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Fantabulous King reigns supreme
By Sharan Kumar | 11 Jul 2004 | BANGALORE
Fantabulous King (P Shroff up) winner of the Kingfisher Derby Bangalore (Grade I) being led by trainer Mr. S Sing, Owners Mr. Sunil Jhangiani, Mrs. Rekha Mallya & Dr. Vijay Mallya
Dr Vijay Mallya’s appearance at the racecourses these days is becoming increasingly a rarity what with the beer baron having been preoccupied with everything under the Sun including being the head of a political party. Perhaps his rare presence inspired Fantabulous King to dish out a vintage performance to win the Gr 1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby in spectacular fashion in front of a record gathering on Sunday.
Significantly, Fantabulous King is bred at Mallya’s Kunigal Stud Farm and first season sire Burden of Proof already has two Grade I race winners from his first crop itself. A momentous feeling indeed for Mallya who has the distinction of breeding the best ever Indian horse Saddle Up at his stud farm barely a few years after venturing into this field. The heady result should surely ensure the colorful and dramatic presence of Mallya more often at the racecourses.
For jockey Pesi Shroff, the man with the perfect big match temperament, the victory could not have come at a better time when some were questioning whether he had outlived his utility. He rode an impeccable race, allowing Fantabulous King to do what he does best when given a free rein. Fantabulous King ran freely in front albeit well under control and then spurted away to win with a great deal of comfort from Star Admiral and Full Speed.
Spectacular Quest failed to come up with his patented burst of speed and was stranded. The Kingfisher Derby has not run kindly for favourites, with upsets being par for the race. That is because the three year olds are still to reach their peak and as such, one cannot be definitive about how things can turn up as form could fluctuate violently. Three-year olds are capable of showing amazing improvements so much so that it is difficult to say whether Spectacular Quest ran below form or whether Fantabulous King ran above expectations. Only much later in their career when form settles down, one can be more accurate.
However, the victory of Fantabulous King was not a surprise because he was the best three-year old in the country notwithstanding his dismal performance in the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes. There, the opposition did not beat him but he beat himself. As such, there was always this feeling that he could always bounce back if nothing bothered him. Jockey Pesi Shroff was of the view that Fantabulous King choked last time and felt that if he did not develop that problem during the race, he could still win the big event.
Fantabulous King who sported a tongue strap, did not encounter any problem as he raced a handy second behind Moon Emperor before taking charge on turning for home and then holding on to win with a measure of comfort. The tactics adopted by Shroff went a long way in helping Fantabulous King not come under any pressure as he was not restrained. Fantabulous King had gone into the race with one of the best preparatory gallops seen during the season and looked fit and well.
Spectacular Quest who had smashed the opposition in the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes went as the overwhelming favourite to win with Fantabulous King being allowed to run at fancy odds. In fact, stablemates Star Admiral and Elite Zone were the others in some demand at the betting ring. A bit of drama preceded the start of the race as Apperitivo reared up at the gates and landed his legs in the next stall where Fantabulous King was standing, hurting Shroff in the process.
Shroff got off his mount even as the stretcher was being brought but luckily nothing serious had happened and it was only a scare. Moon Emperor settled down to lead the field after the starter dispatched the field for the mile and a quarter trip, with Fantabulous King in second position while Full Speed was in close attendance. The gold and brigade, which had five runners in the fray, were settled from mid-group to rear with Moon Emperor setting up a comfortable pace at the top of the pack. Approaching the final bend, Fantabulous King was still traveling on the bridle and quite comfortably too but the others were hard at work.
Fantabulous King surged ahead when asked for an effort and opened by a big lead. Shroff elected to race Fantabulous King in the middle of the course in search of good ground but the son of Burden of Proof slightly drifted out under pressure but he had the race firmly under control. Star Admiral finished on to take the second spot ahead of Full Speed and Blurr while Spectacular Quest was a lost cause.
The progeny of Burden of Proof certainly enjoy soft going and though the progeny of Placerville too are expected to act on the surface, they have faltered when the going has turned ``dead’’. Full Speed ran third and he could profit if he is campaigned in monsoon classics. Trainer Rashid Byramji has never been starved of winners throughout his career but somehow, he has struggled this Summer. With just six days left for the season to end, Byramji could heave a sigh of relief when the unfancied Camarioca beat the opposition pointless in the Chennai Cup (Div II) in the day’s opener.
The daughter of Burden of Proof, Camarioca is surely a promising juvenile and though she looked far from ready, she won over a trip reckoned to be sharp, in impressive fashion in the hands of Ravi Biramne. Fancied Roda Rosen and Miami Gold were lost causes. Golden Venture brought off a stunning upset in the upper division, winning over a late-finishing Syrian Spice.
Nuncio who received inspired support despite an apprentice being assigned ride him where allowances cannot be claimed, finished dismally. Pamela Bordes was an eye-catching second over a sprint to Laguna Blue and as such, she was expected to be a force to reckon with over an extended trip of seven furlongs. Surprisingly, Supreme Power was backed to the exclusion of his rivals. The grey son of Razeen shaped like a winner inside the final furlong but was floored by the finishing burst of Pamela Bordes.
Trainer Imtiaz Sait thus saddled his second winner of the season. Ganapathy trained Amor was a runaway winner of the Mysore Cup. Somerset West was repeatedly interfered by Christopher ridden Classical Song and as such, Shroff had difficulty in setting alight the second favourite who finished on to take the third spot behind Sandokan. Pick Me Up collared some support but the gelding was sluggish and the jockey had to use him up to take a striking position and he packed up as the early effort took its toll.
Loknath trained Water Brook who received inspired betting, duly obliged in the Delhi Cup (Div I). The daughter of Twist And Turn won quite capably as the fancied The Big Fight lost gas on turning for home. Water Brook went away from a comfortable win over a late-finishing Initiation. Amazing Eyes had let down as a favourite in the hands of little known Babu, won the lower division of the race in brilliant fashion. More wins are in store for Amazing Eyes who should move up the scale rapidly.
Dramatic Heights who is bred as full sister to Running Flame, appears to be running into winning form as she finished to take the second spot ahead of the heavily supported Exceptional who let down once again. Alaskan was an impressive winner of the Mumbai Cup where the son of Tecorno proved to be a cut above the rest to all including on-money favourite Only For Gold. Vishnupriya was putting in good effort to be a suggestive fourth and he will surely appreciate a step up in distance.
Ampersand came up with a flourishing stretch run to down the front-running Nordic Star close home in the 2000 metres Kolkata Cup. Nordic Star has stamina limitations. Assessed who jumped into this class merely on the basis of running behind River God, had a troubled passage, and was chopped off by Assumer at the final bend. Chant Royal ran below par.