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NEIL DARASHAH RECORDS CLASSIC DOUBLE

By Ikram Khan | 10 Dec 2016 | BANGALORE


M Mr Sarosh Modi, Mrs Anneka Darashah & trainer Neil Darashah leading Battalion (Suraj Narredu Up), winner of The Bangalore 2000 Guineas (Gr.2)

It is easy to record a classic double with one good horse.  But to do it with two different horses is a feat many would be proud of. The talented Neil Darashah did just that on Saturday. After proudly leading in Proserpine in the 1000 Guineas, a delighted Neil with a spring in his step dashed out to lead in Battalion after the best horse in his yard emerged the best of his sex and age, winning the 2000 Guineas and this simply promises to be a season which Neil will cherish most.

After Proserpine justified his rating and his confidence Neil Darashah fancied his chances to record a classic double. “I in my yard have two good contestants, Battalion, the winner of the Colts and Ooty Derby and the much improved Advocate General and after Battalion’s success in his maiden start this season, I fancy him to emerge the top colt,” said Neil.

The fact that he fancied Battalion strongly and left no stone unturned in his effort to send out battalion spot on for the big event was exemplary. The classy son of Phoenix Tower from the Manjri Stud Farm was asked to hit the front and set his own pace in the mile long classic journey and Battalion enjoyed making them all run before he hit the wire first in the hands of Suraj Narredu who, it must be mentioned produced a neat effort to help Battalion record his third classic success.

It is true that the winner shifted in and out in the final furlong which put the runner-up Captain Morgan in a spot of bother and Trevor astride the `Captain’ lodged a valid protest contending that Battalion took his ground, shifting in and out twice in the final furlong and as a result he could not pack punch and was unable to put Captain Morgan in top gear. The stewards overruled the protest on the ground that Battalion had not blocked the passage of the runner-up and the winner was more stronger at the finish. Tororosso from Irfan Ghatala’s yard finished a creditable third while Attorney General took the fourth spot. The Karthik Ganapathy schooled Bold March who garnered the maximum support on the strength of his impressive second behind Serjeant At Arms in the 2000 Guineas at Mysore was the biggest disappointment in this classic event, failing to make the frame and eventually finishing a poor sixth.

One other public choice who performed below par was the Sulaiman-trained Siobhan in the Kanteerava Cup. The favourite after leading into the straight burst like a pricked balloon much to the chagrin of her supporters. But on this day it was clear that none had the class and ability to beat Integrated who recorded his second straight victory in style and is set to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next.

Darius Byramji who saddled Integrated earlier struck through another lesser fancied winner Multi App who like Integrated chalked out her second straight victory in the Bangarpet Plate run over a mile. The favourite Cadillac Sky from Neil Darashah’s yard was injudiciously piloted by leading pro Sandesh who for more reasons than one chose to grace the wrong end of the field for most part of the race and that effectively meant that Cadillac Sky had too much to do in the straight and despite producing a late last-ditch effort finished third behind Bazinga.

After a couple of expensive failures, the Imtiaz Khan schooled Masada found his galloping shoes in the Sovereign Crown Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs. T S Jodha rode a copybook race on the winner. Lightning Attack caught the eye while finishing a game second and is one for the notebook while the favourite Satinette needs time and space before she makes her presence felt this season.

The Sirajuddin-trained Desert Gilt was fancied most in the upper division of the Parfait Amour Plate and the public choice without a fuss romped home in the hands of Imran Khan. Hurrah who also had his fair share of supporters finished second clearly indicating that he needs more than a mile to display his true potential.

The second in demand at the betting ring, Fourth Dimension made very post a winning one in the upper division of the Harangi Plate run over a sprint. The winner was strongly challenged by Prazsky in the final furlong but leading pro Srinath astride the Gregory Sandhu ward kept his cool and gained the day denying the apprentice Chetan Gowda his moment under the winter sun. The favourite Private Paradise after raising hopes at the distance post failed to quicken and finished a tame fourth behind Youresohandsome, who is likely to earn is cornbill in the months ahead.

The lower division of the event was claimed by the well backed Noble Flaire from Prasanna Kumar’s yard. John produced a par effort on the winner who after a brief duel with Possimpossible gained the day to the delight of the followers of form. Wings Of Fortune again finished third but it will pay to follow this Narayan Gowda ward again in his next start.

The Faraz Arshad schooled Trojan was the top fancy in the lower division of the Parfair Amour Plate but the grey, it appeared lost his galloping shoes the moment he entered the straight. The lesser fancied Massive Dynamics from Gregory Sandhu’s yard produced an astounding gallop to score from Summer Star and on the strength of this victory is likely to provide an encore if he is not heavily penalised for his emphatic effort.

The Dominic-trained Bora Bora and the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Kambaku topped the leader board in the Infants Plate but the two failed to match strides with Apache Sunrise who after tracking Bora Bora for most part of the five-and-half furlongs scurry shot through in the final furlong to emerge a good winner on debut. Kambaku was seen finishing on well at end and it will not be long before he takes pole position and produces a podium finish.