D’Artagnan back in classic contention
Padmanabhan trained D’Artagnan bounced back into classic contention with an impressive win in the Gr 2 Fernhill’s Palace Juvenile Million, the highlight of races held at Bangalore on Sunday. The most impressive winner of the day was Messalina who made a smashing debut despite looking far from ready. Jockey Wayne Smith, who was back after an excellent season at Dubai, booted home a fine double.
By Sharan Kumar
Padmanabhan trained D’Artagnan bounced back into classic contention with an impressive win in the Gr 2 Fernhill’s Palace Juvenile Million, the highlight of races held on Sunday. The highly rated son of Placerville ran straight as an arrow and won the premier event the hard way, by making it start to finish in difficult underfoot conditions. This run should bring D’Artagnan into contention for the Colts Trial Stakes.
D’Artagnan had gone down to Aboline in the winter million by about five lengths. On that occasion, D’Artagnan ran green, drifting in and out under the use of the whip. D’Artagnan appeared more settled as he showed out in the paddock parade but since the Padmanabhan trainee had let down high expectations on the last occasion, race goers preferred to go with Cieolo Ray who enjoyed great hype as a result of his runaway maiden win during the fag end of the winter season. Astral Flash who had nosed out Captivating at Mumbai in the mile long million, found inspired support to end up as the second favourite along with D’Artagnan.
Jockey Wayne Smith took D’Artagnan to the front as the field set out for the seven furlong trip and the gelding enjoyed his stint in the front and broke into a decisive lead at the top of the straight. Though he was tiring in the end due to the front-running and the fact that this was having his seasonal opener, he had enough reserves to see off the challenge of Astral Flash. Star of Marmalade also finished well along with Cruising to take the next slots on the frame. On the evidence of this win, Aboline now has a formidable challenger in the Colts Classic.
Becket is one of the most talked about horses in Bangalore though the got-abroad son of Hawk Wing has been troubled by one problem or the other. Sore shins kept him out of action during the winter season. He was expected to make a winning debut in the 1400 metres Ministerial Trophy, a race for maiden three-year olds which had quality runners in the fray. However, Becket was unfortunate to miss action once again due to unfortunate circumstances. As he was being brought on the inner sand en roué to the saddling enclosure, he flipped over and fell as the police band which was near by started to play. Horses are sound sensitive and the band caused the horse to react which resulted in bleeding injuries to the mouth of Becket. Since the police bands serve very little purpose, there is need to dispense with this because all racing horses have to pass through inner sand and they could react adversely if the band starts playing. Since the police band serves ornamental purpose and race goers are least interested in the noise that they make, the authorities would do well to dispense with the band or regulate it in a way that it does not cause harm to the horses.
Be that as it may, the withdrawal of Becket was followed by more drama as The Pearl became the favourite by default. The Pearl was examined a few times at the gates before being permitted to race. In the event, The Pearl did not run any sort of a race, finishing way behind. Sans Pareil who was knocking on the doors of success, raced up front and surged ahead inside the final furlong to stave off the challenge of Noutchka to win comfortably. Noutchka who was placed in the rear group, moved with a flourish but she seemed to have expended her energy in the act of covering up the leeway as she packed up after almost drawing level with the eventual winner. Savvy Concept was badly checked by She’s A Lady who was dropping back at around the 600 metre marker. French jockey Stephen Breaux just about managed to stay in the saddle. The Valid Concept progeny came up with a late charge to finish an impressive third.
Mystic Quest who had run behind some of the best three-year olds at this centre, had nothing much to beat in the 1200 metres Prince Khartoum Trophy (Div I), winning as she pleased from Spark of Bronte and Portobello. The second named can strike before long. The lower division of the race saw the well bred Messalina make an impressive debut. Messalina who did not sport a good coat and appeared soft in the paddock parade, graced the rear till the home stretch before gaining speed on the wide outside to edge clear of on money favourite Brunetta. Though Messalina did not beat anything of note, there is no doubting her class. This full sister to the well performed Palazzio’s Sun should do well in her career.
The Star Contender Plate (Div I) saw Gloriosa and Tanzanite get all the support in the ring. Gloriosa proved too good as the got-abroad filly led all the away and then skipped away from her pursuer inside the final 100 metres.
