The first day of the Mumbai meeting opened to a lukewarm response from the spectator angle. However, the 4,000 odd crowd was treated to some sizzling action on the track. The small fields notwithstanding, there was one piping hot favourite from the betting point of view. Oasis Star quoted at a miserly 10/4 on (the only on-money favourite for the day) obliged and how!
Pesi Shroff had a fairly good day dishing out two winners and beside Quest for Cash all his runners for the day figured on the frame. CD Katrak was the other professional to score a brace.
The day’s opening race saw a queer activity in the betting ring with the odds drifting on both Hotstepper and Astraea in a small four-horse field. At the turn, M Narredu simply stepped on it and Astraea responded extremely well and the duo sped away to log an emphatic victory. The first favourite Hotstepper was left to toil for the second spot. Avec Plaisir fought for the third and Livorno held on to stay on the frame. This was a smashing come-back for Jockey M Narredu who sat through the Pune season serving a suspension.
Oasis Star won the second race as he liked. In a slow run race, Jockey YS Srinath had to struggle to keep Oasis Star in the last position and stayed so till they straightened up. Once in the straight, Srinath had little to do but let Oasis Star loose on the leaders. The impressive looking filly, without being extended, easily overhauled Aquadisiac and the long time leader Regal Reform to post a fashionable win. An encore seems inevitable for Oasis Star.
The JP Morgan Chase Trophy was a hotly contested one and this was endorsed in the bookmakers’ ring as well. Green Valley, Oyster Princess and Recollection cornered the major support while Sharp Memory and Siroco garnered stray bets. Green Valley came into view ahead of the rest on turning for home, but was challenged mid-way up the straight by Oyster Princess. Sharp Memory seemed to be going everywhere except wherever needed. She had to contend with the fighting duo’s erratic ways in front though, but could have done with a slightly more competitive handling. Oyster Princess put in a spirited run in the final 200 metres and accounted for a fighting Green Valley who showed enough grit to merit consideration the next time out. So did Sharp Memory.
Yana was the universal choice and not without reason. Her impressive win in the Funtacy Ice Creams Juvenile Stakes in Pune had convinced all that she was the one to reckon with, more so in this set. She was well-settled, tucked-in on the inside till the home turn. In the straight, she encountered no traffic problems and should have pocketed the race had Jockey KPG Appu shown the same kind of proficiency that jockey C Ruzaan astride Raquel showed! In the final few strides, Yana finished on fast but Appu had got the timing all askew and this told on the verdict. A short-head too late! Yana though should make amends soon. Raquel showed that he is gutsy and that size does not matter. Present Glory’s near future can be better over a shorter sprint.
The Caesars Palace Juvenile Debut Stakes was the main attraction of the day. Successor usurped most of the betting. Appu this time showed his class and put the ordinary performance of the earlier race behind him. Hitting the front from the word ‘go’, Successor made every post a winning one to the delight of his followers. It seemed like a battle was on from the 300 metres when Kiara (C Ruzaan) came to challenge with a forceful run. But on closer inspection, Successor’s superiority and command over the race was never in doubt. The speedy colt won a close race and will only get better. Kiara will be formidable youngster who will earn a bracket soon but the one to watch for is Aurora Aurealis who was seen covering a lot of ground to come into place money, pegging back the more fancied Riyasat who failed to impress.
The Mathradas Goculdas Trophy was reduced to a duel between Alvarita (Neeraj Rawal) and The Hurricane (YS Srinath). As the field settled down, Torque and Shyboy disputed the early lead, and Alvarita and The Hurricane ran alongside about 4 lengths adrift. The same order prevailed till they turned for home. Alvarita cruised past the front-running pair while The Hurricane was not as smooth in his finish. Alvarita showed that her lay-off had no effect whatsoever on her performance and all was well with her. Neeraj Rawal did give her a couple of cracks near the 200-metre mark and he probably did so since he couldn’t think of doing anything else with his whip (fear of ‘use it or lose it’ syndrome?). The Hurricane was ridden all out but Alvarita just proved to be too good. Alvarita should be persisted with in her next outing as well.
The last race of the first day proved to be a one-horse race contrary to the status in the betting Ring. Lake Palace left the field cold and kept stretching the margin of victory. Rage of Angles impressed me most after the winner. The Amjad Khan mare recovered from a very poor start as she was left in the gates along with Tracy. Alexa, Eternal Flight, Lake Palace were in front all through. Jazzego was on the inside and Buenos Aires thereabouts. Rage Of Angels was constantly recovering lost ground and joined the pack at 800 metres. In the straight, Lake Palace moved on a tight rein past the tiring Alexa and proved too good for this set. Buenos Aires began to make her run but found the scorching speed of Lake Palace to good for her. It was Rage Of Angles who put in a sustained run in the final two furlongs and ran on to edge out Buenos Aires for the runner’s up berth, a commendable effort indeed.
For the punters, the first day was an auspicious start as most fancied horses, barring Yana, obliged. However, the much touted Gaming Tables and other entertainment for the public turned out to be ordinary and most of the crowd stayed focused on the races. The gaming enclosure wore a deserted look. The Club should have promoted the activity more forcefully by way of regular announcements between races or making efforts on listing the happenings that were taking place at the venue.
Jockey Ranjane was handed a suspension effective 6th to 25th December, 2007 for an earlier offence pertaining to his ride on King’s Desire in Pune. The Stewards found his handling of the mount and his subsequent explanation unsatisfactory. Trainer HJ Antia was fined Rs10,000 for the same race and horse, as the Stewards found his explanation unsatisfactory into the running of his charge.
Jockey T Atul was disallowed to fulfil his riding engagement as he failed the breath analysis test. He was found to have consumed alcohol when he reported to ride and he was replaced by Sailesh Shinde in the fifth Race on ironically a horse named Global Spirit!
