Visibly excited and elated to the brim, Zeyn spoke to Indiarace on the morning after. “Set Alight gallops as if she has an extra gear. I am yet to see a better turn of foot on any racetrack in India. She simply dazzles when let loose. You saw that on Thursday in the RR Ruia Gold Cup. The best thing about her is the way she settles beautifully just about anywhere in the field. She tunes herself well with the pace of the race and seems to understand exactly what needs to be done. Once alerted, she unleashes a terrific burst that is just mind-boggling! She took my breath away in the Ruia Gold Cup. Only Elusive Pimpernel’s run in the Chief Minister’s Cup in Bangalore in the mid-90s had astounded me. Aslam Kadar (the jockey) had to steer him out, almost at a right angle to veer out of a traffic jam. Elusive Pimpernel, despite losing considerable ground at that crucial juncture, produced a scintillating burst to win authoritatively. That devastating turn of foot and Set Alight’s in the Ruia are the best that I have seen,” concluded Zeyn.
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| Mr. Zyen Mirza & trainer P Shroff leading Set Alight (N G McCullagh), winner of The Ramniwas Ramnarain Ruia Gold Cup (Gr.II) |
Malesh Narredu nursed Set Alight impeccably, knowing that she was going over the extended trip for the first time. Malesh did not even have to extend the Mallya filly who won by a distance, yet managed to break the course record set by the Champion colt Star Supreme who also was ridden by Malesh Narredu. The Dr. MAM owned colt went on to win the McDowell Indian Derby ‘98.
Set Alight (Razeen – Set Aside) recorded her tenth straight victory on Thursday. Racing in fourth for the major part of the 2000-metre race, Set Alight produced a blinder as soon as they entered the straight and cantered away to a very comfortable victory. Neither jockey McCullagh nor Set Alight was breathing heavily as they returned to the winner’s enclosure. The strong weekday crowd had barely returned to normalcy after hailing her ridiculously easy win when the judge announced that Set Alight had eclipsed the course record of the great Elusive Pimpernel! The awe that gripped the race goers was heartening to say the least. “Such an easy gallop and this broke Elusive Pimpernel’s record?” asked an ardent race follower in utter disbelief. “This filly is amazing,” said another. Now, Elusive Pimpernel has his name etched for the best timing in Mumbai, Bangalore, Mysore, Calcutta and even Hyderabad. If Set Alight’s effortless run can be this fast and fiery, can you imagine what she would clock if she were made to go full throttle? Now it sinks in - what Zeyn meant when he described her as “Mind Boggling”.
Dancing Dynamite and Palazzio’s Sun were simply no match. The debate that Autonomy will put up a strong resistance now looks more of a hope than claim for the supporters of the colt. Set Alight has served her salvo – loud and clear – that she is a filly, head and shoulders above any racehorse in the country. “Show me the turf, and I shall conquer it” is what she seems to convey. And if the records fall by, so be it!
