B R Sharan Kumar

It often pays to persist with failed favourites and it was amply highlighted by the ridiculous ease with which Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Dancing won the 1600 metres Governor’s Trophy, a terms race for three-year olds, the highlight of Saturday’s races. Sun Dancing was strongly fancied to win in her debut run but the progeny of China Visit was sluggish at the start and found the sprint trip also sharp. In the intervening period, Make My Day had established her credentials quite strongly to start as favourite but she was displaced from that position by Saloni whom she had beaten in the past. Saloni was backed with more conviction in the ring. Sun Dancing, who had shown out in workouts, was at lucrative odds, the lack of enthusiastic support was because of her dismal debut run. In the event, Sun Dancing measured the front runners one by one from way off the pace and sailed clear with a furlong out to register a convincing win by a margin of over four lengths. Unleashed managed to edge out...

The alarming drift in the odds on Mother’s Pride was the only scare that the supporters of the favourite suffered as the six-year old mare won the 2000 metres Delhi Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Friday’s races, with a measure of comfort form Cassandra and My Friend Paul. Mother’s Pride class was never in doubt as she had done well against top quality company. The price drift was indeed surprising because the favourite looked better than the rest in the paddock parade. And also the others had some catching up to do before they could hope to overhaul Mother’s Pride. Bottom weighted Cassandra was taken on a start to finish mission by jockey Chris Hayes with Scimitar, My Friend Paul and Talk of the Devil within striking distance of each other. Cassandra brought the field into view even as Scimitar and Talk of the Devil faded out of contention. The daughter of Burden of Proof Cassandra did not give easily even as jockey Silvester De Sousa was h...

The alarming drift in the odds on Mother’s Pride was the only scare that the supporters of the favourite suffered as the six-year old mare won the 2000 metres Delhi Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Friday’s races, with a measure of comfort form Cassandra and My Friend Paul. Mother’s Pride class was never in doubt as she had done well against top quality company. The price drift was indeed surprising because the favourite looked better than the rest in the paddock parade. And also the others had some catching up to do before they could hope to overhaul Mother’s Pride. Bottom weighted Cassandra was taken on a start to finish mission by jockey Chris Hayes with Scimitar, My Friend Paul and Talk of the Devil within striking distance of each other. Cassandra brought the field into view even as Scimitar and Talk of the Devil faded out of contention. The daughter of Burden of Proof Cassandra did not give easily even as jockey Silvester De Sousa was h...

Irfan Ghatala trained Tsavorite staved off the challenge of Awarding to win the P Dayanand Pai and P Satish Pai Bangalore Winter Million (Grade III), the main event of races held on Saturday. Tsavorite thus recoded her third straight win during the season. Jockey Chris Hayes rode a neat race on the winner. Ballibay who had made a fine impressive in her debut was the firm favourite, with Tsavorite who was conceding weight to all the rivals, quoted at nourishing odds. Ballibay looked poor in the paddock and didn’t settle in the race as she bolted with jockey Suraj Narredu to the front, took a sweeping turn at the final bend and then went out of contention in a trice. Tsavorite came through the middle to assume command with a furlong out and she was strongly challenged by Awarding but the former managed to pull through. Con Artiste came form way behind to edge out Sunspirit for the third spot. The first three placed horses would surely appreciate step up in distance as they progress in th...

The BTC Stewards declared the seventh race of Saturday’s race card void for purpose of betting but allowed the result to stay. There was no word from the club as to the reason for their decision. For the record, jockey Srinath came a cropper on favourite Still Will at the start of the race which was won by Virtuoso. The yellow cone went up signaling the Stewards enquiry but there was no explanation as to why the enquiry was being held. A few minutes later, there was an announcement that all betting will be refunded. There was no word as to why the Stewards took this decision. With the deliberations having been held in camera, this was a matter for endless debate. Did the Stewards withhold the telecast because they had nothing much to discuss and they did not want to cut a sorry figure in front of the racing public? One is not sure. Transparency has indeed been bypassed by not having the enquiry telecast live. Did the Stewards think that repeated telecast of replays may enrage the race...

