Hello folks,

Some credit for Desert Warrior ought to go trainer SK Sunderji's way.

Fot those unaware, Desert Warrior right from his juvenile days to the success of Pune derby, was under the tutelage of him.

For reasons unknown, he took time off from racing for a couple of years after Desert Warrior won The Pune derby.

It was then I repeat, only then, that Altaf Hussain got the charge of him.

regds,
Cruise

Hello ITF,

I ought to have mentioned the 2016 crop and not the 2017 one.

The fingers were flying ( while typing ) and went one ahead of than what was intended.

Did not mention Well Connected because the classics for the 2016 crop aren't over yet. Who knows one more of Arazan may emerge. That's the reason why I chose to concentrate on the ones whose classic years were over.

regds,
Cruise

@ Raju

       SULTAN SULEIMAN's 'got-abroad' half-brother STAR PRESENTATION (not Star Performance) won Deccan Derby over 2000 m. He only placed fourth in Bangalore St. Leger, 16 lengths behind the winner. He was by A Fleet's Dancer. Another half-brother ACRIDER (by Placerville) did win Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2800.

       However, Sultan Suleiman is by Arazan and Cruise_B'lore has already given reasons why he may not stay. I think Cruise will be proved right in coming days.

JP

no trainer however confident will say that his horse will win a big race unless he or the interviewer wants to mislead gullible  punters

the moment i read both articels the first thought came in my mind is that there is something fishy going on

Shocking performance very unexpected from SS his work was outstanding his form he has beaten the winner and runner up. Must give him another chance in the Ruia longer the better for him his brother star performance won the st. Leger and Acrider too. Distance will suit him. His trainer is an astute trainer who has not written him off so why should we. Lets wait and watch his next race.

Thanks Mad Max Sir for giving us Data which were 20 yrs old. Ten yrs back i saw very closely AH watching his horses giving stroll at Pune Race course(behind horse stables) at around 4/5 PM. Since i am outsider i didn't talk to him but interacted few seconds. JS Dhariwal had one Horse Chaitanya Rayhan. But after that? So it's not how much he won but continuosly in board only will speak.i rated RRB, Paddy, Pesi, as best trainers here. Probably we can ad few more from  Mumbai, Kol, and A B David, Tyrell, JH Foley etc

@ Cruise_B'lore

     You have not mentioned WELL CONNECTED. Wonder why ?

@ Mad Max

      Altaf Hussain has trained six Classic winners of eight Classics -- All Beauty, Knight Earnest,  Desert Warrior (2) Starfire Girl (2), Her Excellency and his last Fair Always in 2003.

     I do not wish to get into debate about Altaf Hussain's calibre as it subjective matter. Western India has several veteran trainers who have trained comparable number of Classic winners -- S.S. Shah (3 Indian Derbies), M.K. Jadhav (one Invitation Cup winner), Bezan Chenoy (3 Indian Derbies), Dallas Todywalla (2 Indian Derbies) -- being most notable among them. As in the case of horses, current form and Classic strike rate are important factors to consider. 

     I would also like to say that I have yet not read an interview of a trainer where he did not speak well of his horse and his hopes. It is not matter of integrity. Just human nature. 

    Statistics by themselves do not tell whole story. There are two trainers who have trained winners of more than 200 Classics -- R.R. Byramji and R. Foley. I don't think that puts them on same level. That is just personal opinion.

Hello folks,

Altaf Hussain is no doubt a good trainer but he has been floundering on the classic scene for past many years. His best was seen during last millenium not in present one.

The credit for Desert Warrior ought to be shared with trainer S.K.Sunderji.
Till Desert Warrior's Pune derby win, it was under the tutelage of Sunderji.
He took time off thereafter for a few years and it was then that Altaf Hussain got the charge of him.

This is to set the record right and in no way meant to belittle Altaf Hussain.

regds,
Cruise

@ Aravind

ALTAF HUSSAIN - Classic Statistics

Trainer Altaf Hussain won TWO Indian Derbies continuously in 1990 and 1991 with DESERT WARRIOR and STARFIRE GIRL.  Bad luck he lost Indian Derby Hat-trick in the year 1992 when his filly LA BON VIE (Wille Carson) lost by a whisker to ASTONISH (Aslam Khader).  Ask old timers who watched and reminisce that Magic Moments (the best finishes) in Indian racing history.   DESERT  WARRIOR (Pesi Shroff) won 1990 Indian Turf Invitation Cup. He won Indian 1000 Guineas with ALL BEAUTY (D.Parnell in 1988), HER EXCELLENCY (NG Mcgallah) in 1999,  FAIR ALWAYS (C.Rajendra) in 2003.

Altaf considers SULTAN SULEIMAN has the ability to emulate DESERT WARRIOR, STARFIRE GIRL, FAIR ALWAYS and HER EXCELLENCY.  He said in one of the interview that SULTAN SULEIMAN is a dream horse to train and he has no issues in the gates as well.  We have no reason to doubt this trainer's integrity who has completed 34 years in this profession. Unlike previous years, this year he has around 25 horses under training and out of that 25, twenty one horses ae two or three year olds. So best of luck to him !

