Rupa Scripts History in Ooty 1000 Guineas |
| Lady trainers have already carved their niche in the male-dominated horse racing industry in India, but seeing a lady jockey punching her hand into air in the classic is rare. Miss N Rupa scripted history by becoming the first Indian origin woman to hold plum while guiding the fortunes of Head Over Heels in the Nilgiris 1000 Guineas in the Udhagmandalam races (Ooty). Interestingly, Rupa was unlucky on the second occasion as Head Over Heels claimed the 2000 Guineas under the top-notched jockey G Ross. Italian born Mrs Silva Strorai has been the first woman to win the Derby through Brown Sugar on the Indian soil at the Malakpet racecourse, Hyderabad in 2003. Rupa, whose career began a year before Mrs Silva Storai shot into fame in the Hyderabad Derby, has ridden more than 100 victors. She has been riding mainly in Chennai and Ooty. Being experienced with over 800 races, Rupa possess the same calibre the other professionals have. In 2007, Rupa received Zee TV's "Stellar Achievement Award" which is given to the women who have made a mark and contributed to society in their own way. The lone reinwoman now in the Indian Circuit is following the tradition of her family. Rupa’s grandfather Ugam Singh was a saddler in the British army, while her father Narpat Singh was a jockey, and her brother Ravinder Singh is also an active jockey in the Southern region. After spending a season in the stable of trainer KS Madanna, she became a licensed jockey in 2002. However, her luck improved leaps and bounds after donning the silk of famous Gold and Brown (Dr MAM Ramaswamy) and eventually Head Over Heels brought her the laurels. |
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