Most competitive race of the weekend
The Gr 1 Major P K Mehra Memorial Super Mile is the most competitive race of the Invitation Cup weekend. As many as half a dozen contenders come into the reckoning though in the end it may boil down to Dancing Dynamite, Celestial Way and Diego Rivera. Icebreaker who has been awarded the Horse of the Year title by the Turf Authorities of India, will race in the C N Wadia Gold Trophy the following week. Two of the runners, Sprint Star who has proved his worth over a mile and Sea Star will both run in the Sprinters Cup on Saturday and also figure in this race.
Padmanabhan trained Dancing Dynamite won the Super Mile at Hyderabad in October and gets a unique chance of winning this race twice. Dancing Dynamite won a lead up race over a mile at Mahalaxmi in impressive fashion. Unfortunately, he had a mild injury on his tendon during that effort and missed action for a while. However, he showed that everything was right with him in a mock race last week. Dancing Dynamite appears in fine shape and is a frontline contender for this coveted event. Dancing Dynamite’s full brother Beautiful Stranger last week won the Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million.
Another of Padmanabhan’s ward Celestial Way has shown great promise. She won the Golconda 1000 Guineas in near record timing but then ran below par in the Indian 1000 Guineas where jockey Chris Hayes was off colour. Subsequently she ran a brilliant second over seven furlongs despite the terms of the race being against her against seasoned opponents and went down fighting to Red Romeo. She earned a rating of 120 for that effort. Celestial Way has been in great heart and this small made daughter of Orpen has the class to land the spoils if the enthusiasm of her trainer Padmanabhan is anything to go by.
Pesi Shroff is quite optimistic about the chances of Diego Rivera. The erstwhile winner of the Super Mile two years ago, Diego Rivera ran below par at Hyderabad as he had extra growth on his throat for which he was operated. He did not have many pace works when he ran a noteworthy second to Dancing Dynamite. His trainer Pesi Shroff thinks that Diego River will be a different proposition this time out and he has an outstanding chance to win the Super Mile yet again.
M P Mahaesh trained Splendid Surprise who has been an outstanding performer, has been shaping up well. Splendid Surprise won the Mysore Derby three years ago and lost by a whisker to Diego Rivera at Hyderabad in the Super Mile being a victim of a traffic snarl. Splendid Surprise was given a longish break after he won a rich terms race over a mile at Bangalore during the summer season. Splendid Surprise ran a game second in his only outing during the winter season and has since been working brilliantly. He is showing glimpses of old form and his trainer is confident that his talented son of Steinbeck has the ability to put it across his mighty rivals.
Arjun Mangalorkar’s Aboline who won the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby beating Jacqueline, did not fare well over extended trips. He won a race over a mile at Kolkata but he was far from his best. However, the long rest has helped and he is being campaigned over a trip that suits him fine. He has had the benefit of a mock race where he was ridden off the pace. Aboline can trouble the best if he is at his best. But then his jockey C Alford is known to be erratic and Aboline’s success is dependent not only on Aboline’s own ability but also that of his jockey as well.
Sprint Star won the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes at Bangalore and won the Guineas at Mysore and Bangalore . He then went to Delhi and won the North India Derby over a mile. He is at his best over a mile and his trainer Satish Narredu believes that he invincible.
Sea Ruler ran behind Jacqueline and though his chances are limited, there is no denying his talent. Juventus is running after a longish break due to setback in training and this may adversely affect his chances.
Padmanabhan trained Dancing Dynamite won the Super Mile at Hyderabad in October and gets a unique chance of winning this race twice. Dancing Dynamite won a lead up race over a mile at Mahalaxmi in impressive fashion. Unfortunately, he had a mild injury on his tendon during that effort and missed action for a while. However, he showed that everything was right with him in a mock race last week. Dancing Dynamite appears in fine shape and is a frontline contender for this coveted event. Dancing Dynamite’s full brother Beautiful Stranger last week won the Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million.
Another of Padmanabhan’s ward Celestial Way has shown great promise. She won the Golconda 1000 Guineas in near record timing but then ran below par in the Indian 1000 Guineas where jockey Chris Hayes was off colour. Subsequently she ran a brilliant second over seven furlongs despite the terms of the race being against her against seasoned opponents and went down fighting to Red Romeo. She earned a rating of 120 for that effort. Celestial Way has been in great heart and this small made daughter of Orpen has the class to land the spoils if the enthusiasm of her trainer Padmanabhan is anything to go by.
Pesi Shroff is quite optimistic about the chances of Diego Rivera. The erstwhile winner of the Super Mile two years ago, Diego Rivera ran below par at Hyderabad as he had extra growth on his throat for which he was operated. He did not have many pace works when he ran a noteworthy second to Dancing Dynamite. His trainer Pesi Shroff thinks that Diego River will be a different proposition this time out and he has an outstanding chance to win the Super Mile yet again.
M P Mahaesh trained Splendid Surprise who has been an outstanding performer, has been shaping up well. Splendid Surprise won the Mysore Derby three years ago and lost by a whisker to Diego Rivera at Hyderabad in the Super Mile being a victim of a traffic snarl. Splendid Surprise was given a longish break after he won a rich terms race over a mile at Bangalore during the summer season. Splendid Surprise ran a game second in his only outing during the winter season and has since been working brilliantly. He is showing glimpses of old form and his trainer is confident that his talented son of Steinbeck has the ability to put it across his mighty rivals.
Arjun Mangalorkar’s Aboline who won the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby beating Jacqueline, did not fare well over extended trips. He won a race over a mile at Kolkata but he was far from his best. However, the long rest has helped and he is being campaigned over a trip that suits him fine. He has had the benefit of a mock race where he was ridden off the pace. Aboline can trouble the best if he is at his best. But then his jockey C Alford is known to be erratic and Aboline’s success is dependent not only on Aboline’s own ability but also that of his jockey as well.
Sprint Star won the Gr 1 Colts Trial Stakes at Bangalore and won the Guineas at Mysore and Bangalore . He then went to Delhi and won the North India Derby over a mile. He is at his best over a mile and his trainer Satish Narredu believes that he invincible.
Sea Ruler ran behind Jacqueline and though his chances are limited, there is no denying his talent. Juventus is running after a longish break due to setback in training and this may adversely affect his chances.
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