The Oxford Properties R.W.I.T.C. Ltd. Invitational
Trophy (Gr 2), the last of the graded races signalling the end of the
Pune Season – 2007, attracted a strong field of 10 runners. Democraticus
(Neeraj Rawal) and Star Luminary (Y.S. Srinath) were the prime
contenders with the former garnering the maximum support.
The Sponsors Oxford Properties
had ensured an interesting day for racing enthusiasts with a lot of
prizes. Bollywood Star Jackie Shroff who played to the galleries and
obliged fans with handshakes and autographs.
The race itself was a closely
fought one or so it seemed till the final furlong! The starter’s call
saw a lovely even break at the gates, Gaea hitting the front with Magic
Touch in tow, Orpheus, Spinoza, Democraticus and Flareon racing in
mid-bunch and others not far behind. It was pretty much a closely
huddled bunch as they wheeled round the corner and the scramble for a
vantage position got frantic as they turned for the final run. Magic
Touch found himself in front as Gaea faded. With 400 m to go,
Democraticus warmed up and bolted ahead with a timely reminder form
Neeraj Rawal. The Noshir Cama ward finished full of running and still
had a lot of steam left in him.
Lombardia looking for a rail run
switched on the outside to put in a late effort which was only good
enough to clinch the second spot from Magic Touch and Dream Destiny came
from behind to figure on the board.
Naseebdar scored an encore in
the first race following his last start victory with another
start-to-finish effort. Home To Home led initially along with Naseebdar;
Grye Storm was alongside with the rest following closely and the rear
bunch included Arabian Guest among them. In the final run in, Naseebdar
accelerated ahead, Home To Home felt the pressure and was all out to
remain in the fight. Eternal Spirit was trying to make his bid but
Arabian Guest came up with a late finish to dead-heat with Home To Home
for the second spot and Eternal Spirit ended fourth.
Phoenix Rising was a big
disappointment. The odds-on favourite never raised a gallop and ended a
poor fourth despite being prominent early in the straight. Siberian
Siren impressed with a bold show. Travelling well in hand till the turn,
J.Pradeep guided the Hosidar Daji trained filly and turned on full
throttle. The filly responded gamely and romped home to widen the margin
of victory. Here Comes The Don ran a decent second, while Expensive
Affair saved the place money. Supreme Sword was found to have come back
with a sore Left fore.
Black Dahlia and Rock Salt had
their set of followers. Sepia Tone was the only third horse in the
betting. The first named jumped out well and soon was up in front with
the leaders War Major and Rock Salt. Sepia Tone was right there with
them. War Major bowed out nearing the 600 m. As the heads turned for
home, Sepia Tone was under pressure, Rock Salt & Black Dahlia went for
it at the same juncture but Rock Salt proved to be too good and
stretched away in style. Black Dahlia was clearly beaten second, Sepia
Tone surrendered the third spot to Desert Sky who covered a 7-8 lengths
to grab the spot. Louisville, who was slow off, returned with a sore
left fore.
The fourth race wore a fairly
open look. As the race began Sleight Of Hand, Knight and Tapis raced to
the front followed by Mysterious Star till around 800 m with Arkhos and
Mischevous Rose at tail-end in a closely huddled bunch. Soon, Arkhos
started to improve and was in good position to make his final bid. In
the straight, Knight shook off Tapis with ease but the challenge first
came from Mysterious Star and then Arkhos began his assault with telling
effect. Arkhos triumphed in style while Mysterious Star relegated Knight
to third and Mischevious Rose ended fourth.
Balance De Power was strongly
supported and the Subhag Singh ward running in the Ruia colours, obliged
in style. As the field of 10 settled down, the favourite found himself
in the rear as the wider drawn horses closed in, on to the rails.
However, the entire field was close in a bunch with about 7-8 lengths
covering the field. Balance De Power was eightth for the most part and
Rajendra started improving from the 800 m onwards to position him well
at the turn. Once in the straight, Bonny Light led briefly but soon
Balance De power put in a sustained run and at the distance post was in
complete command and won well. Bonny Light ran on gamely to hold on to
the runner’s up berth. Stunning star came from behind late to snatch the
third place from Precision in the dying moments of the race.
Portrush was the public choice
in The Delhi Race Club Trophy with Enaksi and Torque next in demand.
While stalling, Dancing Diva kicked awkwardly in the stalls and suffered
an abrasion on her right shank and had to be withdrawn. Cosmos overtook
Evatina to lead the field, Torque running third, Portrush in sixth along
the rails, not too far from the frontrunners. On straightening up,
Cosmos was pressed by Evatina, Portrush by then had moved up in third
did not venture to take the gap between the two steering clear of a
possible trap and opted to switch to the outside for a clearer run.
Evatina, ridden boldly by the whip-less Riyaz Shaikh, warded off a stiff
challenge from the hard ridden Portrush (Tograllu), to win a thriller.
Cosmos did well to claim the third spot and Hawk Bay surged ahead of
Torque for fourth.
Esoteric was another major
fancied horse to disappoint on the day. Settling into the third spot
early on behind Cosmic Flower and Jewel Star, the 10/8 on favourite
failed to impress and didn’t manage to even figure on the board. Cosmic
Flower was first into the straight and when asked to quicken, Esoteric
crumbled under pressure. Snow Ranger did not make much of the rails run
and Jewel Star wasn’t up to it. Fantastic Fury was being ridden hard to
put up a fight when long-shot Kinnari (Dasharath Singh) started to make
his presence felt racing on the wide outside. Two cracks at the distance
post made Kinnari get the measure of Fantastic Fury. Cosmic Flower did
well to retain the third place and Snow Ranger the fourth.
The last race of the season
provided evidence of good handicapping as it was literally a cavalry
charge in the final furlong. As many as nine horses spread across the
width of he turf, strutting their stuff, all going for broke at the
finish. Blazing Arrow had a slender lead to hold on to in the straight
and was tested by Magic Spell. Golden Flowers was joining the battle
from the rails, Maybach from the outside, Incomparable and Nucleus were
pushing their cause and Game Of Power and Amaranza coming on late with a
gritty run. In the end, Blazing Arrow (Nirmal Jodha) prevailed narrowly
over Magic Spell, Golden Flowers and Maybach. Among the beaten brigade,
Nucleus, Amaranza and Game of Power did well but will have to bide
their time.
