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CLASSY QUASAR IS THE BEST ON INDIAN RACING CIRCUIT

By Ikram Khan | 19 Jul 2015 | BANGALORE


Quasar (Yash Narredu Up), winner of The Bangalore St.Leger (Gr.2)

Right from Squanderer to Elusive Pimpernel and Mystical to In The Spotlight, there have been many crowd favourites in the century old Indian racing but none bigger than Be Safe. Despite the fact that Quasar won the big-fight and emerged the `Maharaja’ in their last head-to-head clash, the Dr M A M Ramaswamy owned star performer again proved to be a big draw, hundreds of his fans gaining an entry and raising the biggest cheer for the horse they love and adore. The fact that his connections chose to defy logic, not providing him the required time and space to recover from the pulmonary infection he suffered from in his last essay and pushing him to settle a score over the gruelling 2800M St.Leger trip didn’t bother the Be Safe fans. They simply came out to watch the hero in action hoping that all is well with the horse they love and that he would certainly settle the score against Quasar.

It was not going to be easy and at end it proved painful for the connections. The darling of the crowd lost badly finishing a poor third behind Torch Bearer who he will beat any time in day or night on three legs.  The fans of the Ganapathy ward returned very disappointed. But they promised to be back again when he is next saddled, be it Hyderabad, Pune or Mumbai. They reckon that the darling earlier lost twice due to the injudicious effort of two jockeys and now his new trainer messed it all up, racing him when the star was not in the best of health. Win or lose, Be Safe is the Salman Khan of Indian racing.

Whatever be the reason and whoever was at fault, each time Be Safe lost, the fact is that Quasar has established himself as the best horse on the Indian racing circuit. The Mallesh Narredu schooled champion who has produced his best each time he has been asked to do, winning three Derbies at three different centres and the Indian Turf Invitation maintained his winning streak, chalking out a well deserved hat-trick, beating Be Safe out of sight twice and if Be Safe was not fit and fine, it is not Quasar’s problem. The classy son of Seeking The Dia out of Belle Jour, a got abroad from the Hazara Stud Farm having won the Invitation Cup in controversial circumstances proved that he is the best and it is time the racing buff salute the champion.

The cool and composed Yash Narredu who partnered Quasar in all his last four victories again produced a sterling effort on the horse which brought him fame. He judged the pace well and the moment he asked Quasar for his final effort, the champion produced a stunning turn of foot which floored all his rivals.  Quasar is in great form and he without doubt is the best on the Indian turf.

After his confident effort on Quasar, Yash stole the limelight packing punch on Jigsaw (Archipenko – Silk Runner / Lumbini Stud), another winner from his father, Mallesh Narredu’s yard in the Manitou Trophy run over a distance of 2000 metres. The second in demand at the betting ring, Jigsaw was strongly challenged by the Delhi hopeful Let The Lion Roar in the final furlong before Yash pulled out all stops and drove Jigsaw home to the delight of the Jaydev Mody camp.  It was clear that Let The Lion Roar found the final furlong beyond his compass and that the favourite Anarosa has gone of the boil.

The S M Krishna Rao Memorial Cup was claimed by the ten to one shot Mickey Mouse (Ace – Risada / Poona Stud). The winner was lucky to score, thanks to the injudicious effort of Ahsan Qureshi who needlessly travelled very wide and this cost Jackie Oh dear at end. The overwhelming favourite Havelock Prince who was advantageously placed in at the scales failed to produce his best and eventually finished a tame third.

Earlier the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Downton Abbey was the public rage in the Pronto Pronto Trophy. The on-money favourite who had finished a game second behind Cameron who won again and ahead of Ophelia who came out trumps on Saturday was considered a `moral certainty’ but Downton Abbey met a tartar in Akha Teej (Tariq – Sober Mind / Broadacers Stud who produced her best to gain the day in the hands of the in-form Trevor Patel.

Rakshitha (Carnival Dancer – Free Figure / Dashmesh Stud) from Sharath Kumar’s yard won the opening event, the lower division of the Noble Prince Plate before I Smile from his yard fancied most in the upper division failed to make the frame. The ten to one shot Blues Legend (Sussex – Hurry Home / Badal Stud) to the delight of her trainer Prithviraj produced a sparkling gallop to floor the followers of form.

The Manohar-trained Noble Princess (Kly Grreen – Cafe Dancer / Sunder Stud) dropped the biggest bombshell winning the Kranji Plate, edging out Fashion Flame at the shadow of the winning post. The favourite Kings Kid finished a none-too-impressive third despite Jagadeesh making free use of the whip on the Sirajuddin ward.

Love Is Life (Gaswar – Kilspindie / Lingwood Stud) from Imtiaz Khan’s stable and Sun Glow (Crown Jewels – Sidhiksha / Noble Stud) from Rajesh Narredu’s yard were the two other winners in the nine-event card. The former won the Parsiana Plate run over a mile while Sun Glow recorded his second straight success in the Manjri Stud Plate run over a sprint.