Jacqueline wins Fillies Trial Stakes in style
The form of the Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million held well albeit with a minor change in the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes, the first classic of the summer season on Sunday (June 14). Jacqueline, who had finished a neck behind Gypsy Magic in Veraski’s win, reversed that verdict with a decisive win. The got abroad filly received a perfect ride from Malesh Narredu who brought the second favourite on the wide outside with a terrific burst of speed in the final furlong to go clear and win from Gypsy Magic. While Gypsy Magic’s defeat could be attributed partly to her being ring rusty as she was asked the difficult job of winning the classic without the benefit of a race run, jockey Wayne Smith too seemed overawed with the onerous task of driving through the crowded field that he made a series of errors that all played its role in the defeat of the favourite.
Jacqueline had proved her credentials in the two runs that she figured at Mumbai. Trainer Pesi Shroff had always spoken highly of the Sohna Stud Farm bred daughter of King Charlemagne and he had fined tuned her for the occasion with the benefit of a mock race. Gypsy Magic was not originally supposed to run in this race but was entered after the race where she was supposed to run last week went void. If the target had been the Fillies Trial Stakes, at least Gypsy Magic may have had the benefit of a race run.
Despite the obvious disadvantages, Gypsy Magic was the overwhelming favourite to win because there was a great deal of expectation from this temperamental daughter of Placerville who had nearly achieved the impossible of winning the Poonawalla Million despite trailing the field at the final bend and going to the outer rail before unleashing her run. Captivating who had remained unbeaten on the Bangalore track was the third favourite. Astral Flash who was one of the strong runners in the fray, was pulled out of the fray due to a ``foot puncture’’ which URBB Racing Manager Zeyn Mirza put it as a mild setback which would keep the filly out of action for just a few days.
Wayne Smith has proved his value as a jockey who is comfortable doing his own running as he is adept at judging the pace in front. However, since he was asked to come from behind, he fell back to the last position from the inside draw while Jacqueline who was drawn the widest had smartly come into the pack and settled in the rear group. Wayne Smith perhaps panicked when he saw a wall of horses in front and tried to improve his position on the wide outside but to his chagrin, jockey C Alford had less control on Gloriosa who continuously went on to Gypsy Magic, bumping the filly a couple of times. As a result, Gypsy Magic had to travel wide right through the journey, with the filly keen having been shown the daylight so early in the race. Wayne Smith could have saved himself of a lot of bother if he stayed put his in the rear and tried to improve as the race progressed.
No hopper Aphrodisiac was the pace setter as the starter dispatched the field for the mile long trip, with Captivating in close attendance along with Mystic Quest, The Pearl and the rest. Cruising was poorly positioned and was another victim of a bad ride by jockey Rajendra as she too had to travel from the rear and come into the straight the widest despite which the filly ran a game race to finish sixth.
Captivating quickly surged ahead on turning for home but the daughter of Burden of Proof did not quicken in the manner expected as Mystic Quest slipped through the rails and seized the initiative. In the meanwhile, Gypsy Magic came into contention on the wide outside but she was quickly overhauled by Jacqueline who had moved up with a menacing run from behind and outside of Gypsy Magic. Jacqueline quickened nicely and went away from the rest even as Gypsy Magic was regaining some of the lost ground with a renewed effort. Mystic Quest who was sweating freely in the paddock parade and looked like a horse which had already run the distance, ran a mighty race to be a good third.
Jacqueline’s win enabled trainer Pesi Shroff and jockey Malesh Narredu to claim the Fillies Trials for the second year in a row as they were associated with Set Alight in last year’s edition of this race. Sohna Stud Farm which is on a new high as its resident stallion Noverre produced a French Derby winner last week, has been enjoying tremendous success with its stock and the success of Jacqueline should further boost the upward surge of the northern India stud farm
The Colts Trial Stakes is scheduled for next week and the outcome of the race will help determine the front runners for the Derby. Gypsy Magic showed tremendous improvement in that she raced keen and did not show any of her temperamental qualities of the past. She appears well settled and shapes like a strong contender along with Jacqueline.
Jacqueline had proved her credentials in the two runs that she figured at Mumbai. Trainer Pesi Shroff had always spoken highly of the Sohna Stud Farm bred daughter of King Charlemagne and he had fined tuned her for the occasion with the benefit of a mock race. Gypsy Magic was not originally supposed to run in this race but was entered after the race where she was supposed to run last week went void. If the target had been the Fillies Trial Stakes, at least Gypsy Magic may have had the benefit of a race run.
Despite the obvious disadvantages, Gypsy Magic was the overwhelming favourite to win because there was a great deal of expectation from this temperamental daughter of Placerville who had nearly achieved the impossible of winning the Poonawalla Million despite trailing the field at the final bend and going to the outer rail before unleashing her run. Captivating who had remained unbeaten on the Bangalore track was the third favourite. Astral Flash who was one of the strong runners in the fray, was pulled out of the fray due to a ``foot puncture’’ which URBB Racing Manager Zeyn Mirza put it as a mild setback which would keep the filly out of action for just a few days.
Wayne Smith has proved his value as a jockey who is comfortable doing his own running as he is adept at judging the pace in front. However, since he was asked to come from behind, he fell back to the last position from the inside draw while Jacqueline who was drawn the widest had smartly come into the pack and settled in the rear group. Wayne Smith perhaps panicked when he saw a wall of horses in front and tried to improve his position on the wide outside but to his chagrin, jockey C Alford had less control on Gloriosa who continuously went on to Gypsy Magic, bumping the filly a couple of times. As a result, Gypsy Magic had to travel wide right through the journey, with the filly keen having been shown the daylight so early in the race. Wayne Smith could have saved himself of a lot of bother if he stayed put his in the rear and tried to improve as the race progressed.
No hopper Aphrodisiac was the pace setter as the starter dispatched the field for the mile long trip, with Captivating in close attendance along with Mystic Quest, The Pearl and the rest. Cruising was poorly positioned and was another victim of a bad ride by jockey Rajendra as she too had to travel from the rear and come into the straight the widest despite which the filly ran a game race to finish sixth.
Captivating quickly surged ahead on turning for home but the daughter of Burden of Proof did not quicken in the manner expected as Mystic Quest slipped through the rails and seized the initiative. In the meanwhile, Gypsy Magic came into contention on the wide outside but she was quickly overhauled by Jacqueline who had moved up with a menacing run from behind and outside of Gypsy Magic. Jacqueline quickened nicely and went away from the rest even as Gypsy Magic was regaining some of the lost ground with a renewed effort. Mystic Quest who was sweating freely in the paddock parade and looked like a horse which had already run the distance, ran a mighty race to be a good third.
Jacqueline’s win enabled trainer Pesi Shroff and jockey Malesh Narredu to claim the Fillies Trials for the second year in a row as they were associated with Set Alight in last year’s edition of this race. Sohna Stud Farm which is on a new high as its resident stallion Noverre produced a French Derby winner last week, has been enjoying tremendous success with its stock and the success of Jacqueline should further boost the upward surge of the northern India stud farm
The Colts Trial Stakes is scheduled for next week and the outcome of the race will help determine the front runners for the Derby. Gypsy Magic showed tremendous improvement in that she raced keen and did not show any of her temperamental qualities of the past. She appears well settled and shapes like a strong contender along with Jacqueline.
Comments
Post a Comment