Senegal has become the champion juvenile sprinter of the season by crushing the hope of The Rock by a whisker in the last prominent event for the youngsters - the Delhi Race Club Managing Committee Juvenile Sprinters Cup. On a day when the favourites fell like nine pins, except Sun Dancer, trainer Magan Singh turned out to be the most successful professional to notch up a fine hat-trick and jockey Dilip Singh earned a double.

Season's last prestigious race attracted only seven horses. Seeing the record of The Rock and Quality Assurance, there was hardly any curiosity about the rest of the competitors. Even the astonishing victory of Senegal in his last outing was sidelined by the followers, until he managed to carve a niche among the top-rated horses.

Improving his position from fourth to third took the Magan Singh trainee half way down the trip before overtaking the satablemate pacemaker So Far So God at the top of the home stretch. He looked all set to record a smashing win before The Rock and Quality Assurance invaded his territory with powerful strides but  the winning post came to his rescue. The duo failed by head and short-head respectively.
"Dilip charged him too early. He should have waited for at least another furlong to meet with success with a clear margin," Magan Singh, the trainer, told me. "He hasn't been in his top form as yet and if all goes well, he will be one of the main contenders to stake a claim for the classic races next season,” he added.

Undoubtedly, the son of Telesport and Ansbach has been following the footsteps of her Mother, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas winner in Delhi, and the brother Van De Star, the top-class runner in Bangalore. The Rock could have been able to justify the top billing if he had not stumbled badly around the 1,000 metres. Jockey Rajinder not only prevented him from falling down but also rode him with patience, which was missing in the Usha And Mehra Stud Million. Despite carrying the massive weight of 60 kilograms and sitting against the tide, the brave-hearted chestnut colt of Ontario and Mystery Mood showed a sparkling turn of foot which may enable him to be the top contender alongside the stablemate Stunning Rose. Ill-fated luck of Quality Assurance continued as he once again failed to give any assurance about his quality. However, he has the calibre to spring more surprises.
 
Though the going was good on the 46th day, the favourites failed to put their foot firm on the track from the start of the show. Rank-outsiders Lovely Guerdon, Wind Fall and Intricate dominated the track in the early phase of the race. Senegal and Fraud were the second favourites to oblige while the lone public fancied who saved the day was Sun Dancer, who finally raised a winning gallop over his pet distance (1,600 m).