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SHAILESH SHINDE IS ‘MR GORGEOUS’ FOR LOCAL TURFITES

By Epsom Ace | 09 Nov 2014 | KOLKATA


Trainer Vijay Singh leading Mr Gorgeous (Shailesh Shinde Up), Winner Of The Hilliard Cup

It was indeed a ‘beautiful Sunday’ for the combination of trainer Vijay Singh and jockey Shailesh Shinde as they notched up a quadruple with Evesham (75/100), (Aptness 60/100), Mr Gorgeous (2/1) and Deserving Visit (90/100). One would have to give due credit to the rising star of the local track (Shailesh) as he displayed admirable application, concentration and versatility to pocket all four rides. What was also praiseworthy was that he did not let slip the wonderful opportunity by remaining calm and collected in each of his four rides. No two of his winners were ridden in a similar manner. He has been rewarded justly for maintaining a low body-weight as three of the rides saw his mounts at the bottom of the scale.

Allowing Mr Gorgeous (Mr Mellon-Drop Dead Gorgeous/ Ruia Stud) to settle down in mid-bunch, in a field of nine, while Macedonian called the shots till the home turn, Shailesh opted for the rails and succeeded in accelerating when the colt showed a wonderful turn of foot. Once clear of the field by about three lengths, he knew that the Hilliard Cup was his and it was a good effort from Shaktiroop (Kamlesh up) to reduce the margin, with Shinde looking over his shoulder at the post. The rest of the field were simply outclassed.

Shinde started the ball rolling for the Vijay Singh stable as speedster Evesham won the Sunrise Song Handicap by a street despite drifting off a straight course. Quickly positioning his mount in the third slot from the 11th draw while front-runners Bongani and Lake Sunrise called the early shots, Shinde was having a little trouble in settling him. The gelding has turned out to be a real eager beaver, and Shinde let him have his way well before the turning for home.  The three-year-old by Tariq out of Everybody Counts (Equus Stud) simply left the field cold.

Aptness (Steinbeck-Aptiana/ Usha Stud) won the mile race for the Ikaria Handicap with a little help from the saddle and Shinde’s whalebone, which turned out to be somewhat of an exception as his other three winners were all ridden hands and heels. In this case, the lad had no option but to resort to the riding crop as Dashrath Singh atop Torero turned on the heat near the distance post. It was a fine effort from the runner-up.

The Vijay-Shailesh combo finally brought the curtain down with Deserving Visit (China Visit – Deserving Lady/ Usha Stud). The young lad rode a clever finish in a field of 13 as he gradually switched the filly to the outside from an inner draw to avoid traffic problems and win as he liked. Once again, it was Dashrath’s perseverance which fetched him the runner-up berth atop Hurricane Star. The disappointment in the sprint was Meet The Legend.

The opening event saw Robert Gowli’s Lexi (Eljohar-Tia/ Mukhteswar Stud) win with Arman Khan astride and return a win dividend of Rs 370. The favourite Sweet Surprise folded up after turning for home while Eternal Instinct did well to occupy the runner-up berth.

The upper division of the Hugo Handicap went to Manvendra Singh’s Law Supremo (West Virginia-Shades Of Beauty / Nakul Stud), with second favourite Xipen making a brave but futile bid for honours. While the winner (Mahesh up) was drawn one and took the shortest route home, the runner-up was drawn 10 and this could have been the ultimate reason for her failure as she was little better at weights.

The lower division of the same race saw The Great Hannible installed as the firm favourite but the maiden starter was all at sea in the final furlong as Bharath Singh-trained Malibu (Lord Admiral-Celesta/ Sans Craintes Stud) with Dashrath astride came with raking strides to win in a close finish from Oath Of Valour. The former had finished fourth in the Calcutta Million and his class was indisputable. Nevertheless, it is fair to state that Oath Of Valour would have won the race hands down with the slightest of help from the saddle. It was a foregone conclusion that jockey Sk Zafar Riaz would be suspended. In fact, he is lucky to get off with a four-day suspension commencing on November 22. What is even more mind-boggling is that why the connections should declare a virtual ‘riding boy’ if they are keen to win. There are two answers to that query – either they want higher odds or they want to intentionally lose the race. This seemed to be neither of the above answers as they chose a middle path – for what reason – only their twisted logic can answer. The other jockey to be suspended for two racing days was B Gurang for failing an alcohol test.

The Rajcoomar Gujadhur Memorial Cup saw Patrick Quinn’s Mephistopheles (Equitable-Pixie Lass / Patiala Stud) come out and win despite running green and going all over the track. Though Pinball Wizard had grounds for an objection, he rather ‘sportingly’ refrained. This being the colt’s second start only and the winning verdict being five lengths, any referral to the Stewards would have probably been overruled – but then that’s a separate issue altogether. The professional has to do what he has to do ! The official decisions come later. The favourite Legendofthephoenix had his chances but lost to a superior horse.

It doesn’t need a very keen observer to spot that all eight winners of the day were three-year-olds. This is indeed an encouraging sign after the youngsters’ rather average showing during the rainy season. The academicians of the game would understand that these youngsters have fully grabbed the opportunity when it knocked – that is the lack of a scale-drop for the older horses.