A combination of Speed and standing position (draw number) plays a vital role in the performance of a horse running over short distance. Real Queen (who was drawn one) made it comfortably in a start-to-finish attempt over the 1,100 metres, whereas Trinity, who had the speed but was placed into disadvantageous stall (13), bowed down over six furlongs. However, it was a memorable day for the trainer Aleem Khan and jockey Rajinder booted home three winners.
Aleem-saddled Real Queen showed her clean pair of heels while completing a hat-trick in the opener of the morning races. The daughter of Duja and Wajima Queen had a mediocre set to face, and the way she conquered, she should definitely be looking forward for a quadruple. However, yet another speedy customer, Trinity from her stable, failed to live up to the expectations.
Trinity, who had set a five furlongs' record before being broken by the top-ranked stablemate Brahmaputra, broke out with the field but had to be ridden rigorously in the 300 m to go past Celestial Fairy. But instead of quickening into the straight, she started sending a distress signal. Jockey Syed Afsar Shah even sought the assistance of the quirt but she refused to respond and waiting for such opportunity, Ruby Rosa launched an assault under the guidance of an apprentice Sameer Khan to get the three-parts-of-a-length better of the former.
"The mare's last victory was not a fluke and she proved it," Mohsin Khan told me. "It was the speed of Trinity which was concerned most prior to the declarations but seeing the gate position, I became optimistic," he said. "Now we (including owner) have charted out a plan to let her rest for a month as there is no suitable distance coming her way in the following month. Most probably, she would make in mid-February," Mohsin Added.
Trinity could have won the race if Shah would not have wasted her stamina by chasing Celestial Fairy from the widest in the early part of the race. The run is best ignored as the North India 1000 Guineas runner-up has the potential to earn laurel for her connections by winning the Class I event sooner or later. Gates of Victory, who was badly placed till the home stretch, came with raking strides to breathe down on the neck of Trinity. The glittering run may help the grey gelding to score even up to the mile. Celestial Fairy, who finished further neck away from the grey, is a consistent performer and will be in different shape in the next outing.
Dream Debut kept the word of his trainer Deepak Kalra (who had especially talked to the Indiarace last week after the winning performance) while scoring easily in the Class 3 Jingle Bell Plate (Div.II ). The Praetorian enabled his jockey Rajinder and trainer Aleem Khan to get their double by winning the Christmas Plate. The wining pair later went ahead to earn their third victory on the day through Intricate over the Mile' Christmas Cup. She has ample scope to win few races. The aged, eight-year-old, Snow Deer finally tasted a long due victory in the concluding event - Christmas Plate.
