Haunting Memories clearly has stamina limitations and the mile and half trip was too taxing for her. The fact that she had been on the decline was clearly evident by her lackluster performance in the two races that she ran at Mumbai.
Her full sister Six Speed, who had chartered a similar course as Haunting Memories having won the Gr.1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Million and the Gr.1 Bangalore Fillies Trial Stakes besides finishing second in the Gr.1 Kingfisher Derby had ended her career after after an unsuccessful bid
in the Gr.1 Indian Oaks, though she managed a creditable third. Unlike Haunting Memories
however, Six Speed had also won the Gr.1 Indian 1000 Guineas..
Be that as it may, Haunting Memories went into the race as on-money favourite if only because the rest of the runners had no worthwhile achievements to back their credentials. Rain Splasher had been somewhat of an enigma, always beaten for speed as she picked up momentum late but her finishing efforts always gave hope. She had shown good improvement after her essay in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas
(Gr.2) when she had run less than two lengths behind Star Luminary who went on to claim the Oaks. That run surely brought hope in her supporters that in the less competitive
environment at Hyderabad, she would find her bearings. Rain Splasher had also shown a distinct
dislike for softer underfoot conditions and the going at Hyderabad was more to her liking.
Alandra hit the front as the starter despatched the field for the mile and half trip, with Rain Splasher settled in second position by jockey Harish, followed by Shelly Green, Haunting Memories,
Fairytaleending, with Allez Indi, one of the fancied runners, in the penultimate position. Alandra brought the field into view, with Rain Splasher going wide at the turn, allowing Shelly Green to slip into the lead. However, Rain Splasher was a different horse once she got her
rhythm back and sailed past Shelly Green and stretched away for a decision victory by a widening margin of over five lengths. Allez Indi moved from behind to take the second spot ahead of Shelly Green while Alandra weakened to finish down the field. Fairytaleending completed the frame.
Rain Splasher is scheduled to run the Indian Oaks which will be held on Sunday, January 21. The four-year old filly is the joint property of Capt Jamshed J Appo the Zavary Poonawalla family.
