|
Well, the houseful Sunday show sure was a super hit!
The Giantti-Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas day proved a hugely profitable day for the combine of Vijay Shirke, K N Dhunjibhoy and Pesi Shroff. Yet their brilliance did not overshadow the amazing performance of Oasis Star.
It was just another day in the office for the great Oasis Star. The awesome sprint Champion from the Cooji Katrak yard, once again displayed her amazing ability to smash her opposition to pulp in the most effortless manner. While the rest galloped, Oasis Star ambled! Aurora Aurealis hit the front and had Sea Princess, Spitz and Spica on her haunches. Oasis Star could have been anywhere but was right with the front bunch. Red Romeo surprisingly was at the tail end even as they straightened up for home.
Sea Princess took charge early in the straight and was first challenged by Spitz trying to sustain his position. Oasis Star had no room to surge forward but no one was alarmed really, least of all her jockey Srinath. Pepe Junior joined the commotion in front and was making his presence felt. Just nearing the distance post Oasis Star got the opening. Without Srinath having to do anything other than what he had been doing right from the start, Oasis Star cantered ahead, this time not even making the effort of toying with the field. Oasis Star makes it look ridiculously easy while winning in such a manner.
“She is the best and really makes me proud to own her,” said Mr Shapoor Mistry of Manjri Stud Farm. “I sincerely hope that she can race in Dubai and I am happy to say that the Poonawallas too are making determined efforts to ensure that she gets her chance to test herself amongst her contemporaries overseas. After all, she is a rare champion and deserves her place amidst the most highly rated sprinters of our times,” he concluded.
Tariq Vaidya was too excited for words. He was all smiles and to me he seemed to be more under pressure than either Srinath or Oasis Star for that matter. “She is the best racehorse that I have ever owned. She does not cease to amaze. I hope she gets to race abroad and bring more laurels to Indian racing fraternity. She is a champion in every sense of the word,” said Tariq.
CD Katrak was for once beaming with genuine happiness. “She is best filly ever to tread in my stables. She is no different from the others, oh, I mean when she is not racing. She does her work without fuss and she works as hard as any other horse too. I work all my horses hard, that is the way I train. She seems happy all the time and I like to see her that way. It is really an honour to have a horse like Oasis Star in the stables,” said Cooji Katrak.
Pesi Shroff was the star of the day. He sent out four winners bringing his tally to 22 and we have had only 60 races thus far this season. What an amazing rate of success! In fact, out of 42 runners from his stables thus far, only 3 have failed to touch the judges’ frame. If you discount Da Nada, who was only a pacemaker in the 1000 Guineas where he got the first two placing, this is a phenomenal rate of success.
Sine Qua Non (Royal Kingdom - Bonjour Tristesse) was his first for the day and the favourite who was a last start winner as well was right up to the task. Tackling a small set of five runners was not a very huge ask, and Sine Qua Non was perfectly handled by jockey Neeraj Rawal. Running well up with the pace, Sine Qua Non tracked the early leader and closest rival Ashridge early in the straight. Sine Qua Non shot into the lead past the 400 as Ashridge pretended to hang on. Desert Dynamite at one stage threatened to provide a fight, but Sine Qua Non powered on shaking them off her back in the final 100. Desert Dynamite put up a fairly good run but failed to sustain it long enough.
Bruckner (Ikhtyar – Allies Serenade) had it lot easier. Hitting the front soon on start, Bruckner made every post a winning one. Paul Mulrennan eased Bruckner into the lead and kept her going at a comfortable pace. The field of six runners was closely huddled but once into the straight, Bruckner kept going well on a tight rein. Mulrennan always cuts loose at the precise moment and that precise moment arrived at the distance post. Taking the cue, Bruckner surged forward and did not encounter any challenge whatsoever. Supreme Emperor tried hard but was rewarded the runner up berth for his all out effort. Ecstatica was under pressure and could only finish third. Doi Moi did not do much either and ended a tame fourth.
Batista (Glory of Dancer – Kilshannig) had shown a lot of promise in his last run. Despite being slowly off, he had finished a noteworthy third to the talented Star Empire. Any concern about his start was quickly put paid as Batista jumped out smartly to be well in touch with the front running Titleist and Angels Pursuit. On turning for home, Angels Pursuit on the rails quickly got the measure of a tiring Titleist and soon Batista appeared on the scene. Batista and Angels Pursuit were engaged in a brief tussle before Batista pulled away. Hearts On Fire came in with a late burst to end third which was noteworthy. Star Glory misbehaved at the gates and was duly withdrawn.
Monopoly (Alnasr Alwasheek – Victory And Gold) changed her start-to-finish tactics to good advantage. Running under the charge of young lady trainer Nazak Chinoy, Monopoly let Ekhabinskya make the running and tagged behind Enceladus. IL Divo was not too far behind as they turned for home. Ekhabinskya had a marginal advantage at the 400 but when Monopoly started to ask serious questions, the joint favourite found no answers. Monopoly surged ahead and romped home for a convincing victory clocking close to the record timing of 58.04 set by Forest Flair earlier this year. Monopoly stopped the clock at 58.72, a commendable performance indeed. She looks far better and is on course to future glories but strictly over a sprint. Ekhabinskya will live to fight another day. IL Divo made little impact on the first two.
Thanda (Ontario – Moonspell) had only to contend with two rivals as Star Crusader was withdrawn at the gates. The Giant raced in the front as expected and led the field home with Thanda following a couple of lengths behind with Chimerique not too far behind. They entered the straight within touching distance of each other. Chimerique tride hard but gave up midway up the straight. The Giant was still battling on when Thanda began to quicken. It was only in the last 100 that Thanda could pull away from The Giant.
On My Way (Alnasr Alwasheek – Raptures) pulled off a good victory above stablemate Miss Pinky who had the larger support of the two. On My Way essayed it start to finish and yet managed well to stay out of trouble all through the race. Grey Island was slow at the start and lost considerable ground. Starlite Express could come up with an effort that only got him the third place. Miss Pinky never looked in the hunt and despite an all out effort, ran a tame second.
Maverick (Sir Bruce – Wonderful Babe) ran a lively race to win convincingly. Maverick and Addiction cornered most of the market turnover between them and a third horse offered at longer odds. Romp Home built on his early lead but lasted only up to the turn. Maverick and Addiction then joined together but soon Maverick was emerging a clear winner. Past the distance post Maverick had found a nice rhythm and was stretching away from them. Addiction gave up and returned sore on his right fore.
It was a great day for the patrons as Bollywood damsels Reema Sen and new starlet Urvashi Sharma added the glamour quotient to the afternoon. The crowd was filling and the fashion show showcased by designer Archana Kochekar was well received. The two fashion events unfolded in the paddock had a line-up of stunning looking models walking in the parade ring with trendy outfits and glittering jewellery to mark the Gitanjali race day.
