Oasis Star in a class of her own
The Manjri Stud Farm bred Oasis Star proved that she has no peers in India when she outclassed the opposition in the Gr 1 Nanoli Stud and Breeders` Sprinters Cup which was one of the four Grade I races held on the Invitation Cup day on Sunday. Oasis Star had won the event at the same venue last year in March albeit on the winter track. In the intervening period she had proved that there existed a vast gulf between her and the rest of the sprinters in the country by simply slamming the opposition in whichever race she was entered. It is a pity that she could not go abroad and race due to equine influenza.
Though the Sprinters Cup has often proved to be a graveyard for favourites, there was no looking beyond Oasis Star even given the unpredictability of racing. The Cooji Katrak trained and Shapoor Mistry owned and bred wonder filly Oasis Star went into the post as the shortest priced horse in the history of this race. Palazzio`s Sun who had reeled off a hat-trick of wins at Bangalore, led the field with Oasis Star settled comfortably in mid-group. Srinath waited the daughter of Senure till the final furlong before putting Oasis Star in top gear. Oasis Star got the measure of Palazzio`s Sun with the minimum of fuss to win in record timing of one minute 12.26 seconds. Red Romeo ran on to be third while Rare And Precious who was expected to figure at the finish, ran poorly. The only race which went the way of local challenger was the Gangula Thimma Reddy Memorial Million, a Category I race which was contested by locally based horses. The Ananth Vatsalya trained Spot On who had won two races worth a million, was taken on a start to finish mission and bravely staved off the challenge of Crocodile Hunter. El Paso who had beaten Spot On in the last head to head encounter, was outpaced from the start and was never in contention. Hyderabad Race Club did well to come to the support of Turf Authorities of India to hold this event after Mumbai could not hold the event in March due to equine influenza which prevented movement of horses between states to ensure that there was no break in continuity. However, their organisation which included providing adequate support to the media, had several short comings. But then in Hyderabad since the officials take an eternity to take any decision, some things will never change.
Though the Sprinters Cup has often proved to be a graveyard for favourites, there was no looking beyond Oasis Star even given the unpredictability of racing. The Cooji Katrak trained and Shapoor Mistry owned and bred wonder filly Oasis Star went into the post as the shortest priced horse in the history of this race. Palazzio`s Sun who had reeled off a hat-trick of wins at Bangalore, led the field with Oasis Star settled comfortably in mid-group. Srinath waited the daughter of Senure till the final furlong before putting Oasis Star in top gear. Oasis Star got the measure of Palazzio`s Sun with the minimum of fuss to win in record timing of one minute 12.26 seconds. Red Romeo ran on to be third while Rare And Precious who was expected to figure at the finish, ran poorly. The only race which went the way of local challenger was the Gangula Thimma Reddy Memorial Million, a Category I race which was contested by locally based horses. The Ananth Vatsalya trained Spot On who had won two races worth a million, was taken on a start to finish mission and bravely staved off the challenge of Crocodile Hunter. El Paso who had beaten Spot On in the last head to head encounter, was outpaced from the start and was never in contention. Hyderabad Race Club did well to come to the support of Turf Authorities of India to hold this event after Mumbai could not hold the event in March due to equine influenza which prevented movement of horses between states to ensure that there was no break in continuity. However, their organisation which included providing adequate support to the media, had several short comings. But then in Hyderabad since the officials take an eternity to take any decision, some things will never change.
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