Aboline wins in an absorbing finish
Aboline lived up to the top billing that he enjoyed at the commencement of the season by wining the Gr 1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, in a sensational finish from Jacqueline on Sunday. The Arjun Mangalorkar trainee who had put in a dubious run in the Colts Trial Stakes, bounced back to his wonted form, and won the glamour event of Bangalore Summer Season in front of a packed but chaotic gathering. The victory of Aboline was the third individual Derby winner sired by the Kunigal Stud Farm resident stallion Burden of Proof.
The long distance races in India have rarely been true run affairs because of the inability of the jockeys or the connections associated with the horses to understand that a Derby can be won with aggressive efforts from the front. Traditionally, Derbys in India have been won by horses coming from way off the pace, a practice which ruled the mindset of the riders and trainers in the last decade. However, worldwide, the pattern has changed, with fancied runners not hesitating to stay upfront and win the hard way should the situation arise. The pace of the race dictates the way the jockeys should re-think their strategy midway through the race. In India, jockeys are often tied down to instructions which require them to fight with their horses to stay behind rather than incur the wrath by reacting to the pace of the race. Of course some jockeys like C Alford are privileged to ride the way they want because they can do so with impunity. Therein lays the strength and weakness of the jockey and his ability to deliver.
Alford held Aboline back in the mile long Colts Trial Stakes and the result was disastrous. This time out, Aboline was taken to the front from the widest draw in the history of this ace, and allowed to run freely in front over a trip many reckoned will test out the staying abilities of the progeny of Burden of Proof. The other riders made tactical error in not challenging the front-runner and allowing him the luxury of dictating the pace and then use his sprinting power to good effect. Though there were 18 horses in the fray, there was no jostling as feared because the big field worked on the jockeys so much that they stayed clear of trouble or the front-runner! This also meant that they shied away form the opportunity of being in a position to win as well. The mile and quarter race was in effect reduced to a seven furlong affair as the pace was too slow for comfort. When the pace quickened in the final two furlongs, the other runners in the fray found it hard to change gears and were found wanting. Though Jacqueline was in the fifth position, she had considerable leeway to cover. The daughter of King Charlemagne finished powerfully but Aboline managed to reach of the safety of the winning post thanks to the lead that he had established. The fact that Aboline clocked a slow time of two minutes 5.6 seconds on a track which had seen the eclipse of a 51 year old record the previous day, tells its own tale.
The temperamental Gypsy Magic was strongly fancied to win ahead of Jacqueline while Aboline was quoted at nourishing odds as a third favourite because of his failure in the previous start over a trip that was considered more ideal for him. The runners in the fray, including Colts Trail Stakes winner Sprint Star were longer odds.
Jockey Alford pushed his horse to take charge as the starter dispatched the unwieldy field of 18 runners for the 2000 metres trip, with Classerville and Mystic Quest a few lengths adrift of the rest. Jacqueline was in about fifth or sixth position while the field was sprung out a few lengths of each other, with Gypsy Magic bringing the rear. Aboline had a considerable break over the rest and the jockey could give the son of Burden of Proof some breather passing the half way stage after which he picked up the pace once again. The rest of the jockeys in the fray were slow to react to what was transpiring.
Aboline quickened considerably in the final furlong while Classerville who was handily placed appeared one paced as he failed to pick up speed and could not shake off Captivating who was racing alongside. Jacqueline was pulled out on the wide outside and given a trouble free run by Malesh Narredu. Though Jacqueline covered up the leeway significantly, Aboline had enough reserves to last out the tense concluding moments of the race. There was a cluster finish six lengths away, with Astral Flash nosing out Captivating and Classerville for the third spot. Gypsy Magic closed in from way behind on the wide outside to be a length adrift in sixth position.
Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar, who has been enjoying a glorious run in the last one year, thus saddled his first Bangalore Summer Derby. His other Derby winning horses have been Abs Fabs (Mysore and Kolkata), Tomsk (Delhi) and Royal Russian (Bangalore Winter Derby). Burden of Proof, who sired Aboline, had a winner in this race from his first crop namely Fantabulous King.
A record crowd turned out for the running of the Derby. The Derby day also served to highlight the inadequacies of the club to handle such a massive turnout.
