Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

RAVELLO PROPELS HARD TO WIN INDIAN AIR FORCE TROPHY

By Mahendra Mallya | 08 Jan 2015 | MUMBAI


Trainer Dallas Todywalla leading Ravello (A Sandesh Up), winner of The Indian Air Force Trophy

Ravello ((Ace – Charedi’s Peak, Villoo’s Greenfield Stud) put up a gritty fight in the able hands of jockey A Sandesh to ward off a stiff challenge in the final furlong to win the Indian Air Force Trophy in a thrilling finish.

Poonawalla owned Ravello from Dallas Todywalla’s yard, shot out of the gates to lead the field from the start and a handy lead and had a pack of horses chasing him close behind. Coming into the straight, Ravello accelerated well to gain a handy lead but was under constant pressure as Dreamz Unlimited was always there snapping at his tail. The build up for the finish came to a head when Dreamz Unlimited began to inch closer and gain on the leader in the last furlong. Sandesh was forceful and assisted Ravello in resisting the challenge, but kept the challenger interested all the time. Kazuri started to make considerable headway past the distance post, but by then both Ravello and Dreamz Unlimited had galloped just out of reach of the others. In a gripping finish, with supporters of both the runners screaming themselves hoarse, Ravello did well to keep the momentum going in the longer Mumbai straight and held on stubbornly to nose out the challenger in a humdinger finish. Dreamz Unlimited missed out narrowly to compile a hat-trick, yet put in a commendable show. Kazuri did well to improve remarkably to take the third spot, promising to do better in her next.

In the earlier race, the Poonawalla silks had whizzed past the winning post in a thriller when Another Conquest (Phoenix Tower – Star Conquest, Manjri Stud) won in much the same fashion, warding off a dual challenge to post his maiden win.

An alert jump from the gates ensured Another Conquest the early advantage as jockey Ashhad Asbar held the Malesh Narredu ward in check until the turn. Another Conquest stepped up the pace soon on entering the straight. Sugar Bay and Q’E’D were right on the leaders tail and soon favourite Bay of Secrets joined in making his bid from the outside.

Another Conquest galloped on strongly right through and even though the others were closing in, jockey Ashhad Asbar looked in command as the dark bay filly kept galloping to sustain her momentum past the winning post. Q’E’D could only narrow down the margin to end a close second keeping Bay of Secrets marginally behind in taking the runner-up slot.

Trainer Pesi Shroff sent out a fancied double, but what was interesting was that the joint favorites in the Marchetta plate were both from his yard. Storming Home and Illidan hogged all the spoils in the betting ring and punters were divided right through the centre line over who would win.

Storming Home took off for the early advantage and essayed the 2000 meter journey in a bold start to finish bid. Illidan chose to play a waiting game and improved reassuringly to second at the final turn. Once into the straight, Illidan galloped gracefully with in-form jockey DK Ashish in the saddle, to easily surge past Storming Home and build a solid two-length lead. He kicked on gallantly and showed no rustiness over his three=month layoff and won  in a confident fashion. Storming Home fought on without hope ending two lengths behind Illidan, but well ahead of Shining Path and the others.

Shroff struck again in the very next race with Your Royal Majesty (Multidimensional – You Are My Miracle, Usha Std). Your Royal Majesty, quoted at half-money was the shortest priced runner on the day. Jockey DK Ashish didn’t exactly tare away, but eased Your Royal Majesty into the lead soon on start.

Your Royal Majesty travelled beautifully throughout and jockey DA Ashish had precious little to do. He galloped without needing any assistance from his jockey and marched on further ahead when they turned for home. Tammy O tried hard to tackle Your Royal Majesty but the winner was simply too good. Your Royal Majesty drew further away from the rest effortlessly and looks good to win a couple of more races this season. Tammy O ended a good second. Hawker showed some spark to find his way to the front and end in the money ahead of more fancied rivals.

