Diego Rivera swamps opposition

Pesi Shroff trained Diego Rivera’s ridiculously easy win in the Gr 3 Chief Justice’s Cup, a rich terms race for four-year olds and over, which highlighted the races held on Saturday was in conformity with the run of expectations.

Jockey Malesh Narredu complimented the brilliance of the horse with a splendid ride, exploiting the amazing turn of foot of the favourite by conserving the horse into the straight and letting the progeny of Diffident to stretch out along a beautiful opening on the rails. With Splendid Surprise putting in a below par performance, there was no horse in the fray which could stretch the favourite as the only other horse expected to figure at the finish, the temperamental Southern Charge becoming a non-starter as he jumped out sluggishly from the gates and dislodged jockey Wayne Smith.

Diego Rivera had won a mile long race earlier in the season at the expense of multi-classic winner Icebreaker. Saturday’s field was not so imposing except for the presence of accomplished Splendid Surprise, who is in the twilight of his career. Though Splendid Surprise has often proved to be exceptional, in the head to head contest with Diego Rivera, he had never overhauled the latter. Southern Charge had always proved to be unpredictable and as such, everything depended on his mood. Fleeting Arrow who was a rousing performer till the winter season, appeared off color as his run in the mock race a week ago was nothing much to write home about.

Angelique led as the starter dispatched the field for the nine furlong trip followed by Vanquish, Fleeting Arrow, Splendid Surprise, Star Presentation, Mr. Greedy, with the favourite bringing up the tail end. Angelique weakened on turning for home and rolled out from the rails which gave a beautiful opening for Diego Rivera who was quickly improving. In a trice, Diego Rivera shot through the rails and went away from the field. Vanquish closed with a rush to finish an impressive second while Fleeting Arrow managed to get the third slot by a whisker from Mr. Greedy. Splendid Surprise packed up on straightening for home despite being well positioned to give a bold show.

Pesi Shroff’s brother in law Noshir Cama had a rewarding day, saddling a brace of winners at this centre for the first time in his career. Equidae had been relocated to Mumbai after she won her last start in winter in the care of Padmanabhan but was brought back for summering under Cama’s charge. Equidae showed out in the paddock parade in the Regency Stud Plate (Div I). The got abroad filly who always ran as a favourite whenever she ran in Bangalore, was quoted at fancy odds in what was an open betting affair. Bottom-weighted Desert Rule who was taken on a start to finish mission by apprentice jockey N S Parmar very nearly pulled it off but Equidae who made good ground from the rear, just about managed to edge out the front runner in the dying moments of the race. Affirmed Crown had all the chances but failed to quicken and faded out to be third.

Timeless Treasure appeared a cinch in the lower division of the race especially since the progeny of Razeen had done well in good company. Though the seven furlong trip was rather sharp for him, he was expected to win on class. The only drawback was that he was assigned to jockey Md Shafiq who rarely wins a race. Timeless Treasure raced upfront and led briefly but could not sustain his lead till the winning post as lesser fancied Phoenix Reach was driven out to squeeze a narrow win over the favourite. Silken Thomas finished third.

Jockey Prakash, who showed so much enterprise on Phoenix Reach, was lackluster on Star Assembly in the M Ali Asker Memorial Trophy. The race was won by Mumbai challenger Bee Quick whose best happens to be her best run during a season. Prakash gave no chance to Star Assembly and one was not sure whether there was a will to win. The manner in which the fancied runner was covering ground at the finish, suggested that with better quality ride that the jockey is capable of, the result could well have been different. Bee Quick who chased Zycon into the straight, quickened well in the straight and had established a winning lead when Star Assembly was unleashed on the wide outside. Bee Quick was saddled by Noshir Cama. Chintz ran on to be tame third.

Prasanna Kumar trained Spark of Bronte had run behind Mystic Quest and the latter had gone on to finish third in the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes and as such, the progeny of Classic Tale, was backed to the exclusion of his rivals on the basis of his impressive second. Spark of Bronte was taken on a successful start to finish mission by jockey Rupesh. The favourite checked in well clear of Bucephalas who failed to make an impression on the winner.

In another race meant for maiden three-year olds run over seven furlongs, Savvy Concept was quoted at cramped odds as the progeny of Valid Concept had run a fine third in his last outing despite running into rough weather before the final turn. Savvy Concept had it easy, coming from way off the pace, to record a facile win over Spark of Joy and Siph Salar.

Southern Gladiator was backed down spiritedly to record an encore and the Amit Cady trainee duly obliged in a three horse finish, getting the nod in the final strides of the race. In fact, Atlantus shaped to win but could not sustain as Southern Gladiator and Son of the Soil closed in with a big rush. Southern Gladiator managed to save the day, with Atlantus and Son of the Soil dead-heating for the runner up berth.

Jockey S John’s poor quality ride enabled Spandau Ballet to reach the safety of the winning post well before favourite Table Mountain could get into his rhythm. Spandau Ballet took charge of the proceedings on turning for home while Table Mountain who was racing a few lengths adrift of the front-runners at the final bend, took the turn wide and by the time John got the favourite going, he had considerable leeway to cover which proved his undoing in the end.