Sprint Star brings off a stunning upset
Sprint Star’s upset win in the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes on Sunday is something which defies any logical explanation. Though Satish Narredu bravely said after the post race interview that he was very confident of his ward’s chances in the second classic of the season, everyone including the trainer himself knows that what he said was far from truth and he was speaking from hindsight. If he sincerely believed that his horse could win, then one has to put Satish Narredu in the most optimistic category of people who believe impossible always conveys the reverse meaning. All said and done, Sprint Star’s unexpected win is one of the biggest upsets in the history of this race at least since the time I have been chronicling the sport.
If you want to make an ass of yourself you just have to issue an unqualified statement about a race horse. The horse will take it from there goes the old adage about racing and race horses. Time and again, we have seen horses which get left in or entered in the fray as pacemakers causing the biggest upsets. Not long ago, Noble Eagle was entered as a pace-maker in the Indian Derby and he went to spring a pleasant surprise to his owners. Sprint Star’s victory could be viewed in this perspective. Originally Sprint Star was expected to run in a sprint million according to insiders but was run in this race just to test waters and the progeny of Ontario brought off unexpected dividend by winning the classic with a great deal of ease. Another long shot Leonardo was late rallying and impressive second. Aboline was a well beaten third while D’Artagnan and Spearhead ran below expectations. The victory of Sprint Star gave a dream double to Sohna Stud Farm which is doing exceptionally well of late and have the added satisfaction of having a stallion in Noverre who has bred this year’s French Derby winner. Last week, the Sohna Stud Farm bred Jacqueline had won the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes.
Aboline had reeled off four wins in a row in identical fashion by sweeping his rivals off their feet. And as such, there was no reason to doubt his capability over a trip which stretched a furlong more. The transition was not expected to cause any problem but the question that was bothering many race goers was the strategy that was going to be adopted by the connections. Whether the jockey would ride the horse in the front like before or he would change the strategy and try to win from behind. Jockey C Alford attempted the latter and Aboline never galloped fluently and appeared well beaten by changing course under pressure but gained some ground towards the end when he drifted back to the firmer surface on the outside. All these days, the inside track had been protected by use of false rails and for some strange reasons; it remained so till the classic race. As a result, the character of underfoot conditions on the inside was quite different from the used up surface about five metres from the rails. The authorities could have had no rails form the first race of the day but perhaps they wanted the inner track to be protected in case of heavy rain.
D’Artagnan moved swiftly from the widest draw to take over the running as the field set out for the mile long trip. The pace setter was followed by Alacrity, Aboline, Superb Style, Bourbon Bay, Star of Marmalade while Sprint Star was in the seventh or eighth position. Leonardo and Davenport brought the rear end of the field. Rounding the final turn, D’Artagnan did not quicken in the manner expected and Alacrity came strongly into contention only to fade out as quickly as he had showed out. In the meanwhile, Aboline was struggling to get into his wonted rhythm while Sprint Star came up with a flourishing run on the wide outside and was easily the best traveling horse. When jockey Malesh Narredu asked for an effort from the progeny of Ontario, he quickened well to go clear while Aboline made a renewed effort to get into the thick of things. However, he failed to sustain even as Leonardo came from way behind to snatch the runner up berth. Bourbon Bay ran on to finish fourth ahead of D’Artagnan.
Jockey Malesh Narredu, who has hit a purple patch, is enjoying his best summer season in a long time and his classic double should definitely come as a great boost to the jockey who knows what it takes to lose on a super star in the Derby.
Aboline’s seemingly invincible aura was shattered by the extended trip. The race also served to highlight the relative merits of the contestants. D’Artagnan seems to enjoy hype and less substance. Star of Marmalade who was the most expensive purchase of the yard, appears pretty ordinary. The colts don’t’ appear to be a match for the fillies Jacqueline and Gypsy Magic who now shape as the prime contenders for the coveted Derby to be held in the second week of July.
If you want to make an ass of yourself you just have to issue an unqualified statement about a race horse. The horse will take it from there goes the old adage about racing and race horses. Time and again, we have seen horses which get left in or entered in the fray as pacemakers causing the biggest upsets. Not long ago, Noble Eagle was entered as a pace-maker in the Indian Derby and he went to spring a pleasant surprise to his owners. Sprint Star’s victory could be viewed in this perspective. Originally Sprint Star was expected to run in a sprint million according to insiders but was run in this race just to test waters and the progeny of Ontario brought off unexpected dividend by winning the classic with a great deal of ease. Another long shot Leonardo was late rallying and impressive second. Aboline was a well beaten third while D’Artagnan and Spearhead ran below expectations. The victory of Sprint Star gave a dream double to Sohna Stud Farm which is doing exceptionally well of late and have the added satisfaction of having a stallion in Noverre who has bred this year’s French Derby winner. Last week, the Sohna Stud Farm bred Jacqueline had won the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes.
Aboline had reeled off four wins in a row in identical fashion by sweeping his rivals off their feet. And as such, there was no reason to doubt his capability over a trip which stretched a furlong more. The transition was not expected to cause any problem but the question that was bothering many race goers was the strategy that was going to be adopted by the connections. Whether the jockey would ride the horse in the front like before or he would change the strategy and try to win from behind. Jockey C Alford attempted the latter and Aboline never galloped fluently and appeared well beaten by changing course under pressure but gained some ground towards the end when he drifted back to the firmer surface on the outside. All these days, the inside track had been protected by use of false rails and for some strange reasons; it remained so till the classic race. As a result, the character of underfoot conditions on the inside was quite different from the used up surface about five metres from the rails. The authorities could have had no rails form the first race of the day but perhaps they wanted the inner track to be protected in case of heavy rain.
D’Artagnan moved swiftly from the widest draw to take over the running as the field set out for the mile long trip. The pace setter was followed by Alacrity, Aboline, Superb Style, Bourbon Bay, Star of Marmalade while Sprint Star was in the seventh or eighth position. Leonardo and Davenport brought the rear end of the field. Rounding the final turn, D’Artagnan did not quicken in the manner expected and Alacrity came strongly into contention only to fade out as quickly as he had showed out. In the meanwhile, Aboline was struggling to get into his wonted rhythm while Sprint Star came up with a flourishing run on the wide outside and was easily the best traveling horse. When jockey Malesh Narredu asked for an effort from the progeny of Ontario, he quickened well to go clear while Aboline made a renewed effort to get into the thick of things. However, he failed to sustain even as Leonardo came from way behind to snatch the runner up berth. Bourbon Bay ran on to finish fourth ahead of D’Artagnan.
Jockey Malesh Narredu, who has hit a purple patch, is enjoying his best summer season in a long time and his classic double should definitely come as a great boost to the jockey who knows what it takes to lose on a super star in the Derby.
Aboline’s seemingly invincible aura was shattered by the extended trip. The race also served to highlight the relative merits of the contestants. D’Artagnan seems to enjoy hype and less substance. Star of Marmalade who was the most expensive purchase of the yard, appears pretty ordinary. The colts don’t’ appear to be a match for the fillies Jacqueline and Gypsy Magic who now shape as the prime contenders for the coveted Derby to be held in the second week of July.
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