Becket makes it a one horse race in the Derby
Padmanabhan trained Becket proved why there was so much hype about him by slamming the opposition in the Gr 1 Poonawalla Bangalore Derby, the star event of the Bangalore Winter Season here on Sunday. Despite running only for the fourth time in his career, Becket left the field stranded in the final furlong to win as he pleased to bring himself into strong contention for the Indian Derby to be held on the first Sunday of February. The Indian Derby is the mother of all Indian Derbys in the country.
Becket went into the race as a strong favourite despite the fact that he was progressing from seven furlongs to mile and half which is not exactly the way a Derby horse is prepared. But then Becket, with his exceptional ability was expected to overcome all these handicaps as he had given hopes of being an extraordinary specimen.
Jockey David Allan was able to settle Becket in the mid group as Strelitzia took her own time to do the job of a pacemaker to her stablemate Star Alliance who graced the rear group along with Cabriolet. The game plan was that Becket was too brilliant for comfort and that he would expend his precious energy in a fast run race but then the plan obviously misfired because the pace was very comfortable and added to that the other runners in the fray were not in the same league as Becket.
Youre So Beautiful, who had gone down narrowly to Systematic in the Bangalore Oaks, had the first run on her opponents as she sped into a useful lead at the top of the straight. Becket was in hot pursuit and overhauled the front runner with minimum of effort and cruised away to a four length lead. Mysore based Gershwin ran on from behind to be a surprise third ahead of Star Alliance. Mumbai’s Cabriolet who had been in the fray as a final entry made no show despite the fact that champion Irish jockey Richard Hughes was on board.
Becket will now head to Mumbai to take on the elite league of horses that trainer Pesi Shroff has at his command for the Indian Derby. Trainer Padmanabhan was delighted by the performance of Becket and said: ``Becket has had several problems but luckily he has had no problems after he had a preparatory run over seven furlongs earlier in the season. There is plenty of scope for improvement as this is only his fourth career start. I am confident that Becket would provide me the elusive Indian Derby.’’ Incidentally, Padmanabhan has won every big race that is there to be won except the Indian Derby. This was a back to back triumph in the Bangalore Derby for Padmanabhan who had last year won this premier event through Icebreaker. Becket is by Hawk Wing out of Boiling River. Incidentally, Hawk Wing, the sire of Becket, was a favourite in the Epsom Derby.
Scottish jockey David Allan rode an impeccable race on Becket. The jockey also deserves compliment for settling the horse during the preparatory workouts. Becket had showed the trait of wanting to demolish the opposition by wanting to tear away. In a grueling trip of mile and half, this was a great help. David Allan was also associated with the success of Icebreaker in last year’s Derby.
Asked whether he felt at any time that would run into traffic problem, he said: ``If you have so much in hand, you can always find your way.’’
Becket is now scheduled to take on wonder filly Jacqueline in the Indian Derby. Jacqueline has won three Indian classics in a row in splendid fashion. Her victory in the Indian Oaks was simply breath taking. Richard Hughes, who is to ride her in the Derby, said of Becket: ``He is easily the best looking horse that I have seen in India. Becket seems to be highly talented and he should make the Derby interesting.’’ Asked whether Jacqueline had so much left in her tank while cruising past the winning past in the Oaks at Mumbai, he said: ``I had loads left but then I was beating an inferior field. However, Jacqueline is an exceptional horse and she was won all her outings in splendid fashion. I look forward to the contest in the Indian Derby,’’ he said.
Haresh Mehta who owns Becket said that Becket has proved them right. ``We always thought highly of him and he has rewarded us with the Derby despite the many problems that he had. We can look forward to the Indian Derby with hope,’’ he added.
Becket went into the race as a strong favourite despite the fact that he was progressing from seven furlongs to mile and half which is not exactly the way a Derby horse is prepared. But then Becket, with his exceptional ability was expected to overcome all these handicaps as he had given hopes of being an extraordinary specimen.
Jockey David Allan was able to settle Becket in the mid group as Strelitzia took her own time to do the job of a pacemaker to her stablemate Star Alliance who graced the rear group along with Cabriolet. The game plan was that Becket was too brilliant for comfort and that he would expend his precious energy in a fast run race but then the plan obviously misfired because the pace was very comfortable and added to that the other runners in the fray were not in the same league as Becket.
Youre So Beautiful, who had gone down narrowly to Systematic in the Bangalore Oaks, had the first run on her opponents as she sped into a useful lead at the top of the straight. Becket was in hot pursuit and overhauled the front runner with minimum of effort and cruised away to a four length lead. Mysore based Gershwin ran on from behind to be a surprise third ahead of Star Alliance. Mumbai’s Cabriolet who had been in the fray as a final entry made no show despite the fact that champion Irish jockey Richard Hughes was on board.
Becket will now head to Mumbai to take on the elite league of horses that trainer Pesi Shroff has at his command for the Indian Derby. Trainer Padmanabhan was delighted by the performance of Becket and said: ``Becket has had several problems but luckily he has had no problems after he had a preparatory run over seven furlongs earlier in the season. There is plenty of scope for improvement as this is only his fourth career start. I am confident that Becket would provide me the elusive Indian Derby.’’ Incidentally, Padmanabhan has won every big race that is there to be won except the Indian Derby. This was a back to back triumph in the Bangalore Derby for Padmanabhan who had last year won this premier event through Icebreaker. Becket is by Hawk Wing out of Boiling River. Incidentally, Hawk Wing, the sire of Becket, was a favourite in the Epsom Derby.
Scottish jockey David Allan rode an impeccable race on Becket. The jockey also deserves compliment for settling the horse during the preparatory workouts. Becket had showed the trait of wanting to demolish the opposition by wanting to tear away. In a grueling trip of mile and half, this was a great help. David Allan was also associated with the success of Icebreaker in last year’s Derby.
Asked whether he felt at any time that would run into traffic problem, he said: ``If you have so much in hand, you can always find your way.’’
Becket is now scheduled to take on wonder filly Jacqueline in the Indian Derby. Jacqueline has won three Indian classics in a row in splendid fashion. Her victory in the Indian Oaks was simply breath taking. Richard Hughes, who is to ride her in the Derby, said of Becket: ``He is easily the best looking horse that I have seen in India. Becket seems to be highly talented and he should make the Derby interesting.’’ Asked whether Jacqueline had so much left in her tank while cruising past the winning past in the Oaks at Mumbai, he said: ``I had loads left but then I was beating an inferior field. However, Jacqueline is an exceptional horse and she was won all her outings in splendid fashion. I look forward to the contest in the Indian Derby,’’ he said.
Haresh Mehta who owns Becket said that Becket has proved them right. ``We always thought highly of him and he has rewarded us with the Derby despite the many problems that he had. We can look forward to the Indian Derby with hope,’’ he added.
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