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Heiress Inherits Panchshil Million

By Mahendra Mallya | 26 Sep 2010 | PUNE


Mr. Jaydev M Mody & trainer Bezan Chenoy leading Heriess (P Kamlesh Up), winner of The Panchshil Million

Heiress (Placerville – Ramada), powered by jockey P Kamlesh, annexed the attractive Trophy that came with a rich purse of nearly Rs 7 lakh stake money. The market trends clearly indicated an open race with Caribbean Queen enjoying the ‘prime fancy’ status at 5/2 on the odds board. As the gates flung open all the seven were alert at the jump but as they settled down, Caribbean Queen fell back to tail the field by a large margin. The front bunch was tightly huddled and Caribbean Queen languished in the rear a detached last.

Lunar Quest was in charge, with Pure Power and Dante Rossetti tracking her. Heiress, Crystal and Ocean Admiral formed a trio within reach and Caribbean Queen was five lengths away. Lunar Quest brought the field into view and though she was beginning to quicken, Heiress surged past her with impressive acceleration. Caribbean Queen, who had improved steadily along the shortest way through, came into prominence as both Dante Rossetti and Pure Power failed to quicken. Crystal didn’t have much to offer either and made no impact in the race. Heiress impressed most as she bounded forward showing good speed and looked the winner with some distance still to travel.

Caribbean Queen is one to watch out for as she was left to do a lot in the straight. She did move forward with purpose and collard Lunar Quest for the second spot. She was also a bit green and is sure to blossom under the care of astute trainer Pesi Shroff. All said, it was Heiress’ big moment and she produced a blinder to pull off a sensational victory. “C’est La Vie (Senure – Miss Potter) posted her maiden victory in the upper division of The Chief Commissioner Of Income Tax (Cca), Pune Trophy. She has been consistent and was finally rewarded with success which was not unexpected. Surprisingly, the odds drifted alarmingly on C’est La Vie from ante-post offer at 5/4 to almost 7/2 at race time. However, some last-minute money did come on C’est La Vie but Emerald Valley remained the firm favourite all through.

Ocean Fairy settled to lead the field with Madam Killeen trying to match strides. Emerald Valley moved up to be in third place just ahead of C’est La Vie. On turning for home, Emerald Valley got down to serious business and surged to the front going at a good clip. C’est La Vie started to cover ground at a brisk pace and, with a furlong to go, it seemed that a fight would ensue between these two as none from the bunch were in the picture. Sure enough, C’est La Vie challenged Emerald Valley and the pair fought out from the distance post. C’est La Vie got the better of the fighting favourite in the last few strides to earn her first victory. Among the beaten lot, Swoosh gained solid ground to run fourth a neck behind Ocean Sensation.

The Imtiaz Sait charge was languishing in the rear even as they straightened for home and then made rapid progress. Mrs Manjari Kocher, Chief Commissioner Income Tax, Pune, was invited by the club to give away the Trophy. She did mention after the presentation that she thoroughly enjoyed her day at the Pune racecourse and wished the Club well.

The division II of the same race was earlier won by Sterling Silver (Inhabitant – Fathing) who was untroubled from end to end. Shooting out of the gates, Sterling Silver galloped at a good clip and was comfortably ahead. Tuscan Sun veered to the left at the start, and had to be persuaded to remain in contention. He was brushed up and was coerced to move up to settle behind the leader. That must have taken the sheen off him, as he faded away when the race took a serious turn. Sterling Silver charged on ahead and in the straight, has put the issue beyond doubt. Sterling Silver sailed away leaving the rest to pick the minor placing. Foxtrot took a little punishment to take the second slot and Star Builder ran on third.

Trainer Narendra Lagad followed his treble on Saturday with a solid well-backed double on Sunday. After Sterling Silver’s success, Naren scored again in the last race with Red Tabasco (Royal Kingdom - Musical pepper). Red Tabasco settled behind Sea Wonder who darted to a four-length lead in no time. Glides Line was also well supported in the betting and was second in demand after Red Tabasco. He, however, did not justify the support and struggled all the way to finish an unimpressive fourth.

