Cheating, fixing, daylight robbery are some of the words one got to hear after Quasar won the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. Allegations apart, and whatever be the result of the Stewards inquiry into the running and riding of the public rage Be Safe who lost to Quasar, it is interesting to narrate why many cried foul and how one error has upset the entire racing fraternity who feel they were all cheated.

First let’s start with the horse himself, Be Safe: Well the champion who without a doubt is the best horse on the Indian racing circuit feels cheated because he believes that Quasar on any given day will need a pair of roller skates to match strides with him. He strongly feels that he lost the Champion Of Champions event and the Poonawalla Million for no fault of his and he claims that this is not fair.

Dr. M A M Ramaswamy: The turf baron who to his credit has led in 590 plus classic winners, a world record  feels cheated that his horse Be Safe was ineptly piloted by Suraj Narredu. The Big Boss of Indian racing reveals that  Suraj had told him after Be Safe’s victory in the McDowell Indian Derby that Be Safe is a international class performer and no Indian horse holds any threat. Why then the story, the boy lost out tracking Amazing Grace and Alaindair. If you are on the horse you believe is the best, why bother about the rest is his understanding. The explanations for the failure, be it genuine fail to impress him. Let down, he has removed all his horses under the care of trainer Mallesh Narredu.

Jaydev Mody: The winning owner feels cheated simply because he just could not enjoy the big moment for no fault of his and that his horse, Quasar, winner of three Derbies at three different centres won the mega event producing his best.

The winning horse and jockey Yash Narredu, never mind not getting a standing ovation were targets of the many missiles hurled at them and the owners too were abused by a volatile section of the crowd. It was sad taking into account that Jaydev Mody is a very sporting owner and he deserved his moment under the sun. But he felt cheated, the unrest among the railbirds spoiling his big party.

Yash Narredu: It was a historic moment for this lad who outwitted all the seniors in the business producing a near-perfect effort to win the most coveted race in the Indian racing calendar on debut. The boy did not know what was wrong when he was made the target of missiles. The moment he passed the winning post he was over the moon and next he was running for cover. It was one big victory for Yash and he would have loved to cherish it. But he was robbed of all the glory attached to the event  and the laurels he brought to his owners.

Mallesh Narredu: He under his care had two best horses, Be Safe and Quasar. He entered both and to gain a 1-2 result in a champion event is not a easy task. He had done his best to see that the two were spot on going into the event and the result would have pleased most in the training business. But in his victory he lost out, the biggest owner, MAM pulling out all his horses.

Omkar Group: Well the sponsors of the event had every reason to feel disappointed. They coughed up big money in the hope to gain maximum mileage from the mega event but all they got was bad negative publicity. First the sponsors were disappointed that the event scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 1 was postponed  and was held on a Saturday on March 7 following  rains on the eve of the event on last day of February. Then when all looked good, the result led to public fury and with the racing buffs demanding justice and resorting to violence, the sponsors felt cheated  not getting due mileage after investing big and working hard  to support and promote the event.

Punters: They made it clear that it was a sinister design to prevent Be Safe from winning  and that it is not the horse who lost but it was the injudicious effort of the jockey which made him lose. And it was not a fair result. Never mind losing wagering on favourites. Dancing Prances and Tiger Tops too lost in the Sprinters’ and Stayers’ but they were beaten fair and square but in the case of Be Safe he was ridden to lose. It is clear case of cheating reckoned the chief patrons of the game.

Well it is strange but true that this one result failed to bring joy to the winners who deserved their moment of glory. And like the losers they also felt cheated. What about the sponsors. Will they come out and sponsor the event again next year? Well your guess is as good as mine.