@ Aravind

You said you have 45 years racing experience and you are labelling Altaf Hussain as an ordinary trainer.  He has few classics in his credit. Right now I dont have Altaf's stats with me, however, our own expert INDIAN_TURF_RECORD may enlighten us if he has time.  I hope ITR is reading this message. Horses are prepared for races, and Altaf  knows his job well and he will have set targets for Sultan Suleiman.  Wait and see.

Jockey Trevor was suspended from 21st Dec 19 regarding his ride on Seventh Mile. He must have take permission to postpone suspension from a different date to ride in classic race. He had option to ride Alexi or Wizard Of Stocks. He chose Alexi which is a clear indication that the horse had a chance. So the horse was not ridden on merits in its previous run.

RWITC needs to wake up and instead oc crying for GST,they should try to improve the image in racing. In the above case it is not only the jockey but the trainer is also involved.Without his instruction the jockey cannot ride that way.

Altaf Hussain trainer made false statement and fooled poor punters....Many punters lost money on SS..Allah and Bulla will punish him....

I am in racing for 45 yes i wud never accept an ordinary trainer claiming classics. Bcoz they are not upto inspite of intraining for years. Even by chance if they come across a classic horse in to their stable soon with their training skill they wud make that horse as ordinary one.  Have seen many such trainers in the past and present also. Altaf Husssin us one. If he is shrwed trainer  he wud have planned for a race immediately on  opening days and accustomed to Mumbai course. 

JP@ very aptly said.  I got fooled by both the write ups.  We should never be swayed by any right ups in future.  

The worst thing was RWITC web had published articles of interview from Paddy and Altaf about their respective horses. Both gave very good opinions and chances of their horses. Both gave pathetic performances. The club should have obtained opinions from all the participating trainers or they shouldn't have fooled punters with this non sense.

Ss is not in the race and horse weight is more than 500kg and his fitness confomation also poor in paddak I think this horse suitable for 7farlong races 

Hello folks,

If one has a look at the bloodline then realisation would dawn that Sultan Suleiman is best upto the 7f trip. Anything beyond that looks a tough ask.
His sire Arazan is yet to prove that he is capable of infusing stamina into his gets.

Arazan is nowhere as good as the now deceased stallion Placerville, for he was able to get one out of Saffron Dancer, to stay the longer trips.
That was Acrider ( winner of Queen Elizabeth Cup at the 14 f trip ).

Arazan has just one derby winner out of 5 crops, barring the 2017 one, to showcase in Ice Glacier, in which she got the better of the brilliant miler Serjeant-At-Arms in The 2016-Mysore derby.

Of course there was Chief Of Command too but he won the mile derby ( 2017-Nilgiris derby ). 

All in all, Sultan Suleiman, I feel and conclude, would be best upto the 7f trips.

The soone he reverts to that, the better.

regds,
Cruise 

Wasted money on  SS

his next win if possible only at Pune next year

If the same horses run again in a terms race the result will be different each time.  Trouvelle and Gift of Grace quota is over.  

I totally agree when Alexi tried  what about  Wizard of Stock's which was second to Trouvaille in the previous run ace Trainer Knows  Which one to try we punters feel the pinch God Bless Punters 

After being accepted to run in Pune derby Sultan Suleiman withdrawn after found lame in last minute.  Further this horse whome trainer compared with Desert Warrior and others best rated hirses,  ran a poor race before 2000 guineas and  seen struggled to pass Alexie a maiden race winner,  resulted his back to form expectations great set bach and  suspicion grown about his fitness,  and the race won by Juliette despite running  after long gap. Yesterday SS seen struggling from the beginning to keep up with the pace and jockey  started pushing hard to keep in contention but he finished 9th. Now his old form,  fitness and other expectations gone wrong and better to forget him till he wins another race in good company and with style. 

It only goes to say that horses do not run in similar fashion every race.  So no horse can be taken as banker.  

SS likes to run in front and mile appears difficult in a quality field. In Poone it just manged to beat Trouvaille. Trouvaille proved in every run that it likes to come from back. With Mumbai long straight it is the best suited horse. Looks like he is best till now and War Hammer has a lot of work if it runs in Mumbai. Alexi will be there along with Wizard Of Stocks. The trainer must honestly try both but he has never done that. If Alexi can run like this what happened in the previous run. The horse was definitely not ridden on merits. Will they punish the jockey and the trainer. Poor Raghveer Singh is punished for 6 days for not riding Twinspire on merits. Punishment for small jockeys. In case of small jockeys the the trainers blame them and in case of big jockeys they protect. For a similar offense the big jockeys get less punishment.

Height of Optimism @ Rahul!

Expecting a horse which finished way down the field to lift any future classics looks far-fetched.