Snow Dew’s narrow win in the Kingfisher Derby made discerning race-goers wonder whether our jockeys plan the running. Used, as they seem to be to ride in a regimented pattern in long distance races that when confronted with a situation they had not bargained for, they seem to run short of ideas. It is then that a horse that might not have won otherwise, finishes a winner. The consensus was that Snow Dew was a cut above the rest and that she would win. Snow Dew did win but the result could well have been different had it been a true run race. The last minu

te withdrawal of Ansbach due to an injury to the hoof was a disappointment indeed. The presence of the Alnasr Alwasheek colt would have ensured that Antequera who did the front running, would have set a faster pace than he did and the race could well have been run in a totally different pattern.

Had the jockey of Antequera showed a better tactical grasp of the situation when he was ahead of the field at the top of the straight in a slow run race and spurted immediately, he could have made things difficult for the eventual winner.

Jockey C Alford found himself in a situation that called for ingenuity, but he failed to show it. Jockey Prakash seized the advantage, as the running of the race suited his game plan. He kept the favourite upfront and exploited the sprinting ability of Snow Dew to go ahead. Snow Dew took a while to overtake Antequera and she got better only inside the final 100 metres. But at the finish, the margin was fast diminishing, with the whole field climbing on the front-runner. As usual, Royal Liberator who was finishing the fastest was shy by half a length while Antequera was further ¾ of a length behind and a neck clear of Royal Gladiator.

Had the jockey of Antequera showed a better tactical grasp of the situation when he was ahead of the field at the top of the straight in a slow run race and spurted immediately, he could have made things difficult for the eventual winner. Jockey C Alford found himself in a situation that called for ingenuity, but he failed to show it. Jockey Prakash seized the advantage, as the running of the race suited his game plan. He kept the favourite upfront and exploited the sprinting ability of Snow Dew to go ahead. Snow Dew took a while to overtake Antequera and she got better only inside the final 100 metres. But at the finish, the margin was fast diminishing, with the whole field climbing on the front-runner.

As usual, Royal Liberator who was finishing the fastest was shy by half a length while Antequera was further 3/4 of a length behind and a neck clear of Royal Gladiator. The jockeys and their connections expect Dr M A M Ramaswamy’s wards to set the pace in every big race.

The pattern had been so all along but this time out, they had chalked up a brilliant plan when no-hoppers like Majestic Emperor and Star of Gaiety were kept behind, leaving the job of pace making to others. It is here that the others found the situation to their disadvantage. They did not envisage such a situation and as such, they did not have a game plan for such an eventuality. Antequera went to the front and set a slow pace.

Jockey Malesh Narredu preferred to fight with Royal Gladiator than to go to the front and make his own pace which would have worked to his advantage for Snow Dew who took a long time to overtake an inferior Antequera, would have found Royal Gladiator hard to overhaul under such circumstances. Royal Gladiator’s exploits hadn’t come about because of his turn of foot and he had won his races upfront and Malesh could well have made an attempt in the like manner.

Srinath on Royal Liberator was again out-sprinted. By the time, the Green Forest progeny got going, the race was well sewn up. Royal Liberator devoured ground and his narrow defeat only served to heighten the agony of the connections of the horse for another opportunity was lost all over again. With the pace of the race being slow, he should have been closer to the front-runner. To his chagrin, Royal Liberator too was galloping on the wrong leg and he shifted to the right only after being pushed out by Royal Gladiator closer home. Once he found his foot, Royal Liberator finished in style.

Antequera hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the 2000 metres trip, with an `unsettled’ Royal Gladiator in the second position, followed by Snow Dew, Royal Liberator, Majestic Emperor, Star of Gaiety and Ciel Fleuri. Approaching the final bend, Snow Dew had moved up alongside Royal Gladiator and was in striking position to pounce on the front-running Antequera. With Royal Gladiator not quickening, Snow Dew passed her main adversary easily but took sometime to get ahead of the front-running Atenquera. Snow Dew went ahead inside the final 100 metres but found the reserves of energy fast running out when the entire field closed in.

