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| you are in Mumbai this Sunday then Mahalaxmi racecourse has to be your destination. If you have never been to a racecourse before, today is the day you reward yourself to the enchanting new experience. If you are familiar with the venue, you should not miss it for the world. Never before in the history of the Club has the RWITC packaged a race day as exciting as today. First, let me take you through the racing action. Two top-class graded races tower over the super ten races card. The Dr. S.C.Jain Sprinters’ Championship (Gr2) followed by the C.N. Wadia Gold Cup (Gr2). While the Jain race is a sprint, showcasing sheer raw speed, the Wadia is a true test of speed combined with stamina over the Derby distance. The thrill and suspense that these races will provide is to be felt and not read or heard. The Dr. SC Jain Sprinters’ Championship (Gr2) is second in terms of stakes, only to the Sprinters Cup of the Invitational weekend. The race gets a boost in the prize money this year with record stakes of Rs 2 million. The race is named in honour of the longest serving Chairman of the Club. The Jain family will present a stunning trophy, in silver and mother of pearl, to the winning owners. A weekend stay for a couple at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts is up for grabs by predicting correctly, the first three in this race. The great speed merchant – Oasis Star is rearing to be let loose. Can one forget the brilliance she showed in the same race last year? I get goose pimples recollecting that run when jockey Srinath, due to a check he received, lost considerable ground and position only to produce a freak revival in the final furlong! A bunch of highly reputed sprinters dashing at full throttle towards the winning post was thrilling enough. Oasis Star, who was nowhere in the picture, stunned his rivals and race goers alike with a scorching final burst of speed. One had to rub one’s eyes to believe that she had actually covered that much ground and managed to win with something to spare! The memory of that turn-of-foot is one that I will take to my grave! A repeat is surely on the cards, and if her jockey does not hold her back for long initially, we might well see a new course record for the distance (1200 meters). Avec Plaisir (1min10.33 secs), who holds the current record, is also in the fray today. Oasis Star has just the potential to dish out such a spectacular performance. The CN Wadia Gold Cup (Gr2) has a long history and is a traditional race of the Mumbai racing calendar. The race is named in honour and memory of Sir Cusrow Wadia, the man who built the present racecourse. This race offers a record 1.5 million in stake money and a glittering Gold Cup presented to the winners by the Wadia group. By nominating correctly, the first three placing of this race, you stand to win an Iris designer watch. The Wadia Gold Cup has eight runners going to the post. Yana the local contender faces the challenge from some of the outstation horses and her main threat will come from Noble Prince who has just arrived from Bangalore. Noble Prince is not new to Mumbai and has fond memories of the track. He caught the eye in the McDowell Indian Derby finish last year. Noble Prince too revives memories of that long stretched battle Royale with Sweeping Success, which began at the turn and went all the way to the last stride in the Indian St Leger which he won by the bob of his head! That is the kind of racing action awaiting you. But wait! There is lot more than just racing action. Indulgence! That would be a one-word description of what you can do at the historic venue, and many options from which to choose. Mrs. Maureen Wadia will present the winners and finalists of the Nomarks Gladrags Mrs. India Mega Models in the parade ring. There will be a song and dance show by little children and you will be in awe at what these little wonders can churn out when they are let loose. Nothing less than an enthralling spectacle. The biggest draw is the heart-rending ‘Bravery Awards’ for the little tots from the Jerbai Wadia Hospital who have braved acute physical hardships, some even undergoing multiple surgeries, showing exemplary courage in withstanding tremendous pain and handicap, yet sporting a genuine smile on their innocent faces. The children who will receive the awards for remarkable bravery in extremely adverse circumstances are – Sumeet Sharma, a 3-year-old tot with total paralysis of all his limbs. He underwent multiple surgeries and spent 80 days in the ICU! He is battling hard and is recovering despite his tender age. Nilesh Chandrashekar is an 8 year old with a cancerous tumour. He is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Khushi Sharma is just 4 and is paralysed since birth. She has gone through long operations on her spine but has borne the pain and adversity with remarkable courage. The spouses of the brave Martyrs of the Mumbai terror carnage – Mrs Hemant Karkare, Mrs Ashok Kamte and Mrs Vijay Salaskar will also be presented with bravery Awards by Mrs and Mr Nusli Wadia and Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman RWITC. For those who prefer to laze and relax on a Sunday afternoon there is a bonanza. For the first time ever, you can pamper yourself with a Foot Reflex Massage, a back, hand, neck or shoulder massage at a specially marked area in the racecourse. Then there is your great chance of making a million bucks for free! Haven’t heard of such an elaborate menu at the racecourse? Don’t worry, no one ever did. As the new racecourse cliché’ goes….. Racing, if you never go, you will never know. |
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