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JULIETTE PROVES HER METTLE

By Mahendra Mallya | 20 Dec 2020 | MUMBAI


Trainer Karthik Ganapathy leading Juliette (A Sandesh Up), winner of The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy (Gr.2)

Karthik Ganapathy trained Juliette (Musketier – Gimmesumsugar, Sohna Stud) showed her class and mettle yet again when she stepped on the race track after nine long months and won as if it was  business as usual. Considering that she was taking on seasoned campaigners, Juliette’s successful comeback was commendable for the manner in which she took off in the straight and then weathering the strong challenge posed by the late finishing Wizard of Stock at the business end. It was a clinical performance and trainer Karthik Ganapathy’s management of the filly’s well-being, form and fitness was also praiseworthy.

Vulcan set off at a decent clip making the early pace as he is used to doing. Wizard of Stock jumped out awkwardly, losing a bit of ground at the start, however he was with the bunch soon enough having made steady progress well in time to race alongside Juliette in fifth as Vulcan, Auburn, Trouville and Caprisca raced in a line out in front. They bunched up closely at the turn as Vulcan led them in with a slender lead. Auburn tried to match strides with Vulcan but could not get past. Juliette, with jockey Sandesh on board, picked up speed and arrived with a strong gallop to overhaul the front runners easily in the early half of the homestretch. Both Trouville and Caprisca were overwhelmed, as neither could produce their fiery run. Trouville was squeezed between horses and had to be checked briefly, but that did not matter much as Juliette sped away from them all. Wizard of Stock picked up momentum and arrived with a strong finish, but that was just not enough to catch up with the freely galloping winner. Juliette won the Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy (Gr2) in style, stretching her win tally to four from nine. Vulcan did well to finish third, keeping Truly Epic at bay by a neck.

Jockey P Trevor stole the limelight among the pros chalking up four winners within the first five races. He started with an emphatic win atop Parisian (Champs Elysees – Anywaysmile, Usha Stud) giving the filly her third straight win, ensuring the Pesi Shroff trained filly remained unbeaten. Going over the mile and quarter trip for the first time, Parisian underscored her immense staying prowess drawing away from her more experienced rivals effortlessly. She raced in the rear all the way until the turn and she was some distance behind too as they started wheel round the corner.

Both early leaders Fleur De Lys and Bostonia faded out of contention as Notoriety took charge ealy in the straight. At the back, Parisian had to skirt around horses and had to race on the wide outside. That hardly mattered though as Parisian produced a scorching gallop approaching the distance post and she looked the winner the moment she began to close in on Notoriety. She zipped ahead within the blink of the eye and stretched out majestically to post yet another runaway victory. Parisian’s victory margins in all her three wins so far have been by Five lengths and that certainly is commendable. Stablemate Notoriety kicked on to take the runner up spot finishing comfortably ahead of Galloping Gangster.

Trevor then set off on a successful start-to-finish mission astride Dallas Todywalla trained Sky Fall (Leiter Mor – Classic Sky, Poonawalla Stud) in the very next race. With a run benefit under her belt, Sky Fall shot out of the gates and soon Trevor settled her to go at a good pace while going into the lead. A bunch of ‘also-rans’ raced behind her, making an effort to stay close without much success.

Into the straight, Sky Fall accelerated smoothly to surge further ahead and looked the winner a long way from home. She won easing up, giving Trevor another comfortable ride to victory. Pense’e slipped in through the rails and progressed well in the straight to finish second by a little less than three lengths. Spring Grove, who was never in the hunt, ran on to take the third spot. Monarchos, who carried the top weight, finished fourth and would have stripped fitter to reap the benefit next time out.

Trevor had to work a lot harder when partnering Altaf Hussain’s El Capitan (Excellent Art – Flaming Glory, Poonawalla Stud) to his maiden win on the colt’s fourth essay. Pepper and Aegon were off in a flash from the gates to hit the front with El Capitan and Rays of Sun a couple of lengths behind. This quartet took up all the slots in the frame but certainly not in that order. Aegon left pepper behind and shot into the lead, but soon had El Capitan come knocking on his door. Not one to give in easily, Aegon fought well to keep his lead putting pressure back on El Capitan. Trevor rode hard all through the final furlong and eventually surged ahead just a couple of strides from the winning post, to register an exciting win by half a length. Rays of Sun quickened late but finished purposefully to beat Pepper for the third place. Rays of Sun, with this improved considerably over his debut run earlier this season and can be third time lucky.

Dallas Todywalla trained Mount Moriah (Leitir Mor – Tartouche, Poonawalla Stud) provided Trevor with his fourth consecutive win for the day while winning the Edgar DeSylva Trophy. Sunrise Ruby shook off My Precious and darted into the lead guiding the rest into the homestretch. She had a handy lead in the straight and she did all that she could but fell short narrowly. Mount Moriah started to inch closer past the distance post and these two were engaged in a long battle. They matched stride for stride but Mount Moriah managed to wear out Sunrise Ruby surging ahead with less than fifty meters to go. Trevor killed it in the last few strides to win by just under a length. Sunrise Ruby ended up playing the bride’s maid for the fourth consecutive time, twice this season, but will live to fight another day. Questina could not defy the penalty, but improved in the straight to finish a close third.

Shroff’s Immortality (Multidimensional – Psychic Light, Usha Stud) displayed a clean pair of wheels to make rapid progress from the mid-bunch to sail past the front pack to score a facile victory and open her account. Black Cherry had barely taken over from early leader Who Dares Wins soon on entering the homestretch. He galloped at a good clip and was just beginning to shape well when Immortality arrived with a big gallop from the wider outside. Jockey PS Chouhan made a dramatic appearance seemingly out of nowhere to pounce on Black Cherry and Co and passed them all like a whirlwind. Her victory was most impressive and she surely promises to add to her first win sooner than later. Black Cherry was humbled by a much better rival and he did well to take the runner up slot. Roaring Tiger too made a late appearance, improving in the final furlong to finish in the money. She too is likely to get off the maiden ranks very soon.

Adhiraj Jodha trained Retained Asset (Sedgefield – Blue Ridge, Jai Govind Stud) fought off Gold Magic in a gripping finish to pick up the first race of the day. Malam Singh settled Retained Asset in second and followed leader Navigator all the way into the homestretch, before pressing the button. Taking charge soon after, Retained Asset stole a march and all he had to do was to keep the momentum going, while making the others catch up. None did, but Gold Magic shortened the margin with a good late burst to end just over a length behind Retained Asset at the wire. Caesar edged out Shapat for place money.

For the professionals, jockey P Trevor was the pro of the day reaping a rich haul of four winners. Trainers Pesi Shroff and Dallas Todywalla saddled a double each.