Veteren trainer SS Shah sent out Eternal Royalty (Phoenix Tower – Dancing Highness, Manjri Stud) and the hot favorite obliged with a sizzling victory to thrill his large number of backers.  Eternal Royalty found himself in the middle of a thick bunch as Nicanor led the field into the straight.

Nicanor had a slender lead coming into the straight and he prolonged the inevitable, holding on to his lead until the distance post. Star, Sweet As Honey and Eternal Royalty arrived at a good clip storming the front-runners into submission. Eternal Royalty was the fastest of them all and Sandesh sent him flying into the lead with a pronounced dazzle. Within strides, Eternal Royalty had accounted for them all and had gone away in a flash to post a very impressive victory. The surprise came when Beau Royale emerged from nowhere to finish an eye-catching second, with a blinding finish. With this run behind him, Beau Royale should be in the reckoning in his next outing. As for the winner, Eternal Royalty can score an encore as well.

Trainer Rehanullah Khan finally managed to get his charge As Good As Gold (Phoenix Tower – Fair Always, Manjri Stud) to seal a much expected win, although it came when least expected. The Ex Four Star General, who had failed repeatedly over shorter sprinters  in Pune and scored his maiden win over seven-furlongs at longer odds, with few takers willing to invest on him. He however, proved all calculations wrong as he produced a lively run, striking from the third spot initially to surge ahead early in the straight and draw away from his hapless rivals. He looked the winner past the distance post as he piled a huge lead coming into the final furlong.  

Troppa Bella returned to wince over her cramping on the rails at the top of the straight, and by the time she wriggled out and switched lanes, it was all over. Eduardo complained that As Good As Gold had interfered with his running, but that held no water with the stewards. As Good As Gold, with jockey CS Jodha in the saddle, devoured ground commendably to score a facile victory. Eduardo did cover a lot of ground to end well behind the winner. Troppa Bella was unlucky to have got stuck on the rails as once she freed herself, she arrived with a good finishing effort to end very close behind the runner-up, carry a heavy saddle of 61 kilos.

Toofan (Kingda Ka – January’s Storm, Nanoli Stud) was backed with a lot of conviction closed at on-money. The Nina Lalvani trainee however, did stop heartbeats as jockey Neeraj Rawal made heavy-weather of beating Sandesh ridden Remarkables in a close finish.

All looked well and going according to plan when they turned for home as Toofan progressed from third to come alongside the tiring leader Armel. Toofan did not exactly rocket forward as Remarkables started to make a sustained bid from his inside. The pair were stuck together battling hard, stride for stride and they hit the wire together as well. Punters heaved a sigh of relief when the judge announced Toofan the winner by a short-head. Tempest arrived far too late and could only manage to end third, making little impact on the top two.

Ice Gate (Razeen – Chanteline, Usha Stud) downed prime fancy Blend of Elegance with ease in the opener of the day. The Hormuz Antia ward settled in third spot alongside Malzie as Diamond Zip led the bunch with Blend of Elegance in the second spot as they turned for home.

Blend of Elegance had barely attempted to get past Diamond Zip when Ice Gate shifted gears and arrived with a spirited run with apprentice Bhawani Singh in the saddle. Within strides Ice Gate was up and away sparing a couple of lengths at the wire. Blend of Elegance was humbled and it was Katniss who showed a lot of zip as she was seen covering good ground to end a close third.

El Wonder (Duja – Alie Wonder, Pratap Stud) powered by sheer speed produced an impressive start to finish victory guided by Mudassar Nazar for trainer Vijay Kasbekar. The seven-year-old showed a good burst to go quickly in the lead and then kept it going all the way. Wind And Stars who was chasing the leader all through, ended doing so. Tote favourite Tahrir was not sighted at any stage and went with a whimper. Schiehaillon did well to take place money.

For the professionals, trainer Pesi Shroff saddled a double and jockeys A Sandesh and DK Ashish scored a double each.