Pesi Shroff is the man for the big moment. As a Jockey he was sheer brilliance and the Indian Derby was his favourite. His record of nine Indian Derby winners still stands and no one is likely to top that for a while. The Giantti-Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr 1), the first Classic of the Mumbai season, was taken to be a close contest. A ‘blanket finish’ was what was expected. As the 11 fillies bolted out of the gates, necks were craning to catch the position of every filly as at least the five top contenders had a large individual following. Moon Flower took the early lead followed by Amazing Ray. De Nada quickly passed them to play her role of the pacemaker to the favourite Jacqueline. Fire Streak, Astral Flash, Celestial Way, Change of Luck, Messalina and Pure Devotion ran in a bunch. Jacqueline (King Charlemagne - Talita Kumi) was on the rails and had only Suzy Wong just behind her. They took the turn more or less in the same order; only Jacqueline was making steady progress taking the shortest way through the gaps on the rails. However, it was not all smooth sailing for Jacqueline. She had to come through what looked like thick traffic congestion. She had to be checked twice, the second one just when she was poised to break loose. That is when Astral Flash began her final assault. She skirted around Astral Flash and even before Suraj Narredu could think of a possible victory astride Astral Flash, Jacqueline unleashed one of the most powerful finishes for a long time that left the field cold and the crowd gasping! Even before the Shirkes, the Dhunjibhoys and the Shroffs would have completed their scream “come on Jacqueline”, the filly had hit the wire - in a Flash! Since she had the largest following, the applause was even more thunderous. The connections took longer time to arrive on the track for the lead-in, than Jacqueline did to accomplish her mission! The owners had a ‘rough passage’ coming from the Grand Stands what with handshakes and congratulatory greeting pouring from all sides en route to the lead-in pathway. “She is a classy filly and a genuine athlete,” said jockey Richard Hughes while waiting patiently for the connections to reach him and Jacqueline. “Pesi (Shroff) has done an excellent job with her. She is at her optimum best and the result speaks for itself. I was never concerned, she was travelling well all through and she was focused as if she knew what was expected of her. She slowed when stuck between horses and took the cue to surge forward as if she was waiting for my call. To sum it up briefly, we both were in complete sync.” When I asked Richard what he would suggest as the next assignment for Jacqueline, “the 2000” (Guineas) was the crisp and confident reply. Trainer Pesi Shroff was alarmingly subdued. Bereft of any emotion, the gent shocks me with this cool-as-cucumber demeanour. The punter who had put his tenner on the tote was a lot more ecstatic and vocal than Mr Shroff was, when I approached him for a byte or two! That’s all one can get out of him, a line…or two! “Jacqueline is in the best of condition, and Richard is a top-class jockey. Everything went for us like clockwork and it felt good to reap the rewards. Astral Flash ran a good race too and I feel she will do much better over a longer trip,” said Pesi. Mr Vijay Shirke, the owner in partnership with Mr K.N. Dhunjibhoy, was visibly happy and proud. “Seventeen years is a long wait. I had won with Thumbelina then, and Jacqueline provided me with that nostalgic feelings again.” When asked about the developments during the race, Mr Dhunjihoy frankly admitted that he was a bit nervous when Jacqueline was huddled with the bunch. “When she encountered a couple of checks I was nervous, but when Richard showed her daylight, I knew she would win. You saw how she accelerated, at 200 I had no doubt she would win. She is a top-class filly and I don’t see why she shouldn’t make an impact in the 2000 Guineas,” he concluded with a jubilant smile. Mrs Deepa Dhunjibhoy too was all smiles, “blue is my lucky colour, hence you see me wearing blue today. Now I will procure a wardrobe full of blue outfits and stock up on my lucky charm. Jacqueline was just too good on the day and she thrilled me no end.” Mrs Padmaja Shirke was less words and more expression. Looking visibly elated by her filly’s conquest, Mrs Shirke said, “It’s the best feeling to lead in a Classic winner. I was watching the race intently and spent tense moments when Jacqueline was looking for room. The anxiety changed to sheer delight when Richard manoeuvred Jacqueline and got her alongside Astral Flash. From there on, it was absolutely thrilling for me,” she said. Jacqueline truly has a great turn of foot. In her very first run, she had come from the dead to land the spoils a year ago. Her superb third place finish in the PBMM earlier this year was a commendable performance too. She has matured into a fine Classic filly and her stylish victory today is a loud and clear announcement that the colts better watch out. This year’s Classics will have another top-class contender in Jacqueline.