Darius Byramji trained Ticket To Ride sailed past favourite Alacrity in the closing strides of the race to win the S Rangarajan Memorial Trophy, a sprint race for horses 80 and above, the feature event of races held on Friday. The event held in memory of one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the sport, fittingly produced a close finish. Other than the main event, there was nothing much to write home about. Barring Rare And Precious who had run against top class sprinters, the principal constants had relatively less credentials, having moved into this category after their previous winning efforts. Though Ticket To Ride had as much credentials as Alacrity, the latter enjoyed more support if only because of the fact that he had behind Becket who narrowly failed to record a dual Derby success subsequently. Rare And Precious was also well supported but the once rousing performer has seen his best days judging by the lackluster effort. Jockey David Allan brought Alacrity from the outsi...

Indian sprint champion Oasis Star was widely expected to win in the sprint race at Meydan held as part of Dubai Racing Carnival on Friday but the six year old mare who carried a sea of expectations, disappointed with a below par performance. Oasis Star, who went into the race as favourite, tracked leaders in the early part, fell back to the fourth position and then failed to pick up speed at any stage of the race. The C D Katrak trained mare was partnered by her regular jockey Y S Srinath but somehow the filly was off color after brilliant second in her first start on the Tapeta track a fortnight ago. Indian expatriates had come in big numbers to cheer Oasis Star but they were disappointed that Oasis Star did not emulate Mystical who was the only Indian trained horse to win a race during the Racing Carnival. Frankie Dettori ridden Global City thundered away for a decisive win. Oasis Star held a good position early on but then fell back to fourth position and appeared to go at one pace....

Soberano was driven out to a narrow win over Star Wave in the RWITC Trophy, a seven furlong race for horses rated 80 and above, which featured Saturday’s races. Jockey Suraj Narredu showed good tactical acumen in boxing Star Wave for a while before kicking clear. By the time Prakash pulled Star Wave out and made his challenge, the front runner had established a winning lead. Soberano was well fancied to win along with Star Wave. Western Command set the pace with Mighty Heart in close attendance while Star Wave was settled along the rails with Soberano on his outside. Rounding the final turn, Prakash should have moved out to get a clear passage but he chose to stay behind the tiring Western Command and Mighty Heart who were going no where. In the meanwhile, Suraj had Soberano race alongside Star Wave, cramping her for room which made a difference to the outcome. Either Prakash has lost his reflexes or he was simply not keen to force an issue. Warren Singh trained Stone of Destiny won ag...

Jacqueline[ profile ] created history of sorts when she won the Gr 1 McDowell Indian Derby, the most coveted event in Indian racing calendar in a record timing of two minutes 28.5 seconds in front of sea of spectators at the Mahalaxmi on Sunday. Jacqueline became the first horse to win four Indian classics in a row. Her Majesty in the past had won four Indian classics but had not won the Indian Derby. Pesi Shroff got the unique distinction of winning the Derby both as a jockey and now as a trainer. Pesi has won the Indian Derby eight times as a jockey which is also a record.Jacqueline who is owned by Vijay Shrike in partnership with K N Dhunjibhoy and Berjis Minoo Desai truly lived up to expectations of being one of a rare kind by delivering the goods in the most difficult race of her career. Jacqueline`s wins this season had been achieved without raising a sweat but for the first time she had to be fully extended to win but the brave heart that she is, showed the hall mark of a true c...

Last year Set Alight by all accounts looked a cinch in the McDowell Indian Derby but the super star got beat by the most unlikely horse in Antonios. This year her stablemate Jacqueline enjoys a much exalted position for the simple reason that she has recorded three smashing wins in the Indian classics thus far. She made her stablemate Astral Flash look pretty ordinary when winning on tight reins, with her jockey Richard Hughes not moving a muscle. He merely showed the filly the route that she should take. Is Jacqueline infinitely superior to Set Alight? The answer would be an overwhelming yes if one were to put this question in a poll but if one were to argue logically, one may arrive at a different conclusion. Set Alight won the Kingfisher Derby by a distance and in record time, making the opposition legless in the final furlong. She then won the Indian 1000 Guineas and the Ramanarian Ruia Trophy without coming under pressure. And she went into the Indian Derby with no worthwhile oppo...