The winning post came to the rescue of Snow Dew. The Razeen-Snow three-year old filly Snow Dew thus provided her sire fourth success in this event, with Santorini Star, Star Supreme and Allaire being the other winners. Unlike the above-mentioned horses, Snow Dew has stamina limitations and it is difficult to expect her to tackle extended trips. Like the celebrated Divine Light before her, Snow Dew could well end up being a brilliant miler in her subsequent essays.

The light framed filly is no flashy looker. For trainer S Ganapathy who became a trainer less than a year ago after being a Racing Manager for the turf baron Dr M A M Ramaswamy for over two decades, it was a great moment of triumph. He had done well to keep the temperamental and light framed filly Snow Dew in top condition despite coming under such pressure so early in his career.

The timing clocked for the Derby was a slow two minutes 10.35 seconds which was three seconds slower than clocked by Mr Belvedere which was two minutes 07.54 seconds and the latter, despite recording a hat-trick, is no big shake. Ponnappa trained Mr Belevere is in good nick and he has found the kind of opposition he could toy with in each of his three wins. With Hong Kong Boy who was expected to pose a challenge loosing his shoe at around the top of the straight and running below par, Mr Belvedere had it easy in the 2000 metres Kolkata Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above, the supporting event of the day.

The front-running Elusive Emperor packed up at the top of the straight and it was left to Mr Belvedere to win as he pleased. The five-year old Mr Belvedere appears to be a late bloomer. Allodium finished ahead of Refresher to take the runner-up spot. Darius Byramji trained Arzillo received inspired support in the betting ring along with Startrix but as it happens almost always, it was a horse trained by another Byramji Rio Tinto who won at nourishing odds.

The well-bred Rio Tinto proved too good for the opposition and the style of victory of this Alansr Alwasheek progeny is suggestive of better things to come. For the record, the fancied duo of Startrix and Arzillo was slowly away from the gates and ran like duds. Ye another race where such a result obtained was in the Hyderabad Cup where first-timer, trained by Darius Byramji Gnostic Eyes was backed to on-money favouritism. Yet again it was Iflookscouldkill, trained by the other Byramji, who slammed the opposition, at nourishing odds. Gnostic Eyes had little business to be running as a favourite as he looked out of shape and needs more time to come to hand. It is difficult to fathom how the direction of money is always headed on the wrong horse when they belong to the same connections.

Under such situations, the horse with the higher price has always won. Dover had good chance to win but the filly found Iflookscouldkill too good on the day. Mrs Silva Storai rode out Red Sand to a fine victory in the Chennai Cup (Div II). With Priceless Coral having been withdrawn from the fray, Think of Us and Irfan Ghatala’s Red Sand were the public fancies. Silva preferred to wait with Red Sand in the third position even as Think of Us appeared to have established a comfortable lead. Silva brought Red Sand through the rails and with a couple of backhanders, got the Gold Discovery progeny into top gear and Red Sand passed the front-runner in a trice to run out an impressive winner.

The use of a tongue strap appeared to have worked wonders for Sriram Komandur’s Go Honey Go who won as she pleased in the Mumbai Cup (Div II). Abdullah’s Quorum was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the Mischevous Music progeny put up a pathetic display. The upper division of the same race went the way of favourite Magic Stride who too was an impressive winner, finishing clear of Golden Collection and Brora. Jockey Mark Gallagher’s brilliant riding on Arjun Mangalorkar’s Shathabisha made the difference to the outcome of Mysore Cup. Shathabisha had the first run on his opponents. Jockey Prakash brought Rich Crown on the wide outside to essay his challenge. The duo fought the final 200 metres, with Gallagher’s perseverance enabling Shathabisha to win by a whisker. Both the divisions of the Delhi Cup, a race for horses rated 10 to 25, killed the punters who put trust in the favourites. Royal Contender was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the well-bred Ilheus progeny packed up after being prominent. In fact, the first two favourites, Royal Contender and Just Do It, ended up disputing the last two slots! Friendless Soul of Gold who raced in front, managed to kick clear to win from Fereneze. In the lower division, top-weighted Three To Count won at nourishing odds, with the fancied duo of Furia Ross and Paranjyothy letting down their supporters.