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CASTLEBRIDGE WINS TOYING WITH THE OPPOSITION

By Mahendra Mallya | 26 Nov 2017 | MUMBAI


Mr Zeyn Mirza & trainer Bharath Singh leading Castlebridge (P Trevor Up), winner of The Maharaja of Morvi Trophy

It was undoubtedly jockey P Trevor’s Sunday at the Mahalaxmi racecourse and the champion rider was on fire ripping through the middle of the race card pocketing race after race starting his winning streak from the second race onwards to bag a rich haul of four victories on the trot.  He may consider himself lucky in getting his fourth win astride Cambridge as he found favour in the stewards’ room on his objection against CS Jodha atop Bottega Louis the original winner. Yes, it was undoubtedly Trevor’s Sunday!

Bharat Singh trained Castlebridge (Burden of Proof – Castle Queen, Kunigal Stud) on of the front-runners for the Indian Classics, was on an important mission to start his Mumbai campaign on a winning note. Castlebridge ambled all the way from the start and in the straight too he was hard held with Trevor looking over his shoulders or may be even to hear any thudding of the hooves other than that of Castlebridge.

All he would have heard is the game cheer from the stands that appreciated an exceptionally talented thoroughbred displaying his dominance over his rivals in the manner he did. Nothing much to write on Castlebridge other than saying that regardless of the competition, Castlebridge is the one to beat and the one to bet on too, for the Indian 2000 Guineas.

Big Sur (Win Legend – Validate, Dashmesh Stud) galloped to his third career win with a strong stretch run to score a fluent victory. Trevor settled Big Sur in the second position behind Daughterofthesun and the rest followed in single file. Big Sur waited a while as Trevor only egged him on past the 400 m marker and Big Sur made a big surge forward, getting past Daughterofthesun with ease and then romping home smothering the semblance of a challenge that Drogo seemed to pose briefly. Trevor eased up his mount well before the winning post, notching up a credible win for the trainer Sanjay Kolse’s ward.

Champaign (Arazan – Chantale, Poonawalla Stud) found her winning touch and scored a facile victory a much needed one to get her back to top form. She was way behind in fourth position with Dancing Phoenix up in front with Nascar and Harvey behind the leader. Dancing Phoenix surrendered the lead meekly as Nascar took charge soon on entering the straight. Harvey was taking time warming up and Trevor got Champaign going just at the right time. The Rehanullah Khan trainee accelerated smoothly to sail ahead past the distance post and drew away from them all to score a fluent victory. Harvey finished on late but did enough to pip Nascar for the runner-up slot.

Cambridge (Burden of Proof – Chemerique, Kunigal Stud) finished a length and three-quarters behind Bottega Louie, then lodged a successful objection. The large number of supports of the favourite roared in delight when ‘objection has been upheld’ was announced. Cambridge and Bottega Louie raced alongside behind Star Comrade and Spiridon until the turn. Once they straightened up, Bottega Louie galloped on the outside while Trevor was looking for a clear run. In a split-second decision, Trevor went seeking a gap along the rails and that was always going to be risky - keeping behind a tiring Star Comrade. Trevor managed to squeeze past Star Comrade and just when he was about to go full throttle, Bottega Louie who had gone into the lead, shifted inwards.

What went against Jodha was that he kept whipping with his left hand and took no measures to correct the inward drift. Trevor was tightened but he should have been wiser. He did show his wisdom though by lodging an objection and convincing the decision makers that he would have won if not for the ‘severe’ tightening at that crucial stage. The outcome was positive for Trevor. The decision is debatable as such cases will always be. It would be interesting though, if, hypothetically speaking, the jockey-horse combo been swapped, would the outcome still be the same? Consistency in ruling should be the top priority at all times.

The day’s opening race was an exciting one with Samarjeet battling strongly to peg back favourite Baby Face, the latter causing a red face to his connections. The highly fancied favourite looked on course when he got past longtime leader Komandant and Samarjeet approaching the distance post. However, Imran Khan fought back hard despite being squeezed between horses and rode out powerfully to snatch the verdict close home with a sort of a re-run winning by a head at the wire.

Stallone (Express Wish – La Chicaluna, Mebajeona Stud) pulled off a tough win surfacing through a huddled up bunch with a couple of horses putting up a strong fight. Stallone picked up speed in the final furlong and Hopeilicious too was gaining on Stunner and Gold Field. However just as Hopeilicious headed them, Stallone arrived with a power-packed finish to take charge and beat them all.

Make it Shine (Noverre – La Genereuse, Bhaktawar Stud) picked up the last race of the day, improving from the third spot to gather momentum and take charge midway in the straight, getting past leader What a Nice Girl with ease. Royal Blood came in late to finish second without threatening Make it Shine. Sia ended a tame third.

For the professionals, it was jockey P Trevor hogging all the limelight riding home four winners.