The long distance races in India have rarely been true run affairs because of the inability of the jockeys or the connections associated with the horses to understand that a Derby can be won with aggressive efforts from the front. Traditionally, Derbys in India have been won by horses coming from way off the pace, a practice which ruled the mindset of the riders and trainers in the last decade. However, worldwide, the pattern has changed, with fancied runners not hesitating to stay upfront and win the hard way should the situation arise. The pace of the race dictates the way the jockeys should re-think their strategy midway through the race. In India, jockeys are often tied down to instructions which require them to fight with their horses to stay behind rather than incur the wrath by reacting to the pace of the race. Of course some jockeys like C Alford are privileged to ride the way they want because they can do so with impunity. Therein lays the strength and weakness of the jockey and his ability to deliver.
Alford held Aboline back in the mile long Colts Trial Stakes and the result was disastrous. This time out, Aboline was taken to the front from the widest draw in the history of this ace, and allowed to run freely in front over a trip many reckoned will test out the staying abilities of the progeny of Burden of Proof. The other riders made tactical error in not challenging the front-runner and allowing him the luxury of dictating the pace and then use his sprinting power to good effect. Though there were 18 horses in the fray, there was no jostling as feared because the big field worked on the jockeys so much that they stayed clear of trouble or the front-runner! This also meant that they shied away form the opportunity of being in a position to win as well. The mile and quarter race was in effect reduced to a seven furlong affair as the pace was too slow for comfort. When the pace quickened in the final two furlongs, the other runners in the fray found it hard to change gears and were found wanting. Though Jacqueline was in the fifth position, she had considerable leeway to cover. The daughter of King Charlemagne finished powerfully but Aboline managed to reach of the safety of the winning post thanks to the lead that he had established. The fact that Aboline clocked a slow time of two minutes 5.6 seconds on a track which had seen the eclipse of a 51 year old record the previous day, tells its own tale.
The temperamental Gypsy Magic was strongly fancied to win ahead of Jacqueline while Aboline was quoted at nourishing odds as a third favourite because of his failure in the previous start over a trip that was considered more ideal for him. The runners in the fray, including Colts Trail Stakes winner Sprint Star were longer odds.
Jockey Alford pushed his horse to take charge as the starter dispatched the unwieldy field of 18 runners for the 2000 metres trip, with Classerville and Mystic Quest a few lengths adrift of the rest. Jacqueline was in about fifth or sixth position while the field was sprung out a few lengths of each other, with Gypsy Magic bringing the rear. Aboline had a considerable break over the rest and the jockey could give the son of Burden of Proof some breather passing the half way stage after which he picked up the pace once again. The rest of the jockeys in the fray were slow to react to what was transpiring.
Aboline quickened considerably in the final furlong while Classerville who was handily placed appeared one paced as he failed to pick up speed and could not shake off Captivating who was racing alongside. Jacqueline was pulled out on the wide outside and given a trouble free run by Malesh Narredu. Though Jacqueline covered up the leeway significantly, Aboline had enough reserves to last out the tense concluding moments of the race. There was a cluster finish six lengths away, with Astral Flash nosing out Captivating and Classerville for the third spot. Gypsy Magic closed in from way behind on the wide outside to be a length adrift in sixth position.
Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar, who has been enjoying a glorious run in the last one year, thus saddled his first Bangalore Summer Derby. His other Derby winning horses have been Abs Fabs (Mysore and Kolkata), Tomsk (Delhi) and Royal Russian (Bangalore Winter Derby). Burden of Proof, who sired Aboline, had a winner in this race from his first crop namely Fantabulous King.
A record crowd turned out for the running of the Derby. The Derby day also served to highlight the inadequacies of the club to handle such a massive turnout.
what a start to finish effort it was.... one think the run of colt trail in 1600m.. now what it was.. in 2000m... this all gives the rate to aboline...
ReplyDeleteashok
This possibly last running of the Summer Derby at the current BTC location was perhaps one of the best Derby finishes in recent history. Aboline is a fantastic colt whose natural temperament dictates that he will perform well if allowed to run from the front of the field.
ReplyDeleteKudos to trainer Arjun Mangalorkar once again - his instincts as a trainer are tremendous. The consistency with which he has been turning out winners in big races at different tracks in the past year make him one of the brightest sparks on the Indian racing circuit and one can expect great things from him as he reaches his potential as a trainer. He is one to watch out for in the near future.
To those who claim that Aboline barely made it to the finish post ahead of Jacqueline: he ran the race at the pace and in the manner that was required on the day; the race wasn't 2200 mtrs or 2400 mtrs. It is impossible to conjecture what might have happened had the race been a little longer - perhaps jockey Alford and trainer Mangalorkar might have had a different race strategy in that case?
Congratulations on a race well won to a colt with a big heart!