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MICKEY MOUSE WINS KARNATAKA POLICE TROPHY

By Ikram Khan | 08 Jan 2016 | BANGALORE


Trainer V Narayana Gowdav leading Mickey Mouse (P P Dhebe Up), winner of The Karnataka Police Trophy Div-1

Two weeks to go for the Garuda winter Derby followed by the Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai, the premier racing centre staging the Indian Oaks and a couple of big ticket events offering rich stakes, the focus is now on the big stage, owners, trainers and jockeys chalking out the many strategies in their effort to make a mark on the big days.

The small owners and trainers who in their wings have a good horse are running helter skelter in their attempt to rope in top jockeys and considering the fact that most top Indian Knights are retained by the top owners, it is a hard task and most are frustrated by the exercise to find capable jockeys to partner their mounts in the plums in Mumbai.

Knowing that the top jockeys are only few in number, the onus is on the rest to bend their back and stretch every sinew in their effort to make the big league, but most youngsters instead of training hard and producing results which will help separate the boys from men, are only looking at making a fast buck, never mind missing out on the road to glory.

On Friday, Shrikant Kamble after booting home the well backed Perfect King in the lower division of the Native Chieftain Plate had the best chance to record a double on Vicious Circle competing in the upper division of the Ranganathittu Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Vicious Circle on the strength of his eye catching second behind Alexandrite in his last effort was head and shoulders above the rest in this dozen horse field and the bookmakers rightly opened him the top favourite, quoted at (16/10).  Despite the fact that  no big money came on  J Gatsby and Priority, the price on the favourite kept going up and up and from (16/10) at the start, Vicious Circle was boldly offered at (6/1).  The big shift in price was a clear indicator that something was cooking and it happened. Kamble blotted his book injudiciously piloting the Nithyanand ward and the stipes and stewards not satisfied with the effort of the jockey decided to open an enquiry into the running and riding of Vicious Circle and Kamble. The fact that Kamble lost to rank outsider Jersey Wonder by the shortest of margins, it is apparent failed to impress the stipes and stewards and it is the manner in which he lost a race which he should have easily won caught the eye and later became a hot topic of discussion among the many pundits and the old hats in the game.

Earlier, Trevor Patel who is now the darling of the crowd recorded a popular double through the two public choices, Emperador who made a winning debut in the Sriharikota Plate run over a sprint before he packed punch on another Darius Byramji ward Force Ensign to corner glory in the Kanchanganga Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Mystic Music looking to break the ice and enter the winners’ circle again finished second ahead of Adriphos and Miracles Of Life who is certain to earn her cornbill in the weeks ahead.

After Trevor, it was Sandesh who registered a good priced double on the two Ganapathy wards Omber Glaze and Light Of Magic. The former won the opening event in style pegging back the effort of the favourite Colorato piloted by Chouhan  and Light Of Magic in a blanket finish edged out the two top fancies Royal Rein and Super Queen in the concluding event.

Another leading pro S John who is heading the jockeys table made no mistake on the favourite Afore in the Ghataprabha Plate.  The public choice from Prasanna Kumar’s yard who proudly led in New Alliance in the Oaks last week was  backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals and the top fancy readily justified the confidence of his supporters.

The 20 to one shot Mickey Mouse shocked the followers of form in the feature event, the Karnataka Police Trophy. The Narayan Gowda ward had the credentials to score in this set but most railbirds discounted his chances after Prashanth Dhebe was roped in by Gowda to guide the fortunes of the winner. Dhebe hit the front soon after the dozen contenders came under the starter’s flag and never let the initiative slip, displaying good temperament and poise to steal the limelight from last start winner Russian Link and the favourite Super Success.

After failing on the favourite Rock N Rolla, Ramu punched home the ten to one shot Colour Of Gold in the upper division of the Native Chieftan Plate. The Amit Caddy ward who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring produced an astounding gallop at the distance post to assume command and then snuff out the belated effort of Hidden Hero. Hostess from Neil Darashah’s yard who garnered good support finished third while Millrose in his attempt to make every post a winning one lost his legs in the final furlong.