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BOLD LEGACY MAKES IT A ‘MAGNIFICENT SEVEN’

By Epsom Ace | 16 Jan 2016 | KOLKATA


Trainer Arti Doctor leading Bold Legacy (Shailesh Shinde Up), winner of The Mysore Race Club Cup

Arti Doctor-trained Bold Legacy completed a rare feat of winning the first seven races of her career on the trot. The crack sprinter by New Famous out of Hoofbeats (Yeravada Stud) has now joined an elite club which include the likes of Elusive Pimpernel and Set Alight (even the greats Squanderer and Royal Tern lost once early in their respective careers). The brilliant sprinter Oasis Star lost in his very first outing. Anyway, that’s enough of statistics. There’s people far more qualified than myself to handle that.

The credit for her seven wins undoubtedly goes to her trainer Arti Doctor whose placement has been immaculate. The Mysore Race Club Cup run at RCTC on Saturday was however not without drama as there was indeed a ‘hard luck story’ to tell – that of the legendary King Kong.

The race was run with bottom-weight Amorino setting a hot pace, followed by Bullet, Bold Legacy, King Kong (Hindu Singh up) and Gentle Knowledge (along the rails) in close successions. After the turning for home, while the seasoned Shailesh Shinde on Bold Legacy rather astutely used the gap between the two front-runners, both Gentle Knowledge and King Kong made their move on the outside.

The mount of apprentice Hindu Singh was taken miles wide by Gentle Knowledge as the former was preparing to go into top gear in the straight. The duo finished on the outer rails and it was a foregone conclusion that the objection would be upheld to give the 12/1 shot King Kong the second spot. The verdict separating the three runners (neck, short-head) also suggests that had King Kong been permitted his natural run in the straight, he would have probably triumphed. But then ifs and buts don’t count in racing. It is only the result that matters.

Apprentice Jorawar Singh on Gentle Knowledge was lucky to get away without any further penalty. The Stipes felt that as he had lost the second spot, that was punishment enough. But, in fact, his brand of riding was highly dangerous and could have had a nasty ending. It was pretty hair-raising, coming in the wake of jockey Ashish’s demise.

Both Jorawar and Hindu Singh had however tasted success earlier. Jorawar had returned successful astride Daniel David-trained Duke Of Earl (Noverre-Sharatila/ Sohna Stud) while winning the Ridicular Handicap. It was a competent piece of horsemanship which saw the apprentice move up with his mount from mid-division and squeeze a path between the front runner Glamorous Glory and tiring Royal Scots to edge out the fancied pair of Another Glory and Forest Dunes at the wire. Hindu Singh had ridden Manvendra Singh-trained Midnight Star (Gaswar-Minnie Mouse/ Lingwood Stud) to victory in the race for the N. Karanjawalla Cup. Gradually improving his position from an outside draw, Midnight Star got the better of Empowerd at the post.

Jockey Christopher Alford completed a double as he guided home Bath-schooled Mr Majestic (Varenar-Stringsofmyheart) to a start-to-finish victory in the Police Commissioner’s Cup and then made his ‘Presence’ felt as the gelding by that name from Raunak Banerji’s yard returned home a clear winner. Sired by Glory Of Dancer out of Al Asifah (Kehelan Stud), Presence showed commendable sprinting ability to win as he liked after following pace-setter City Heights till the straight. The disappointment in the race was Astral Dancer who ended up dead last.

The curtain came down with a nailbiting finish when Dashrath Singh astride Bournville (European-Cindy Lou Two) spared no effort to get the better of runaway So Regal at the wire. The afternoon commenced on a high for trainer Deepak Karki who led in Footloose (European-Sacred Dreams) once again with apprentice Munna Alam astride. The six-year-old chestnut held on to his advantage despite drifting out in the straight.