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PROSERPINE JUSTIFIES NEIL’S RATING IN FIRST CLASSIC

By Ikram Khan | 26 Nov 2016 | BANGALORE


Trainer Neil Darashah leading Proserpine (Neeraj Rawal Up), winner of The Bangalore 1000 Guineas (Gr.2)

The moment Proserpine flashed past the winning post first in the first classic, the Bangalore 1000 Guineas, it was time for song and dance all night long for the young Neil Darashah. The youngster always thought that the Mull Of Kintyre out of Lady Prominence filly had the ability to win a classic after she made a smashing debut in summer, but what disappointed Neil was that the filly in her next three starts including one in Mysore failed to live up to the promise, before she won her first start this season in a thriller from Fire Glow.

Delighted that the filly was back on the winning road and that she had made good improvement after her victory on the second day of the season, Neil decided to give Proserpine another chance.  Aware that the Star Nijinsky was the only classic winner among the eight in the field, Neil knew that his filly had an outside chance and Proserpine justified her master’s rating, emerging the best of her age and sex in the hands of Neeraj Rawal.

Proserpine was shockingly quoted at (20/1) and that would certainly have surprised Neil most taking into account that Neil fancied her to score and she did just that in style. The Hyderabad Derby winner Star Nijinsky and the facile last start winner Watchmyscript garnered the maximum support and most big bettors were of the firm belief that the fillies classic would end in a straight fight between the two market leaders. But out went the `Jodi’ to the delight of a big number of bookies who, it is learnt are operating from outside and Neil was the most satisfied pro proudly leading in the filly, who he trusted to strike it big. It was a commendable effort and Neil deserves a pat on the back.

On a day, four rankoutsiders floored the followers of form resulting in most railbirds returning home with a hole in the pocket, a solitary punter struck it rich, cracking the five-horse puzzle, the Jackpot pool taking home a rich dividend of Rs 9,14,596 and the cash rich lucky man can now avoid the many long lines at the bank or at ATM’s  to withdraw cash. 

In the first leg of the most popular pool, the Rajesh Narredu schooled Supreme Dominator dropped the biggest bombshell. The winner of the Mount Joy Plate run over a mile was one of the least fancied runners in the dozen horse field and with Prabhakaran to guide his fortunes stunned the punters pegging back the challenge of the second favourite Jersey Wonder. The public choice Sagrada from trainer Gregory Sandhu’s yard finished a tame fourth behind the lesser fancied Aayan who encountered rough passage at a crucial stage of the race and hence deserves another chance.

After the shock in the opening leg, the small number of Jackpot hunters who survived the big shock were happy to see the favourite Tzar from trainer Dominic’s yard show a clean pair of heels to all his 10 rivals in the upper division of the T B Hanumantharaj Memorial Cup run over a sprint. Leading pro Srinath rode a copybook race on the winner, following the two leaders Summerhill and Romantic Helen for most part of the journey before he alerted the Tzar at the distance post and the winner responding well put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. The moody Prazsky caught the eye gaining the runner-up berth ahead of Lunar Storm while Campari Girl took the fourth spot.

The important third leg featured the classic and here again Proserpine provided the shock treatment.

“I always knew Proserpine had the class and ability to pick up a classic and I fancied her to do that today. Star Nijinsky was the horse to beat and I knew my filly would produce her best. She did that and I’m most delighted with her effort, “ said Neil Darashah.

After Proserpine’s classic winning effort, Boysterous landed a sucker punch, winning the penultimate leg of the pool, the Huthari Festival Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner was hopelessly placed at the top of the straight but the manner in which he covered ground despite racing 10 wide and then winning with a measure of comfort suggests that this Azhar Ali ward is set to provide an encore when saddled next. Thundersquall  finished second ahead of the topweighted Proudprince while the heavily backed Internal Affair after leading for most part of the trip collapsed like a pricked balloon at the top of the straight.

In the final leg, the lower division of the T B Hanumantharaj Memorial Cup, the jackpot winner had nominated Interesting and that was very interesting considering that he had nominated three rankoutsiders in the first four legs and was going with a favourite in the final leg. But as luck would have it, the public choice powerfully piloted by Suraj Narredu downed lesser fancied Perfectebony at the shadow of the winning post and the single ticket man was free from the demonetization cash crunch.

Earlier, Imran Khan and trainer Faraz Arshad struck through the well supported Country’s Bloom in the opening event, the lower division of the Swarnamukhi Plate run over a sprint, the winner proving too good for her 11 rivals. On the strength of this victory Country’s Bloom looks good to repeat the act in the higher class.

The Inayathullah-trained Roaring Thunder was fancied most in the Honnavur Plate but after raising hopes midway up the straight, the favourite lost out to the unfancied Shivalik Boy from trainer Britto’s yard.

After a couple of disappointments, failing to enter the winners’ circle when fancied most, Balian from the stables of Padmanabhan came up trumps in the Udupi Plate run over a mile. The Scottish pro David Allan packed power on the winner to edge out Amazing Skill who at one stage looked poised to score.

The Imtiaz Khan schooled Dagobert after twice finishing second from his two starts in Mysore again met a tartar in Inter Flora. The Padmanabhan-trained filly after failing to gain a favourable position early on in the race produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to help David and Padmanabhan register a good double. Sterling Role who was also quietly fancied in this event failed in his mission to make every post a winning one and finished a none-too-impressive third.