start of the day, he was declared to ride in five races. After John met with an accident in the second race and failed to fulfill the rest of his riding commitments, Suraj was asked to partner another horse named Ace Lexington. The young man succeeded in guiding each one of them safely across the finishing line. Since most of them were public choices, Suraj was a popular figure at the race course on Saturday. Incidentally, his six winners included all five legs of the jackpot pool. This must surely be some sort of a record, unless someone had already achieved it in the past at Chennai or Ooty. Those of us who watch cricket have often heard a TV commentator following a soaring ball and saying “its gone all the way for a six”.  That was exactly what one felt while watching Suraj in action during the afternoon. The most important and satisfying win for him was definitely astride Neil Darashah’s three year old filly named Nuray. He was partnering her in The Hosmat Hospital Bangalore Winter Million (Gr.3), a sprint for horses foaled in 2011.  The day’s feature was terms race, in which, winners of earlier starts were assigned a four kilo penalty. Four out of the six starters in this event were winners. The most impressive amongst them was definitely Nuray. She had shown a lot of class while cantering home to a fluent victory on debut. Emperor Cruise was another one who had left a fine impression while winning as a 50/1 outsider exactly seven days ago. The only thing against him was the short gap between the two runs, but since the connections had paid “final entry money” to enable him to start in this race, there were some who felt that he had a chance of bagging this coveted trophy. However, with sustained support in the betting rings, Nuray started as the half-money choice of the punters. 

After a level start from the gates, the six runners got down to business. Emperor Cruise darted ahead of the speedy Jersey Bride and Azurite. Pentagram and Nuray were right behind them, while Madame Sultana brought up the rear. Not more than four lengths covered the entire field as they made their way towards the final bend. Those who had backed Nuray were keenly watching her antics in the back-stretch. She was trying her best to carry Suraj towards the outer portion of the track. However, Suraj held her firmly in mid division and waited for his opportunities in the straight. Emperor Cruise succeeded in getting the better of those around him and was a couple of lengths clear of his pursuers as they entered the final furlong. It was hereabouts that Nuray discovered her galloping shoes. Responding favourably to Suraj’s urgings, she improved with each subsequent stride and galloped past a helpless Emperor Cruise. She went on to win easily from him and Azurite. The other three were totally exhausted at the end of the proceedings. Nuray is a well built filly with a bright future, and it will be interesting to see how she is campaigned hereafter. The other one that impressed in this race was Azurite. On her present form, she looks like a ready made winner amongst maidens this season. 

The other trophy race in the eight event card was The S Rangarajan Memorial Cup. It was another sprint race, but this one was a handicap for those classified in class III. Satish Narredu’s Accuracy and the Dhariwal trained Rumour Has It were strongly fancied by their respective yards. Since both these horses were drawn on the wide outside, both Suraj and David Allan had to wait longer than normal to make their final bids. While Nocturnal Hunter, Jolie, Vigorous and Smokey Sid called the shots, both the market fancies were seen improving on the wide outside. Accuracy was the first one to launch an assault. Suraj gave him a couple of cracks and asked him to “go”. Despite hanging outwards, the colt moved ahead of the others. Rumour Has It loomed large at that stage and was seen doing some good work towards the centre of the track. But once Suraj managed to “straighten” Accuracy, the race was over. The chestnut put his head down and strode clear of Rumour Has It, Smokey Sid and Jolie. Fifth placed Irish Song was seen doing some great work in the closing stages of this race. Despite Raja Rao’s feeble handling, she ended only fractionally behind the placed horses. She must be supported the day she is “fancied” by her connections. 

Suraj rode a couple of winners for Irfan Ghatala. They began the day with the short-priced Woodberg. Since this well built filly was relegated to the lower division of a Class IV sprint, there weren’t many who were ready to oppose her today. In her only start this season, she was beaten over a marginally longer trip by Lucky Thirteen. With a furlong less to travel today, she started as the shortest priced runner this afternoon.  Suraj took her to the front in the very early stages of this race, and she maintained a two length lead over Aero Star till the bend. The other seven in this race were struggling to keep pace with those in front of them. While Woodberg kicked further in the straight and romped home to an easy victory, Aero Star lost her runner-up berth to a late finishing Zizzi near the winning post. 

