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MINE FOREVER SMASHES COURSE RECORD

By Mahendra Mallya | 20 Dec 2015 | MUMBAI


Mine Forever (P Trevor Up), winner of The Ranjit V Bhat Memorial Gold Trophy

The Deltin Casinos Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr1) day saw Phoenix Tiger crowed the juvenile champ, but Mine Forever wrote his own script to carve her name in the record books. Lining up for the Ranjit V Bhat Memorial Gold Trophy, Mine Forever shot off the blocks and quickly settled behind leader Zander. Victorious March and Deep Diver were close behind, with Ladybird and Mykonos in the rear.

Zander brought the field into the straight and soon Mine Forever came along side in cruise mode. Once she took charge, Mine Forever quickened well to stay ahead all the way. She galloped smoothly and although Deep Diver tried to apply pressure, Mine Forever rolled on all the way into the record books. She clocked an impressive 57:45, eclipsing Dancing Phoenix’s 57:67 in the process. The new record holder for the five-furlong scurry Mine Forever is owned by Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Adar & Natasha Poonawalla, trained by Pesi Shroff and was ridden by champion jockey P Trevor.

Shroff saddled two additional winners compiling an admirable three in a row with debutante Accolade and Apache in the next two races.

Accolade (Burden of Proof – Alnasreya, Kunigal Stud) made easy meat of his rivals on debut and justified the faith posed on him going out at less than even money. He was up in third as Ladislaus led the field with Imperial Heritage up next until the turn. Ladislaus was hard at work to keep the lead when he was challenged from either side. Devoted eyes came from the outside and just when he was about to get past the leader to go into the lead, Accolade poked through from the rails and he quickened exceedingly well to draw away. Trevor had little to do as Accolade started accelerating well and sealed the race in the final furlong. Devoted Eyes ended a good second ahead of Ladislaus.

Apache (Ad Valorem – Chateau Beach, Hazara Stud) had to wait a while before he got an opening in the nick of time and he pulled off a sensational win edging out his stablemate Your Royal Majesty in the dying moments of the race.

Shivalik Storm made all the early running but ran out of steam once they turned for home. Your Royal Majesty soon powered his way to the front with Adam showing up alongside. Apache was still stuck on the rails as Your Royal Majesty got the measure of Adam. Just when it looked like Your Royal Majesty would pull it off, Apache got going through the narrow gap and put his neck in front at the wire.

Trainer M Narredu was away at Kolkata by the side of his nephew DK Ashish who was fighting a losing battle with life after a drastic fall he suffered on Saturday. The tragic news of DK Ashish passing away this morning was most disturbing. This is a cruel reality one has to deal with now and then.

Malesh was represented by his son and assistant trainer Deepesh Narredu who saddled Ostwind in the first race of the day. Ostwind (Holy Roman Emperor – Ertiyaad, Lumbini Stud) went for it start to finish and he looked good coming into the straight. He was well ahead even inside the final 100 meters when Jigsaw made an all out attempt to snatch victory. Ostwind held his ground as jockey Kamlesh never let his guard down and held on narrowly to save the blushes.

Malesh’s Shivalik Heroine (Orpen – Ifni, Hazara Stud) compiled a fluent start to finish win over the mile and that was a creditable performance. She was off at a good clip and stayed fairly ahead until the turn. Once into the straight, Shivalik Heroine kept the momentum going. Jackknife failed to quicken and faded out. Sentosa Cove tried hard to make a race of it but found Shivalik Heroine elusive. Jockey CS Jodha rode out relentlessly and stayed well ahead at the finish to make it comfortably. Sentosa Cove ended a tame second ahead of Shadowfax.

Faisal Abbas trained Holy Smoke (Phoenix Tower – Little Treasure, Manjri Stud) blew away the opposition to win his second successive race even more impressively. Settling in third, Holy Smoke made his move well into the straight and dashed away with 300 to go. He showed a terrific turn of foot and within strides was far ahead of the rest, piling up a huge victory. Harvey was never in the hunt as he found himself between horses most of the time. Phoenix Cat improved well to finish runner up just ahead of Harvey.

Starry Moment (Multidimensional – Star Perfection, Usha Stud) was the rank outsider of the day and won with surprising ease. Ascendency led the field homewards with Shooting Star alongside. Starry moment made her move quickly past the 400. Once Starry Moment got into the lead, she accelerated fluently to surge forward outpacing her rivals with disdain. She was soon out of reach as she romped home in the hands of jockey CS Jodha. Midnight Romance improved to finish a decent second ahead of Aeolus Maximus.

Shooting Star returned in distress. It is learnt that he suffered a heart attack and succumbed as medical was being provided.

For the professionals, trainer Pesi Shroff saddled a treble, M Narredu a double, while jockeys Trevor and CS Jodha scored a double each.