FIVE IN A ROW FOR DEEPAK KHAITAN

July 27, 2004

 
Sponsored by the Dashmesh and Hargobind Stud Farms until this year, the Bangalore Summer Million has seen Arrakis, Ansbach, Network and Allies Serenade win for Mr. Khaitan in an unbroken sequence since 2000.

Arrakis (Steinbeck-Run For The Crown), ridden by Aslam Kader and trained by Rashid Byramji, produced an astounding turn of foot in the final 100 metres of the race to peg back Access All Areas close home. Arrakis never really lived up to this early promise and though he won four more times in the highest class, he was below par in the classics.

ARRAKIS, winner of the2000 Dashmesh & Hargobind Stud Million, with Aslam Kader and Rashid Byramji

Dashmesh & Hargobind Stud Million, 2001 winner ANSBACH with C. Alford up and trainer Vijay Singh after winning the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup (Grade 3)  

The 2001 winner of this race, Ansbach (Alnasr Alwasheek-Pass The Secret), was something else. The Vijay Singh trained colt had to be withdrawn at the last minute from the Kingfisher Derby run two weeks earlier to this million for a minor ailment. Partnered by aslam Kader, he came into this race under a cloud, which was soon dispelled as he battled it out with Taipan to emerge by three parts of a length at the post. Ansbach went on to be rated as one of the best in his generation with victories in the Mysore 2000 Guineas, Mysore Derby and Bangalore 2000 Guineas. He then traveled to Mumbai where he was a good second to Wild Eagle in the Indian 2000 Guineas. His next start was the Indian Derby and he and Starsky produced one of the most thrilling finishes to India's premier racing event. The two horses fought it out for four hundred metres with Ansbach going down by the shortest of margins at the post.

Network (Twist And Turn-Net Net Net) was the first in a hat trick in this event for young Christopher Alford who was retained as first jockey by Khaitan in 2002. saddled by Arjun Mangalorkar in place of a suspended Vijay Singh, Network won this 'million' from Name And Fame and Fabulous Star. While Network did not quite reach the heights that Ansbach had, he managed to win the Calcutta 2000 Guineas before placing third in the Calcutta Derby over a distance that was too long for him.

C.Alford and trainer Arjun Mangalorkar with NETWORK, winner of the 2002  Dashmesh & Hargobind Stud Million (Grade 3)

ALLIES SERENADE winner of the 2003Dashmesh & Hargobind Stud Million (Grade 3)

Allies Serenade (Allied Forces-Rahy's Serenade) like this year's winner Adesina was trained by Darius Byramji. In an action packed race where two horses fell, Alford kept his filly out of trouble, improving gradually to be in striking position at the bend. Put into top gear with three hundred metres to go, Allies Serenade unleashed a powerful run on the far side to sweep past Own Vision and win comfortably. A similar effort brought her glory in the Mysore Derby before she came across Fond Fantasy in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas and was forced to settle for second placed. Sent to Mumbai for a winter campaign Allies Serenade managed a good fourth in the Indian Derby.

Adesina (Razeen-Ideas And Trends) is Deepak Khaitan's fifth winner of this race and it will be interesting to see how she goes on from here.

Deepak Khaitan has won every big race in this country and his passion for the sport is undiminished. His horses are trained by some of the best in the business and with MAM Ramaswamy and Vijay Mallya he forms the 'Big Three' of Indian racing.

 

 

 

 

ADESINA, 2004 winner of the Bangalore Summer Million, with C. Alford and Darius Byramji