The Mahalaxmi racecourse was a venue of high octane drama with the speculations and excitement of the first Indian Classic and the overdue announcement of the unpredictable voting results adding to the electric atmosphere. Both events ended in a dramatic ‘photo-finish’ with Godspeed edging out favourite Maisha on the track and Team Dhunjibhoy scampering home to wrest the power seats of the board room.

The New Hope Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr 1) had a long line-up for seventeen going to post, yet Maisha was the only one receiving strong support at much less than evens, as if the rest including Godspeed (8/1) were the underdogs. In the end, Maisha almost proved it right, but for a gritty never-say-die attitude that Godspeed and her jockey Suraj Naredu showed to smother a strong bid from Maisha and Zervan to nail it on the post.

The race was off to a pacy start with Polydences streaking ahead at a good clip. Bon Vivant was up with the pace as were Laurita, Godspeed and Maisha. The rest were closely huddled and not too far from the front-runners.

Polydences faded out soon on turning for home as Godspeed made a quick forward move. Laurita was laboring on when Maisha arrived with a promising run. Sensing Maisha’s surge forward, Suraj Narredu got Godspeed going to boot home her dazzling surge and that seemed, on hindsight, just at the precise juncture. The tussle began as the pair dashed past the 400 and soon the ‘girls’ were separate from the ‘young ladies’.

Godspeed and Maisha tore away from the rest and the edge-of-seat drama began. Godspeed always held her neck in front and Maisha looked threatening all the way. The latter’s supporters were awaiting for the moment when she would peg back the challenger.  After all, Maisha was in full flow and had outpaced Godspeed in Bangalore by some measure. However, that moment never came as Godspeed showed much greater resolve to match her jockey’s super effort in stubbornly resisting the favorite’s assault, which constantly threatened to take the lead and the snatch the race away at any moment. In the end, Godspeed had to dig deep and pull out all reserves to hold on gallantly by a neck. Laurita, although a good five lengths behind, was a laudable third, while the Bangalore Challenger Alexander Mills did well to catch a place in the frame.

Godspeed is by Multidimensional out of Almadine, owned by Dr Ram Shroff & Mr Samir Tapia and bred at Ms Ameeta Mehra’s Usha Stud Farm.

Trainer Malesh Narredu’s camp was delighted with the victory and naturally so. Reversing a big deficit on the last clash was a commendable achievement. “A fantastic race and it could have gone either way” said Malesh. The filly has a huge heart and she showed immense fighting qualities. Maisha is one of the top fillies in the country today and getting the better of her is highly satisfying. I think Suraj did a splendid job and did everything right. He got her off to a good start and maintained his position comfortably right through the early times. He moved to the front at the right stage and set up the final run with acumen. He also had to control her drift and in my opinion he handled Godspeed extremely well, without causing the filly even the slightest of discomfort. He had a good rhythm going after she cruised into the lead and his jockeyship went a long way in pulling it off,” said Malesh.

Jockey Suraj Narredu returned the compliment to his uncle saying, “Hats off to my uncle. He has transformed the filly in minimum time. She had suffered a setback and to get her fit to this level is not an easy task. Godspeed felt good all the way and even in those fighting moments she gave me a sense of reassurance that she will go all the way. I knew I had a fight on and in the final stages, I just put my head down and urged her on. She gave it her all and pulled off a satisfying victory. After all, beating a talented filly like Maisha is not an easy thing to do.”

The suspense for the Oaks now gets more intriguing with Godspeed not only winning impressively, but showing solid staying abilities as well. Maisha will still be one of the be the front-line contenders; however, Westphalia too comes into the picture as she ended close behind, one off the frame. She was seen warming up in the later stages and could spring a surprise in the Oaks if she improves to her peak. Another impressive winner earlier in the day, Aquamarine, also looked good and she seems to have matured well, going by her runaway victory. So the ‘ladies’ Derby’ leaves a lot to look forward to and another pot-boiler surely is on the cards in early January.