In the straight, it was Red Tabasco all alone in front, and none in the fray measured up to him. Born Destiny ran on to beat Sea Wonder for the third. Earlier jockey C Rajendra scored a popular double partnering the Wadhawan, Tharani owned Star Future and Ocean Star. In a small field of four, Star Future loomed large with only a semblance of threat likely from Mighty Crusader. That’s exactly how it unfolded on the track. The Giant led during the early part of the race then faded away. Oh Calcutta could be best termed as ’also ran’. Mighty Crusader got past The Giant at the bend with Star Future sticking to his quarters. Mighty Crusader was toiling hard to keep Star Future at bay.

Star Future (Diffident - Sure Future) quickened well initially coming into the straight, but was not able to shake off the challenger in a convincing manner. Star Future struggled a bit and was even a touch erratic before heading past Mighty Crusader to score by a narrow margin. Rajendra next scored with Ocean Star (Antonius Pius - Crystal Flite) in the eighth race. Sitting a close third behind Manitou Splendour and Crowned Princess, Ocean Star progressed rapidly on turning for home. Manitou Splendour put up good resistance but Ocean Star got stronger in the final furlong to prevail.

Manitou Splendour ran a good second while Three of Arts did well to run into place money. Jockey NS Parmar too had a good day, winning on both his mounts. He started the day well with a facile victory aboard Marine Zone (Warrshan x Halos And Horns) in the first race and later did well atop Amore Mio to win the Hotstepper trophy. Medtias Pride shot into the early lead, while Marine Zone was slow into the stride. Medtias pride brought the field into view and fell back. Marine Zone improved gradually and was making up lost ground fairly well. Into the straight, Medtias Pride was struggling to keep it going when Blazing Speed came alongside.

Marine Zone shot like an arrow right through between these two and bounded forward to draw away to post an emphatic win. Golden Orra came with a late finish to peg back Chief Warrior for the second spot. Houdini was there with them but could do no better than finish in the frame. Amore Mio (Razeen -Forest Treasure) unleashed a terrific burst in the final furlong to score in a brilliant fashion. Sitting in the mid-bunch, Amore Mio bided her time and waited till the race took a serious turn. Appalina had led them home and as they straightened up, River Blitz tried hard to catch up. Appalina was still going well and River Blitz was making no impact on the leader when Amore Mio came up with a superior gallop to sail past and outclass them. Amore Mio looked extremely good and can repeat.

Guns N Roses (Brave Act - Striesand) was another Kunigal produce from trainer Rehanulla Khan’s stables to score in his first outing in Pune this season. Rehan had prepared him well as was evident and Guns N Roses took on better fancied Riding Fantasy and the seasoned Tell Me more. Prime Time led the eight runners, with Tell Me More in second. Guns N Roses came next with Admirals Quest and Riding Fantasy. On turning for home, Tell Me More took charge and soon Guns N Roses began to make his presence felt. Riding Fantasy came from the inner rails and tried to squeeze between the two.

That risk proved fatal as the gap narrowed for Riding Fantasy and he was caught on the wrong foot at this crucial juncture. Guns N Roses managed to hold on his own and won by a narrow margin. Riding Fantasy did well to surge again but only managed to reduce the margin ending a neck behind Tell Me More to end a good third under the circumstances.

Brilliant Moon (Major Impact - Sunspangled) was hard ridden to score in a close finish. Up with the pace alongside Ocean Warrior right from start, Brilliant Moon hurried into the lead at the turn and was under constant egging from jockey SS Baria. Sabanero couldn’t offer any worthwhile challenge and Brilliant Moon kept a steady gallop going. Sparkler, who was well off the pace, started to cover ground and gained rapidly on Brilliant Moon.

Baria kept the Mansoor Shah charge going with free use of the whalebone and thwarted Sparkler’s spirited challenge successfully. Sparkler put up a noble fight until the last stride and the winning post came a stride too soon for him. For the professionals, trainer Narendra Lagad and jockeys Rajendra, Dashrath Singh and NS Parmar scored a double each.