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FOLLOWERS OF FORM LOSE BIG MONEY

By Ikram Khan | 26 Oct 2024 | CHENNAI


After the punters lost their shirts on Friday, only two favourites nailing bold colours to the mast, Saturday proved a total disaster, all six favourites taking a back seat, while the long shots tore the form book inside out, sending out a strong message that at Guindy it will pay to exercise caution for the next two weeks before placing big bets on fancied runners, who for more reasons than one are not justifying their rating and ranking. 

After his two listless last two efforts, Pneuma decided to put his best foot forward in the Cordon Blue Trophy run over a sprint. BR Kumar pushed the ten to one long shot from Suraj Shaw's yard to the front, the moment the field of 11 runners came under the starter's flag and the rankoutsider stayed there right till the very end. The enhanced performance of the winner shocked the followers of form, who had punted big on the in-form Smiles Of Fortune from Deepesh Narredu's yard, who had registered a fine hat-trick, winning his last three starts in sublime fashion. The strongly fancied favourite in his last essay had beaten the talented Gold Ride and on the strength of that effort, Smiles Of Fortune was fancied to maintain his winning streak. But the public choice despite making a bold effort found this company too hot to handle and finished a tame fourth. The lesser fancied Opus One followed Pneuma home ahead of Soft Whisper, who after winning her maiden start this season on the opening day had finished a game third behind New Dimension.

Hawk Of The Wind was one another strongly fancied contestant from Deepesh's yard who bit the dust much to the disappointment of the railbirds in the upper division of the Czarinsky Handicap run over a distance of 1100 metres.  The five to one shot from the stables of Ramanathan pegged back the overwhelming favourite piloted by the five-kilo claimer Darshan. Royal Baron from the stables of Suresh caught the eye while finishing a creditable third in a trip which he doesn't relish and it will pay to double your bet, the day Suresh enters Royal Baron over a mile long trip. Hawk Of The Wind who continues to find one better, thrice second from her last start three starts should be given another chance to get the monkey of his back and stand tall at the podium. 

The lower division of the event saw Raffinato from Fahad Khan's yard upset the applecart of the favourite Danny's Girl  partnered by Kaviraj. Gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the journey, none gave the Fahad ward piloted by leading `Knight' Umesh a chance in the 1100 dash. The public choice Danny's Girl had established a clear advantage a furlong from home and looked set to provide relief to the battered punters before Umesh in a never-say-die effort packed punch on Raffinato turning for home and the winner covered acres of ground before zooming past the public choice close home. Admiral Shaw finished third ahead of Dazzling Princess who tracked Danny's Girl for most part of the trip and retired when the race came on a boil. 

Twice second from her last two starts, the Robert Foley-trained Juliet Rose garnered the maximum support in the Stunning Handicap run over a distance of six furlongs. Most old hats were of the view that Juliet Rose will be hard to down in this moderate set and it will prove to be third time lucky for the Foley trainee. But that was not to be, Juliet Rose met a tartar in State Flag powerfully piloted by Sai Kumar. Sweet Legacy from the stables of Vijay Singh finished a game third and is one for the notebook. State Flag appears in good nick and is likely to provide an encore. 

After she let down large following in her last two starts, Multiflora  from Deepesh Narredu's yard partnered by the leading pro Yash was expected to set the record straight and earn a winning bracket in the Sir Ivor Handicap run over a mile, but the piping hot favourite again failed in her mission to display her true potential and finished second again behind the lesser fancied Vishwas from the stables of Sebastian. Wolf Creek from James McKeown's yard was touted as a good win and place bet in this event and the second favourite much to the relief of his supporters finished third in the hands of  Hindu Singh. 

The topweighted Bohemian Star from trainer Rupa's yard topped the betting board in the concluding event, the Gold Finder Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs, but on a day no favourite obliged, Bohemian Star too took sacks of good money down the drain  finishing a tame third behind the smart winner Kalyani Muslr and the runner-up Abilitare who was seen finishing on fastest at end. Now that Kalyani Muslr has registered her long overdue win, the Parmar ward is certain to add one more to her kitty when next saddled.