As mentioned earlier, Suraj was lucky to get an opportunity to ride Irfan’s Ace Lexington in the penultimate race of the day. This eight horse event was touted as a match race between Ace Lexington and Prazsky. Both these runners had remained maidens through 2013, and had started to race in open company this winter. By winning a race on Derby Day, Prazsky had emerged from the maiden ranks. She was accordingly seen conceding weight to Ace Lexington and the others. Suraj once again used front-running tactics astride Ace Lexington. He saved ground by hugging the rails and kept his mount ahead of David Allan and Prazsky till the bend. It was hereabouts that he put pressure on Ace Lexington. With Suraj making free use of the whip, Ace Lexington lengthened his strides and moved comfortably ahead of Prazsky. Fast finishing Kingston Town appeared from nowhere to end a very close third. 

Mahesh trained Native Indian had failed to win a sprint a few weeks ago. Since the seven year old was seen doing some good work in the closing stages of that race, the trainer chose to run him over a longer trip today. He was lucky to find such a race which was reserved for horses six years old and over. Even though they realized that this race was tailor-made for Native Indian, the connections refused to take chances and entrusted him to Suraj. He was accordingly installed as an on-money favourite in the betting rings. Allowing no-hopers Jewel lady, Shoot Out and Sayyonee to lead on sufferance, Suraj kept Native Indian in box-seat for most of the way. He was shown daylight near the bend. He bounded past a bunch of tired runners and went on to win very easily from a late finishing Saratoga Spring and a heavily whipped Arun. 

Suraj had obviously saved his best for the end. Partnering Suleiman Attaolahi’s Star of Destiny in a maidens event over seven furlongs, Suraj’s mount was a second favourite behind Arjun Mangalorkar’s Big Bullet. The latter had already run twice this season and ended in the vicinity of the winners on each occasion. On the other hand, Star of Destiny had ended a fairly poor fourth on debut. The early pace in the race was quite reasonable. Starhunt skipped into the lead and showed the way to Star Of Destiny. Ryan Marshall nudged Big Ticket into third place, while the other eight maidens were outpaced from the beginning. Suraj waited further before launching an assault. Star Of Destiny made up ground near the two furlong marker and went ahead of Starhunt. Big Ticket was asked for an effort at a similar juncture, and he too made up much ground on the wide outside. With both riders going for their whips, the stage was set for an intense duel. It was finally Star Of Destiny who managed to finish marginally ahead of Big Ticket. .Third placed Starhunt was more than a distance behind the two of them. Suraj was applauded by all present at the race course as he returned to the unsaddling enclosure. 

The only other race in the day’s card was a mile handicap for horses in the lowest category. Arjun Mangalorkar’s Magnetize cornered most of the betting and was fancied ahead of Extra Spark and La Lanterna. While the other two had run over a mile in their previous starts, Extra Spark was tackling such a trip for the first time in his career. John steered Magnetize to the front and took her on a start-to-finish mission in this race. She led comfortably from Extra Spark and Magical Filly. The race took a serious turn at the bend. While Magnetize kept up her good work towards the inner rails, Extra Spark emerged from the chasing group and joined the fray. With Extra Spark looming large on the very wide outside, John became more active. The Sirajuddin trained chestnut ridden by TS Jodha was beginning to get closer with every stride. John pulled out his stick and gave a couple of strong back-handers to Magnetize. The six year old wilted under pressure and crashed into the rails. With John parting company with her, the race became a one horse affair. Extra Spark won by almost a distance from Glamour Boy and magical Filly. A lot of money went down with La Lanterna, who performed pathetically to finish in the ruck.