Gypsy Magic displays her classic potential
Gypsy Magic raced like a seasoned performer and did not show the temperamental inadequacies that had characterized her runs in the past. For the second time running, she raced keen, ran straight as an arrow, did not fight for her head or show the tendency to run out or claustrophobic qualities when running in a crowded field which had characterized her performance prior to winning the Bangalore Summer Million.
Gypsy Magic showed immense maturity when winning the Punjab Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 85, over a mile long trip on Saturday. She won in smashing fashion despite conceding weight to her adversaries in difficult underfoot conditions. The fact that his temperamental daughter of Placerville has been brought back to classic contention is a tribute to its trainer Padmanabhan who has painstakingly sorted out the problems. Though her full brothers Smart Chieftain, Classical Act and Southern Empire have been multi-classic winners, their full sisters had never performed to any level attained by them but Gypsy Magic may well defy this trend. She is the last of the progeny of Stunning and she seems set to make amends for the failures of her full sisters.
The odds on Gypsy Magic drifted out inexplicably with Bourbon Bay and Oban receiving support in a significant manner. Jockey Appu who of late has been most successful only with trainer Padmanabhan, had Gypsy Magic settled in about the fourth or fifth position as Spark of Reverence led the field all the way into the straight. Gypsy Magic smoothly accelerated and overtook Spark of Reverence with minimum of fuss to go sailing clear inside the final 300 metres. Bourbon Bay too came through the shortest way and picked up speed but was no match for the favourite who went past the post well clear. Spark of Reverence ran on to finish third while Oban ran below par.
The underfoot conditions were pretty bad after the first day’s racing as continuous drizzle ensured that the inside was badly cut up. Though the penetrometer reading was 5 cms, the ground was more yielding and most runners who did not have the benefit of having a run at Mysore, were lacking in the requisite fitness to make a mark. Captivating and Gypsy Magic were the ones who showed that class can overcome adversity while Cruising who was widely expected to win, was surprisingly off color though poor riding by Sylvester De Sousa also in a way contributed to the defeat of the favourite.
Captivating may not have impressed in the paddock parade but she made the opposition look pedestrian in the six furlongs Krishnaraja Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of the day. Despite running over the sprint for the first time in her career, Captivating bolted to the front form the start, ran the others off their feet and won pulling up long way from home. Talisker was in hopeless pursuit right from the start but just about held off the challenge of Fire Zone for the runner up berth. Fire Zone finished with purpose after racing at the rear of the field and his performance showed that he is ready to make his mark next time out.
Cruising had run in top company and had given a good account of herself and was expected to have it easy in the Air Force Cup (Div I) Whether her speed was blunted by running over longer trips or her jockey erred in not maneuvering a position on the wide outside is difficult to say but De Sousa compounded his problems by electing to come the shortest way home and ran into severe traffic congestion. By the time he could extricate the favourite form a tight spot, the character of the race had undergone a dramatic change. First Superb Style shaped to bring off an upset but Real Gladiator floored them all with a rush to cause a much bigger shock. Cruising ran on when the cause was lodt to finish third. The well backed Rashida just about edged out Star Presence in the closing strides of the race to win the lower division of the race. Little Splendour was a suggestive third.
Trainer Dominic brought off a good double by winning both the divisions of the Sarb-Kla Plate. Bucephalas came from way off the pace to get the measure of front running She’s A Lady in the shadow of the winning post. She’s A Lady was backed strongly to win while Calypso Star who was the favourite, ran too poorly for comfort. Hurricane Bolt who had the best credentials, duly won the lower division of the race, without much fuss from Misty Moonlight and Spark of Ilderim. There was an objection by the rider of runner up against the winner but like the previous day, the objection had no substance and was thrown out in quick time.
Moon Memories was backed to the exclusion of her rivals and the favourite overcame a sluggish start and managed to get her rhythm inside the distance post to edge past rank outsider Amber Star to land the spoils.
Duckworth who had run some forward races at Mysore, enjoyed the underfoot conditions as he pulled away from the field to win as he liked the mile long Baba Khan Memorial Plate. There was no clear cut favourite in the race as the ante post Raptor Force who looked far from ready, ran dismally.