Xel looked a cut above the rest in the Santa Anita Park Plate, a race for horses rated in the lowest category. Predictably, Xel faced no problem as she led all the way and checked in by a widening margin of over seven lengths. Track Wonder who cornered good support in the ring, could do no better than make a futile chase of the winner.
By Sharan Kumar
Padmanabhan trained D’Artagnan bounced back into classic contention with an impressive win in the Gr 2 Fernhill’s Palace Juvenile Million, the highlight of races held on Sunday. The highly rated son of Placerville ran straight as an arrow and won the premier event the hard way, by making it start to finish in difficult underfoot conditions. This run should bring D’Artagnan into contention for the Colts Trial Stakes.
D’Artagnan had gone down to Aboline in the winter million by about five lengths. On that occasion, D’Artagnan ran green, drifting in and out under the use of the whip. D’Artagnan appeared more settled as he showed out in the paddock parade but since the Padmanabhan trainee had let down high expectations on the last occasion, race goers preferred to go with Cieolo Ray who enjoyed great hype as a result of his runaway maiden win during the fag end of the winter season. Astral Flash who had nosed out Captivating at Mumbai in the mile long million, found inspired support to end up as the second favourite along with D’Artagnan.
Jockey Wayne Smith took D’Artagnan to the front as the field set out for the seven furlong trip and the gelding enjoyed his stint in the front and broke into a decisive lead at the top of the straight. Though he was tiring in the end due to the front-running and the fact that this was having his seasonal opener, he had enough reserves to see off the challenge of Astral Flash. Star of Marmalade also finished well along with Cruising to take the next slots on the frame. On the evidence of this win, Aboline now has a formidable challenger in the Colts Classic.
Becket is one of the most talked about horses in Bangalore though the got-abroad son of Hawk Wing has been troubled by one problem or the other. Sore shins kept him out of action during the winter season. He was expected to make a winning debut in the 1400 metres Ministerial Trophy, a race for maiden three-year olds which had quality runners in the fray. However, Becket was unfortunate to miss action once again due to unfortunate circumstances. As he was being brought on the inner sand en roué to the saddling enclosure, he flipped over and fell as the police band which was near by started to play. Horses are sound sensitive and the band caused the horse to react which resulted in bleeding injuries to the mouth of Becket. Since the police bands serve very little purpose, there is need to dispense with this because all racing horses have to pass through inner sand and they could react adversely if the band starts playing. Since the police band serves ornamental purpose and race goers are least interested in the noise that they make, the authorities would do well to dispense with the band or regulate it in a way that it does not cause harm to the horses.
Be that as it may, the withdrawal of Becket was followed by more drama as The Pearl became the favourite by default. The Pearl was examined a few times at the gates before being permitted to race. In the event, The Pearl did not run any sort of a race, finishing way behind. Sans Pareil who was knocking on the doors of success, raced up front and surged ahead inside the final furlong to stave off the challenge of Noutchka to win comfortably. Noutchka who was placed in the rear group, moved with a flourish but she seemed to have expended her energy in the act of covering up the leeway as she packed up after almost drawing level with the eventual winner. Savvy Concept was badly checked by She’s A Lady who was dropping back at around the 600 metre marker. French jockey Stephen Breaux just about managed to stay in the saddle. The Valid Concept progeny came up with a late charge to finish an impressive third.
Mystic Quest who had run behind some of the best three-year olds at this centre, had nothing much to beat in the 1200 metres Prince Khartoum Trophy (Div I), winning as she pleased from Spark of Bronte and Portobello. The second named can strike before long. The lower division of the race saw the well bred Messalina make an impressive debut. Messalina who did not sport a good coat and appeared soft in the paddock parade, graced the rear till the home stretch before gaining speed on the wide outside to edge clear of on money favourite Brunetta. Though Messalina did not beat anything of note, there is no doubting her class. This full sister to the well performed Palazzio’s Sun should do well in her career.
The Star Contender Plate (Div I) saw Gloriosa and Tanzanite get all the support in the ring. Gloriosa proved too good as the got-abroad filly led all the away and then skipped away from her pursuer inside the final 100 metres.
Xel looked a cut above the rest in the Santa Anita Park Plate, a race for horses rated in the lowest category. Predictably, Xel faced no problem as she led all the way and checked in by a widening margin of over seven lengths. Track Wonder who cornered good support in the ring, could do no better than make a futile chase of the winner.
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