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ANTIBES EMERGES CHAMPION FILLY

By Ikram Khan | 02 Jan 2021 | BANGALORE


Mr Haider Soomar, Mr Arun Alagappan & trainer Arjun Mangalorkar leading Antibes (S John Up), winner of The Bangalore Oaks (Gr.2)

The connections of Antibes were bullish of her chances in the Oaks. The Prasanna Kumar camp was confident that Mistletoe would emerge the best in the `Ladies Deby' while Darius Byramji quietly fancied the fashionably bred Lake Tahoe and the Mumbai champion Pesi Shroff was confident that Rambunctious had the desired potential to steal the limelight. Rambunctious streaked ahead at the top of the straight and looked set to score before John packed power on  Antibes and the talented filly from Arjun Manglorkar's yard produced a sparkling gallop to peg back the challenge of the Mumbai hopeful and romp home a deserving winner. The winner from the famed Usha Stud Farm looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. so did Rambunctious, who in defeat was not disgraced and lives to fight another day. Lake Tahoe another from the winning stud farm finished a creditable third ahead of Amazing Blaze, while Mistletoe it appears found the mile-and-half trip a trifle beyond her compass. The first three fillies on the strength of this performance will fancy their chances in the blue riband of the season, the winter Derby scheduled to be held on Republic Day and it will be interesting to see who goes to Chennai and who remains in Bengaluru for the biggest plum of the season. 

The principal added attraction, the New Year Cup was claimed by the topweighted Multifaceted from Darius Byramji's yard,  who produced his best in the hands of leading pro Sandesh after twice flopping while partnered by Suraj Narredu. In fact during the Invitation Cup too Suraj and Multifaceted failed badly in the Sprinters' Cup, the public rage touted as a `moral certainty' in the sprint event surprisingly going out of a gas like a pricked balloon before winning at good odds the next day over a seven furlongs trip. Well it appears now that this star performer only puts his best stride ahead when the bookmakers offer nourishing odds and not when they chose to miserly quote him and make him an on-money favourite. The manner in which Multifaceted won donkey-licking his five rivals including the on-money favourite Cosmic Ray who Suraj chose to pilot in this event suggests that all is well with the Darius Byramji ward and he is still a force to reckon with and certainly not over the hill. 

The Sulaiman schooled youngster Scruples fancied most in the opening event, the Novice Plate for juveniles justified the confidence of his supporters making a satisfactory winning debut. Allamanda from Arjun Manglorkar's yard gained the runner-up berth ahead of War Chieftain while Lightning Flame from Ganapathy's yard who was strongly tipped to place failed to save money in place, finishing a tame fourth. 

In the next event the punters were sent on a wild goose chase, Baroness from Narayan Gowda's yard starting the favourite (18/10) and garnering false support before the bookies quickly offered her at (7/2) confirming that the Baroness was really not in the hunt. The lesser fancied Country's Jewel won the event in the hands of John snuffing out the challenge of Song And Dance, while She's Superb did well to take the third spot. Baroness hit the front and led till the top of the straight before she as expected went out of gas and out of the frame. 

Finally it was good to see a on-money favourite from Irfan Ghatala's yard enter the winners' circle. Watchmystars after cleaning out the big bettors in her last essay bolted in to win hands down in the lower division of the Dharmasthala Plate. Leading pro Suraj who is enjoying a great run this winter booting home winners at will at all the premier racing centres partnered the filly who is set to provide an encore. Smithsonian from Ganapathy's yard shocked the railbirds coming home second ahead of Golden Memory while Smoke The Grass from Padmanabhan's stable performed below par. 

Ansaldo from Prasanna Kumar's yard was strongly fancied in the Mercara Plate run over a distance of 2000 metres. But it was the four to one shot Sporting Memories from trainer Padmanabhan's yard who reigned supreme, making every post a winning one in this exacting test. Top gun Trevor Patel produced his best on the winner, never letting the initiative slip in the final furlong when he was challenged by the public choice. Redoubtable edged out Johnny Bravo to take the third spot. 

The Lalit Mahal Plate was rightly declared null and void following an enquiry by the stipes and stewards after the top fancy Abira won what appeared a false race. The gates of three horses it is learnt didn't open and this gate mulfunction led to a false start. It is not clear if the siren signalling false start went up, but a few senior jockeys in the event  were seen easing their mounts immediately after the start while the rest charged out and continued till the end. It is clear that the starter messed it all up and he now needs to answer a few tough questions while offering his explanation on the sorry and deplorable exercise. 

Forever Together from Rajesh Narredu's yard won the concluding event, the upper division of the Dharmasthala Plate in a common canter. The public rage it must be mentioned is in great heart and it will pay to follow him till he graduates to the third highest class. Towering Presence expectedly gained the runner-up spot while Rosy Rapunzel caught the eye while finishing a good third ahead of Dreams United.