Glory Bound was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the progeny of Glory of Dancer did not get into his rhythm and was a well beaten second. Sparklingadvengture set a scorching pace only to pack up in the final furlong. Nermai who chased the front runner all the way, got better with a furlong out and won with something to spare.
Gypsy Magic showed immense maturity when winning the Punjab Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 85, over a mile long trip on Saturday. She won in smashing fashion despite conceding weight to her adversaries in difficult underfoot conditions. The fact that his temperamental daughter of Placerville has been brought back to classic contention is a tribute to its trainer Padmanabhan who has painstakingly sorted out the problems. Though her full brothers Smart Chieftain, Classical Act and Southern Empire have been multi-classic winners, their full sisters had never performed to any level attained by them but Gypsy Magic may well defy this trend. She is the last of the progeny of Stunning and she seems set to make amends for the failures of her full sisters.
The odds on Gypsy Magic drifted out inexplicably with Bourbon Bay and Oban receiving support in a significant manner. Jockey Appu who of late has been most successful only with trainer Padmanabhan, had Gypsy Magic settled in about the fourth or fifth position as Spark of Reverence led the field all the way into the straight. Gypsy Magic smoothly accelerated and overtook Spark of Reverence with minimum of fuss to go sailing clear inside the final 300 metres. Bourbon Bay too came through the shortest way and picked up speed but was no match for the favourite who went past the post well clear. Spark of Reverence ran on to finish third while Oban ran below par.
The underfoot conditions were pretty bad after the first day’s racing as continuous drizzle ensured that the inside was badly cut up. Though the penetrometer reading was 5 cms, the ground was more yielding and most runners who did not have the benefit of having a run at Mysore, were lacking in the requisite fitness to make a mark. Captivating and Gypsy Magic were the ones who showed that class can overcome adversity while Cruising who was widely expected to win, was surprisingly off color though poor riding by Sylvester De Sousa also in a way contributed to the defeat of the favourite.
Captivating may not have impressed in the paddock parade but she made the opposition look pedestrian in the six furlongs Krishnaraja Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of the day. Despite running over the sprint for the first time in her career, Captivating bolted to the front form the start, ran the others off their feet and won pulling up long way from home. Talisker was in hopeless pursuit right from the start but just about held off the challenge of Fire Zone for the runner up berth. Fire Zone finished with purpose after racing at the rear of the field and his performance showed that he is ready to make his mark next time out.
Cruising had run in top company and had given a good account of herself and was expected to have it easy in the Air Force Cup (Div I) Whether her speed was blunted by running over longer trips or her jockey erred in not maneuvering a position on the wide outside is difficult to say but De Sousa compounded his problems by electing to come the shortest way home and ran into severe traffic congestion. By the time he could extricate the favourite form a tight spot, the character of the race had undergone a dramatic change. First Superb Style shaped to bring off an upset but Real Gladiator floored them all with a rush to cause a much bigger shock. Cruising ran on when the cause was lodt to finish third. The well backed Rashida just about edged out Star Presence in the closing strides of the race to win the lower division of the race. Little Splendour was a suggestive third.
Trainer Dominic brought off a good double by winning both the divisions of the Sarb-Kla Plate. Bucephalas came from way off the pace to get the measure of front running She’s A Lady in the shadow of the winning post. She’s A Lady was backed strongly to win while Calypso Star who was the favourite, ran too poorly for comfort. Hurricane Bolt who had the best credentials, duly won the lower division of the race, without much fuss from Misty Moonlight and Spark of Ilderim. There was an objection by the rider of runner up against the winner but like the previous day, the objection had no substance and was thrown out in quick time.
Moon Memories was backed to the exclusion of her rivals and the favourite overcame a sluggish start and managed to get her rhythm inside the distance post to edge past rank outsider Amber Star to land the spoils.
Duckworth who had run some forward races at Mysore, enjoyed the underfoot conditions as he pulled away from the field to win as he liked the mile long Baba Khan Memorial Plate. There was no clear cut favourite in the race as the ante post Raptor Force who looked far from ready, ran dismally.
Glory Bound was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the progeny of Glory of Dancer did not get into his rhythm and was a well beaten second. Sparklingadvengture set a scorching pace only to pack up in the final furlong. Nermai who chased the front runner all the way, got better with a furlong out and won with something to spare.
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