Call it a scripted climax or simply a scintillating finish. Rajendra's magic charmed the entire Mahalaxmi racecourse as he pulled off a sensational last stride victory. Spica, the runaway leader, entered the straight all by herself a clear 6-length ahead of Balance De power (Fargeat), Queen Of The Turf, Cotswold Arms and Cosmopolitan. Echoes Of Light (Neeraj Rawal) was even further behind. Balance De Power moved well to collar the leader and storm ahead at 300 m. Cotswold Arms (Labeeb–My Tres Bien) started to respond when Rajendra gave him a couple of reminders. At the distance post, Balance De Power was striding well and just when Cotswold Arms began to mount a serious challenge, Rajendra lost his whip!
The Ace jockey went on, regardless, forceful with his pushing and Cotswold Arms, who in his last encounter with Balance De Power seemed to have barely held on to ward off a stiff challenge from Balance De Power over 1,400 m, shocked the favourite with a last stride triumph. It was indeed a great display of saddle artistry, which would even have made the legendary Aslam Kader proud. Echoes of Light ran on to finish a good third ahead of Queen Of The Turf, who was prominent until the final 100 metres.
Pacific Zone ((DK Ashish) scored an end-to-end victory in the first race. Adallia, who cornered most of the betting, settled into the third early on - well in touch with the front-runners and had Passion In The Park for company until the 400 m. Socaroro (Appu) was close behind and that is the way they turned for home. In the straight, Pacific Zone (Broto–Go Go Go) was travelling well and kept up the momentum all through. Adallia in chase all the time just could not bring out that extra effort needed to force the issue and the all-out effort from Srinath was never going to be enough. Consequently, the favourite lost even the second spot to Socaroro who charged in from the rails and even tested the winner albeit briefly. While Passion In The Park and the others disappointed. Socaroro and Adallia should be given another chance.
The connections of Home To Home (Tograllu), particularly trainer Magan Singh Jodha, would have been bolstered by Pacific Zone's victory as Home To Home had ended a close second to the first race winner in his last start. True to expectations, Home To Home (Hymn–Able Princess) took charge early in the straight from long time leader, Artillery and won comfortably from Xiamen (Aadesh) clocking a better timing than Pacific Zone did in their last encounter. Phi (Bandaal) ran a good third beating Frontier Mail (Nirmal Jodha) for the place money. Home To Home looked good and can repeat and it would do well to keep an eye on Phi.
The Homy Modi Trophy over the Derby distance had only four runners going for the post. Gaea (Tograllu) was the even-money favourite and the daughter of Placerville–Zuni quickly passed stable-mate Rococo (Kharadi) to snatch the initiative to dictate her own leisurely pace all through. Rococo followed close behind with Silver Tern and Fiery Fortune in tow. They were closely huddled together–less than 2 lengths separating the first and fourth--as they turned for the final run-in. Gaea shifted out slightly, giving a clear passage to Silver Tern; Rococo was also right with them on the outside; Fiery Fortune was finding it difficult to keep up and faded away. Gaea kicked on gamely; Silver Tern could not match up despite trying hard and Rococo never looked like troubling the winner. At 200 m, Gaea, one could conclude, had a firm grasp on the proceedings and closer home Rococo did well to recapture the second spot from a tiring Silver tern.
Patek Philippe (Fargeat) was the on-money favourite. His impressive track work would have been the only reason behind the status. In the paddock, the colt did have a good shiny coat but I thought he was looking a touch light. However, the late December colt had a disastrous debut and was never in the hunt.
The game-old-timer Teaser raced into the lead early with Victor Ivanov (Ruzaan) in chase, with Siroco and Black Hussar following close behind. Queens Court (Shailesh) raced in the eighth, and detached from the bunch a good 7-8 lengths was Patek Philippe. Teaser brought the field homeward but soon surrendered the lead to Victor Ivanov. Siroco was moving along the rails as they passed the 400 m and Queens Court appeared from nowhere to pitch a battle. Along the distance post, Queens Court joined Victor Ivanov on the outside. Siroco tried to match strides along the rails but could not sustain. Victor Ivanov (Tirol–White Magic) and Queens Court fought out the last 100 m and jockey Ruzaan rode out a brilliant finish to stubbornly ward off a determined challenge from an equally competent Sailesh Shinde.
