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Late Withdrawals Mar Pune Races

By North-End | 24 Oct 2008 | MUMBAI


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The mystery virus continues to strike race horses in Pune and late withdrawals are getting to be a grave concern for both the authorities and the punters as well. With a sizeable number of horses struck down with fever there is definitely alarm in the ranks if not panic. On Saturday a number of horses were withdrawn on the morning of the races and Sunday too saw a casualty of nearly 20 horses entered to race, detected with fever. The racing, though on Saturday was thoroughly enjoyable with the majority of races ending in close finishes. Trainer Hormuz Antia's two strongly fancied runners won their respective races narrowly. Adjustment, in the first race of the day rallied brilliantly to wrest the race from the grasp of Little Princess. Entering the straight, Little Princess who was constantly improving from the start, perched herself prominently on the outside of Borzu Again and Adjustment who got a lovely opening on the rails. Little Princess had by then surged ahead and had a handy lead and even shaped like a winner. Past the distance post, Little Princess was still ahead but the never-say-die attitude of Ranjane saw Adjustment (Killer Instinct – Moot) launch a very late charge that got Adjustment past the leader strides away from the winning post. Little Princess was a notable second. Antia's next was in the sixth race. Gypsy Queen (Greensmith – Innara) was the firm favourite. Settled into the fourth early on, Gypsy Queen improved rapidly to be very prominent as the heads turned for home. Closest to the rails, Gypsy Queen had to fight with Uproar first then Nonios and the trio fought all the way to the wire. Nonios got stronger closer to the finish but Gypsy Queen ably assisted by Kishore Kadam, scraped through to win by a short head. Faisal Abbas also landed a good double but unlike Antia, Faisal's horses won at awesome odds. While Bu Attifel was 8/1, El Bunduq won at over 20 /1. Bu Attifel (Diffident – Star Role) was up with the leaders blazing Speed and Roman Beauty and the front three entered the straight close to each other. Bu Attifel took the outside lane, quickly learning form last experience, and took charge from Blazing Speed past the distance post. Roman Beauty fought hard on the rails but could not quicken. Kiss Away who was stalking the trio had to check while looking for a rail run as Roman Beauty was not too hospitable in allowing Kiss Away a safe passage. The check definitely prevented her from doing better than she did and Kiss Away will bide her time in Mumbai. It would be worthwhile to keep a track of Kiss Away in Mumbai. Bu Attifel earned a well fought victory and Blazing Speed was rewarded the runner up slot for the effort. Roman Beauty ended a good third. Faisal's El Bunduq was a bolt from the blue. The long shot was quick at start and led the field all the way to the winning post. El Bunduq (Major Impact – Image Conscious) did not have it easy and his own stablemate made him fight for his victory. Tattenhoe applied constant pressure on the leader and the duo battled out the final furlong. Neeraj Rawal handle the pressure well and egged Al Bunduq on regardless of the challenging strides of Tattenhoe. Alohamora could have done with better assistance form the rider (Sunny Chinoy) and ran an 'under par' third. Note Alohamora for Mumbai. Roaming Foam was there with the leaders for quite awhile before fading away nearing the finish to end up in the frame. The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Trophy was another well fought race that saw Secret Pilgrim taste her first defeat this season. Tigress Noire (Senure – Rio Anna) called the shots all the way into the straight. Secret Pilgrim who was following the former came alongside and the way Secret Pilgrim was traveling it looked that she would pull it off. However, Tigress Noire never let her pass and although Tigress Noire was all out she had enough left in her to rally back and surprise the favorite eventually winning it comfortably although just by a length. Tigress Noire was stronger at the finish and should carry this form to Mumbai as well. Adallia (Senure – Lannkala) finally broke the shackles and earned her first victory in the Pune season in style. Quick to start, Adallia let French Kiss ahead to do the running and was tracked alongside by Starlite Express. Into the straight, French Kiss kicked on but was joined by Adallia soon. After a brief resistance French Kiss could not hold on for much longer. Adallia surged clear and drew away comfortably. Stellar Affair (Alnasr Alwasheek – Star Fortune) ran a bold race and managed to put her nose in front at the precise moment. Settling behind The Brace Heart and having Oyster Gem for company for the most part, Stellar Affair fought the entire length of the home stretch to earn her victory. The Brave Heart on the rails was the first to drop back as Stellar Affair came to the fore and Oyster Gem matching strides on the wider outside. Here Comes The Don joined in with less than 200 to go. In the last 100 Oyster Gem seemed to have a paper thin advantage and Stellar Affair was putting up a brave fight. The Pair were inseparable at the wire and the judge's call was keenly awaited. Stellar Affair was declared the winner, the clock once again showing a difference of a hundredth second between the two. Amberogio (Case Law – Arabian Shuffle) got to a good start and drove home that advantage oblivious of the various threats en route. Amberogio was the first round the bend with Wild Torronado refusing to be shaken off. The two fought past the distance post when Suraj appeared posing a stiff challenge. Suraj in his hurry and fury shifted inwards and an over cautious Smith immediately applied exaggerated caution that cost Wild Torronado even the place money. Black Sapphire who was hounding the front runners benefited by this largesse from Wayne Smith. Amberogio staved off the scorch from Suraj and stayed ahead by half a length. The 9th race was run in two different bunches. Mister Fixit, normally zestful in hitting the front, led the first group rather reluctantly. Royal Crown, Polariser were next to follow and Classic Star was wary of running into the front bunch and even broke his stride attempting to avert colliding with the horses in front just before the 600m mark. Royal Crown eased into the lead and the rest began chasing and kept up the chase all through the race! With no challenge in sight, Amyn Merchant had only to ensure he did not fall and Royal Crown (King Charlemagne – Crown Brief) had it easy till the end. Classic Star did warm up but that was when it was all over. Classic Star can do better and will be in the reckoning early in Mumbai. The last race saw a thrilling three way finish. Latest News brought the field home with Firecracker close behind and Sudden Impact (Hymn – Stienby) in striking distance. Past the distance post, Latest News was gritty but his younger rivals were gaining on him. Firecracker went all out but Sudden Impact flew in the last part to get to the line first for a narrow win. Trainers Hormuz Antia, Faisal Abbas and jockey Wayne Smith were the professional who scored a double each.