Arabian Prince wins Golconda Derby in record time
The Kunigal Stud Farm bred Arabian Prince produced a stunning run in the homestretch to win the Gr 1 Vijay Textiles Golconda Derby, the star event of the winter season, in front of a capacity crowd on Sunday. Arabian Prince won the race in a record timing of two minutes 28.07 seconds which bettered the timing of Zurbaran by fractions. Jockey Suraj Narredu, who seems to be doing nothing wrong at the moment, rode a peach of a race despite being handicapped by an injured wrist. Classerville tried to win the Derby the hard way by making the entire running but faltered close home. Arabian Prince’s victory capped a brilliant year for Kunigal Stud Farm which has had three individual Derby winners through Aboline, Fleet Indian and Arabian Prince.
On recent form, Systematic had the best credentials as she had won the Bangalore Oaks by edging out Youre So Beautiful and the latter had gone on to finish second to Becket in the Bangalore Derby. As such the form was strong but Systematic ran into horses which struck form at the inopportune time for her. Arabian Prince who had been beaten by Systematic in the past came good along with Classerville who showed amazing improvement. The first two horses in the race bettered the old record while Systematic missed it narrowly. Incidentally, Arabian Rose, the dam of Arabian Prince herself was a Derby winner and had lost narrowly to Indictment in the Indian Derby. Arabian Rose had foaled Arabian Knight (Brave Act) who had proved invincible on the Hyderabad track, having won the Gr 1 Stayers Cup and the Gr 1 President of India Gold Cup.
The start of the race was delayed for quite some time as first Hussler refused to be stalled and by the time the starter decided to declare him a non-starter, Saint Vincent had got restive and reared up in the gates injuring jockey Mulrennan in the process. He was also withdrawn from the fray. In Hyderabad, quite often the start of a race is inordinately delayed due to troublesome horses but it was good to see the starter acting with alacrity after several attempts to stall Hussler failed. The onus should be placed on the trainers to get their horses to get used to the stalls and get them behave better at the time of loading. All that is required is a little more effort on the part of the trainers and enforcement of rigid rules to chronic troublesome horses should go a long way in solving this vexed problem. There is no excuse if older and seasoned horses also show their aversion to gates and holds up proceedings.
Systematic was the favourite for the race with Deccan Derby winner Sparks being next in demand along with Fair Option while the rest were allowed to run at longer odds. Classerville, who sported SCP for the first time, was taken to the front by jockey David Allan as the field took the starter’s orders for the mile and half trip. Fleet Indian was in close attendance along with Fair Option, with Arabian Prince settled in fourth position followed by Systematic and the rest spread out behind. Classerville had a break of about three lengths over Fleet Indian at the top of the straight with the quickly improving Arabian Prince third along the rails, with Systematic taking time to pick up speed.
Classerville held the initiative till the final stages of the race but Arabian Prince finished powerfully at edge past the front runner in the shadow of the post to win by a shade over a length. Systematic was third ahead of Sans Pareil.
Classerville ran a game race considering the fact that this was only his second run since October. He has shown tremendous improvement. He will now join the line up for the Indian Derby. Arabian Prince will also head to Mumbai later to take part in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup.
The progeny of China Visit produced sparkling acceleration form way behind the field to win the1400 metres HDIL Juvenile Million, the supporting event of the day. Delight of Asia who had run only last week at Bangalore was the favourite thought the odds drift close to race time did not excite the race goers about her prospects. The Leader was well supported to win. David Allan had Vijay Damini lead all the way with Delight of Asia chasing her into the straight while The Leader loitered in the rear. Vijay Damini shook off Delight of Asia who failed to pick up speed in the straight and shaped to win but The Leader came up with a flourishing run on the wide outside to overhaul the front runner in the closing strides of the race.
On recent form, Systematic had the best credentials as she had won the Bangalore Oaks by edging out Youre So Beautiful and the latter had gone on to finish second to Becket in the Bangalore Derby. As such the form was strong but Systematic ran into horses which struck form at the inopportune time for her. Arabian Prince who had been beaten by Systematic in the past came good along with Classerville who showed amazing improvement. The first two horses in the race bettered the old record while Systematic missed it narrowly. Incidentally, Arabian Rose, the dam of Arabian Prince herself was a Derby winner and had lost narrowly to Indictment in the Indian Derby. Arabian Rose had foaled Arabian Knight (Brave Act) who had proved invincible on the Hyderabad track, having won the Gr 1 Stayers Cup and the Gr 1 President of India Gold Cup.
The start of the race was delayed for quite some time as first Hussler refused to be stalled and by the time the starter decided to declare him a non-starter, Saint Vincent had got restive and reared up in the gates injuring jockey Mulrennan in the process. He was also withdrawn from the fray. In Hyderabad, quite often the start of a race is inordinately delayed due to troublesome horses but it was good to see the starter acting with alacrity after several attempts to stall Hussler failed. The onus should be placed on the trainers to get their horses to get used to the stalls and get them behave better at the time of loading. All that is required is a little more effort on the part of the trainers and enforcement of rigid rules to chronic troublesome horses should go a long way in solving this vexed problem. There is no excuse if older and seasoned horses also show their aversion to gates and holds up proceedings.
Systematic was the favourite for the race with Deccan Derby winner Sparks being next in demand along with Fair Option while the rest were allowed to run at longer odds. Classerville, who sported SCP for the first time, was taken to the front by jockey David Allan as the field took the starter’s orders for the mile and half trip. Fleet Indian was in close attendance along with Fair Option, with Arabian Prince settled in fourth position followed by Systematic and the rest spread out behind. Classerville had a break of about three lengths over Fleet Indian at the top of the straight with the quickly improving Arabian Prince third along the rails, with Systematic taking time to pick up speed.
Classerville held the initiative till the final stages of the race but Arabian Prince finished powerfully at edge past the front runner in the shadow of the post to win by a shade over a length. Systematic was third ahead of Sans Pareil.
Classerville ran a game race considering the fact that this was only his second run since October. He has shown tremendous improvement. He will now join the line up for the Indian Derby. Arabian Prince will also head to Mumbai later to take part in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup.
The progeny of China Visit produced sparkling acceleration form way behind the field to win the1400 metres HDIL Juvenile Million, the supporting event of the day. Delight of Asia who had run only last week at Bangalore was the favourite thought the odds drift close to race time did not excite the race goers about her prospects. The Leader was well supported to win. David Allan had Vijay Damini lead all the way with Delight of Asia chasing her into the straight while The Leader loitered in the rear. Vijay Damini shook off Delight of Asia who failed to pick up speed in the straight and shaped to win but The Leader came up with a flourishing run on the wide outside to overhaul the front runner in the closing strides of the race.
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