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| Set Alight |
Her charge in the race was without any haste and jockey CD Hayes kept her well off the moderate initial pace. Aurora Aurealis led them all with Chimerique on her outside, Icebreaker was a close fourth and Set Alight was just a few paces further behind. At the turn, Aurora Aurealis was still ahead but found the going tough and was soon joined by Icebreaker who galloped well to take charge past the 400. Set Alight had moved up and was in fine rhythm, ready to pounce on the leaders when asked. Icebreaker was moving nicely but Set Alight came up with gigantic strides, devouring a lot more turf with each stride than any other filly in the fray. The Shroff-saddled galloping genius had no trouble whatsoever sailing past Iceberg, the Poonawalla Bangalore Derby winner. She stretched even further in the final furlong to notch up yet another facile victory and adding the Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr1) to her kitty of Classic victories. The final surge clearly indicated that she would dominate further over a longer trip, reminding one of the racing phrase – the longer she goes the better she goes!
Unbeaten in nine starts thus far, Set Alight reminds me of the great Indian horse Elusive Pimpernel. The legend that was owned by Deepak Khaitan had won 22 races, picking up classics at will and lost just once by the shortest of margins in Pune. Like Elusive Pimpernal, Set Alight too has recorded a victory over varied distances from her debut in a five-furlong race to the gruelling 10 furlongs of the Bangalore Kingfisher Derby last summer. Many may argue that Elusive Pimpernel always had to encounter tougher opposition but there is that same clinical proficiency in the manner of Set Alight’s victories that suggest that Set Alight has devastated the opposition so overwhelmingly that she has never even had to battle it out except on a solitary occasion to chalk up a win. That solitary occasion was when she and another potential champion colt Autonomy met in their only encounter last Mumbai season. However, if you recollect, Autonomy did cause her then rider Rajendra to check at a critical juncture of the race Set Alight, at a time she was galloping full steam. And to break that rhythm, lose crucial ground and make a re-run to catch up with the promising Autonomy in full flight displays very strong qualities indeed! Set Alight was only three then and had only one race behind her. That was truly a remarkable performance and the Stewards’ decision to uphold that objection stands amply vindicated. Set Alight may not run as often as Elusive Pimpernel did and she has a long way to go as well, but she certainly has given enough evidence that she is on the right path to achieve the same status as the great Elusive Pimpernel did as a racehorse, in terms of acknowledgement as India’s greatest filly ever.
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| Dr. Vijaya Mallya leading Set Alight (C D Hayes Up), winner of The Gr.1 Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas |
The Gitanjali day was truly an enjoyable one, with the RWITC endorsing the fact that races and lifestyle go together. The Mumbai racecourse highlights the classics in the true perspective that a classic demands! A strong crowd of about 9,000 (nearly 15% higher than last year) thronged the Mahalaxmi racecourse giving it a carnival-like atmosphere befitting the first Classic of the season. The day’s betting too soared by 10% (Rs 1.65 crore) in comparison to last year. Sushi and beer flowed freely at the racecourse making the Sunday afternoon that much more delectable. A fashion show exhibiting the rich jewellery ware of the prestigious Gitanali brand had the spectators glued to the paddock. The group of dancers from Belarus swung to some lively music and new Bollywood entrant Neetu Chandra looked stunning adding to the panache of this spectacular day. Dr. Vijay Mallya’s entry had the camera crew clicking away and the fashion media had lots to look forward to at the venue. Bollywood actor Poonam Dhillon said that she was mesmerized with the atmosphere and now understood why horseracing was such an addictive sport.
Dr. Mallya’s smile was ever present from the moment he led Set Alight to the winner’s enclosure. “She is the best filly I have owned. I am doubly pleased because I owned her mother as well (Set Aside). I have been particularly fortunate with fillies. Four of my Derby winners have been Fillies. Set Alight is right up there, she is the best,” said Dr. Mallya during the presentation in the paddock.
One lucky entrant Mr. Sheikh Mangra, a taxi cleaner by profession, won the bumper prize of the diamond watch in the contest of skill linked to the Gitanjali Inidan 1000 Guineas.