Ruzaan has improved tremendously as a rider after his stint in Canada. He is in top form as well. Queens Court was gallant in defeat and will score on her day, which I reckon, should not be too far. About Patek Philippe, one cannot draw any accurate conclusion as the colt was on his first outing. It would be wise to wait and watch him over his next couple of assignments before being adventurous in the ring on the debutant.
That trainer Arti Doctor had tuned her ward, Impressive Wish, to perfection was endorsed by the Warrshan–Rainbow Flash colt in no uncertain measure. The bay colt was alert at the start and disputed the early lead with Quand Meme (Rajendra), with Tant Mieux and Hi Dolly right with them. Lone sentinel came next but Saddlers Star (Hayes) was way too far behind for this scurry. In the straight, Impressive wish (Fargeat) bounded forward and looked the winner long way from home. Saddlers Star had to do a lot of catching up and I must mention that the filly showed good speed in her finishing effort. She surely needed this run and is bound to improve. She accounted for all in the fray save the winner and ended a good second closing the gap. Impressive Wish won well and the other horse that needs mention is Lone Sentinel who also will improve to score this season.
Convenience (Storm Trooper–Clarisse) crafted a gate-to-post victory akin to the one in his last essay in Pune. The result was the same but not the margin. Born To Lead (Shailesh) threatened to snatch the verdict and looked to do so with every stride passing the distance post. At 400 m, Convenience had a handy 3-length lead and Born To Lead was bridging that gap at a good clip. The final 100 m exhibited a grim battle with the whip-less Kishore, focused to the task on hand, and getting the bob of the head precisely on the winning post. It could have gone either way. Here Comes The Don (Nirmal) ran on to finish third while Red Dawn (Narredu) ended a tame fourth.
Thundering Hooves were heard loud and clear this time. The China Visit–Stream of Love colt was looming large on his eight rivals (Oh So Romantic was withdrawn on medication grounds). After his last start second to the impressive winner Set Alight only three days earlier, Thundering Hooves was sent out at cramped odds and the chestnut colt obliged in style. Sharing the lead early on with Great Heart until the home stretch, Thundering Hooves (Grant) surged ahead readily at the 400 m and extended the margin without being extended. He won pulling up and clocked under the minute giving an impression that he will soon repeat the performance. Although Sophie (Srinath) ended runner up, Incredible Beauty (Satish Nayak) caught the eye. The dark bay filly finished on from the tail-end of the field after taking the turn wide and ended just a length behind the runner up.
See The Truth (Appu) was heavily backed and Crespo was next in demand but at nourishing odds. Really Romantic and Appreciate led the way and See The Truth was well within striking distance and the 6 year-old struck at 300 m. Once the Hormuz Antia ward hit the front, he safely managed to kick on and negate the late charge from Crespo (Belose). Hormuz, who is headed only by Shroff in the trainer's tally this season, has done an exceptional job with See The Truth who has shown great improvement after coming to his stable. On this performance, it would not be a surprise if See The Truth (Cruachan–Princess Riyahi) goes on to score a hat-trick. Crespo too is getting in shape and Touch The Sky was clearly overwhelmed by the winner.
Star Legend (Grant) made light of the top weight he carried to an end-to-end easy victory. The Placerville out of Astana gelding made his own pace and would have clocked faster than the 1 – 25.49 had he been extended. Leading the pack home, Star Legend made it a no-contest and pulverized the opposition without raising a sweat - leaving that for the bookies to do. He was the sixth firm favourite to win on the day. The manner of victory of Star Legend was very impressive and an encore cannot be ruled out. Sea Gull (De Sousa), who garnered some last minute hush-hush each-way bets, promptly came in to finish runner-up ahead of Catalunya (Chinoy). Maybach continues to confound and was relegated to the fourth spot after racing just behind the winner from the start.
For the professionals, jockeys Grant and Tograllu, trainers Sunderji and Shroff scored a double each.
