Coco Chanel taught a lesson to the top-class field while annexing the President of India Cup in a convincing style on Tuesday. The day also had two supporting events - Galloping Acres Stud Farm Cup and Border Security Force Cup - which were lifted by the favourites, Quality Assurance and Inspector Eagle respectively.
Grey filly Coco Chanel, who was running after a gap of six months, had no anxiety whatsoever while facing the starter along with the other 13 counterparts for the one of the oldest races of the Delhi racing calendar. She began her journey from the seven furlongs in sixth place and moving bit by bit sat closer at the tail of speedy leader Degas till the final turn. At the top of the homestretch, Ramandeep, who was adjudged the second best jockey after the champion K Narender Kumar last season, just helped the grey to start her winning campaign on a tight leash.
"I was not confident about her victory, she really ran beyond my expectations," Anupam told me. He added that after her arrival, Coco Chanel was unable to trot down clearly as she was treated for fractured fore and hind leg in Western India. "Keeping her on top hole was the top priority for me and the other problem with her was ‘the starting gate fobia’ that she developed during the Bangalore summer season. Due to this she was scratched out at the gate," Anupam said. "When she was brought back from Pune for the breeding purpose, I persuaded the owners to let her run and accepted it as a challenge."
Coco Chanel, last season's best local horse, had two easy victory to her credit in the Class I over the longer distance after finishing eye-catching third behind Celtic Princess and Bold Faith in the North India Derby, 2007. Now it is learnt that she will go to Mumbai soon. Jockey Malesh Narredu failed to bring luck for the favourite Dedication, who took his own time from the mid-field to reach the runners-up slot. Degas, who tired out to be fifth behind Image To Remember and Just Like A Woman, has come to hands and should soon spring a surprise over the shorter trip.
The day began with a surprise note of the upper division of the Appeaser Plate being declared void. Asian Express, who was stalled in the 13th draw, suddenly reared up and dislodged the jockey. Not only that, the gelding overturned into the gate and started disturbing Arctic Mist. By the time the front gate was opened to pull out Asian Express, all the gates flung open and three riderless horses along with the other three with their respective jockeys completed the course. However, the authorities made a quick and wise decision by voiding the competition.
Vision Remains landed a spoilsport finally in the lower division of the Apeaser Plate. Chasing the runaway leader Holy Warrior till the just over the final furlong, Ramparvesh helped the mare to taste victory. An encore is on the card for Vision Remains. Holy Warrior should make amends along with Gastronomique, who finished third. Barchetta bears watching.
Quality Assurance, a flopped heroine in her last venture, made no mistake with the support of "tongue strap" while coming out of the maiden status. Tucked on the fence in the third place, she was brought out by the visiting and the last time partner Imran Chisty to collar Golden Gun inside the distance post. The waiting tactics may help her to achieve some landmark over the longer distance. Pawan Sharma, who rode Golden Gun, again repeated the previous mistake of charging the colt too early.
The horse who has now become the talk of the turf is the late bloomer Inspector Eagle, who once again demolished the field over the seven furlongs. K Narender Kumar settled the colt in sixth position initially and improved him gradually before breathing down on the neck of Federico near the final furlong. He was so confident about the turn of foot of the mount that he started pipping over his shoulder after passing the leader. Arabian Tiger came from the hind group to finish second ahead of the dead-heat third place holder Federico and Great Ovation.
The last race saw a three-way finish, which finally went in the favour of late but fast finishing Show Off necking out Clean Bowled, who in turn was better than Heavenly Angel by a nostril. Clean Bowled, who took the shortest way, was alerting to the task a little late.
