Siachen freezes the opposition in Guineas
Faced with the daunting prospect of facing Siachen, the opposition surrendered meekly in the HDIL Bangalore 1000 Guineas, the first classic of the Bangalore Winter Season on Saturday. The Jaggy Dhariwal trainee, Siachen had the opposition stranded to win her second classic in smashing fashion. The Kunigal Stud Farm produce Siachen had won the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes in summer before a setback kept her out of Derby action.
Siachen was running after a longish absence from the track but the fact that was well with her was advertised by her brilliant mock race as also the outstanding work out of the season as a lead up to this race. As such, she was the strongly fancied favourite in the Guineas. Barring String Along who had won the Mysore Guineas, the other runners did not have many credentials. There was great deal of expectation on One Life To Love after her smashing win but the question that remained to be answered was whether she had the requisite class to make a mark in a classic.
Jockey Chris Hayes settled Siachen in about the sixth position as Kirtling took over the job of a pace setter after a hesitant start. Yas Marina, Balmoral Castle and String Along raced in close proximity while One Life To Love and Spark of Desire were in the rear group. Yas Marina and Balmoral Castle vied for supremacy at the top of the straight though both were struggling to hold their position in front. String Along slipped along the rails to come into reckoning but the complexion of the race changed in a trice as Siachen smoothly cruised past the struggling lot of horses and stretched away for a facile win. String Along held off the late rally made by Spark of Desire for the second spot.
Siachen has thus proved that she is one of the best fillies in the country. She had accounted for Moonlight Romance who went on to win the Kingfisher Derby and the latter enjoys the tag of being the highest rated three year old in the country. Siachen would have surely made her presence felt if she had been campaigned at the Indian 1000 Guineas but her stablemate Aprillia is likely to be the stable’s choice for the plum event. Siachen is expected to stay back for the Bangalore Oaks before proceeding for the Indian Derby. This seems to the ambitious plan chalked out for Siachen by the connections.
Dhariwal’s another ward Oban floored the opposition in the 1800 metres Ashoka Chakra Cup, a nine furlongs race for horses rated 80 and above, after loitering in the rear till turning for home. The daughter of Greensmith produced a splendid burst of speed in the final furlong to get the measure of Spearhead. Cielo Rey led all the way and kicked clear in the straight but just as he was being hailed as a winner, he began to distress signals. Spearhead came up with a flourish to go ahead but the finishing burst of Oban put paid to the hopes of Spearhead. Favourite Criminal Lawyer was never in contention which was not exactly a surprise.
Irfan Ghatala’s Sun Control completed a hat-trick of wins at longer odds when easily winning the Udupi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Strategic Change who had changed stables was widely expected to resume his winning ways but the progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek who was cramped for room along the rails right through the race did not raise a fluent gallop and was a tame fourth. He appears to be one paced and over hyped. Sun Control who had made swift progress from the rear approaching the final bend, quickened nicely to go sailing clear of the front running Supremacy to record a comfortable win. Love Conquers All ran on from behind to finish second ahead of longtime leader Supremacy.
Crown Empress finally obliged after a few disappointing efforts in the lower division of the Udupi Plate. Jockey Hayes had Crown Empress dictating the pace from the word `go’ and though the filly drifted in and out slightly causing inconvenience to Mark of Genius who was making a strong run along the rails, she managed to prevail by a neck at the finish, with Sun Dawn being a late rallying third. Jockey P S Chouhan raised an objection against Hayes for tightening him and taking his ground. Though there was interference, it was not serious enough for the race to be taken away from the winner.
Accurate had served notice of an early success when he had finished an unextended third on the opening day of the season. Now backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the 1400 metres Saddle Up Plate (Div I), the progeny of Hurricane State readily obliged with a start to finish effort. Emerald made a valiant bid but the favourite was not in a mood to relent. The lower division of the race was won by Delacroix who was making his debut. Though sporting bandages, Delacroix proved speedy enough to keep the challenge of Hard To Pin Down who warmed up to the task when the race was in the safe keeping of the front runner. Karisini, who was well backed, ran green but should be better off for this educative third.
Trainer Babu Rao brought off a good touch on Your My Life in the 1100 metres Linganamakki Plate. The progeny of Kingfisher Derby winner, Fantabulous King was backed down spiritedly. Apprentice jockey Praveen had the lesser fancied runner dictate the pace from the start and broke into a big lead which held her in good stead as The First Bullet made a half-hearted late surge. Legend Reborn was a poor third.
The unfancied Cortina from the stables of Jaggy Dhariwal upset the applecart of owner mate and favourite Celebrity in the final moments of the race to win the 1100 metres Sirsi Plate, a race for maiden two year olds. Hayes pushed Celebrity to take over the running but the progeny of Burden of Proof slackened inside the final 100 metres. Cortina who was hampered in the early part of the race by the favourite, gathered steam with a furlong out and got the measure of the front runner in the closing strides of the race.
Siachen was running after a longish absence from the track but the fact that was well with her was advertised by her brilliant mock race as also the outstanding work out of the season as a lead up to this race. As such, she was the strongly fancied favourite in the Guineas. Barring String Along who had won the Mysore Guineas, the other runners did not have many credentials. There was great deal of expectation on One Life To Love after her smashing win but the question that remained to be answered was whether she had the requisite class to make a mark in a classic.
Jockey Chris Hayes settled Siachen in about the sixth position as Kirtling took over the job of a pace setter after a hesitant start. Yas Marina, Balmoral Castle and String Along raced in close proximity while One Life To Love and Spark of Desire were in the rear group. Yas Marina and Balmoral Castle vied for supremacy at the top of the straight though both were struggling to hold their position in front. String Along slipped along the rails to come into reckoning but the complexion of the race changed in a trice as Siachen smoothly cruised past the struggling lot of horses and stretched away for a facile win. String Along held off the late rally made by Spark of Desire for the second spot.
Siachen has thus proved that she is one of the best fillies in the country. She had accounted for Moonlight Romance who went on to win the Kingfisher Derby and the latter enjoys the tag of being the highest rated three year old in the country. Siachen would have surely made her presence felt if she had been campaigned at the Indian 1000 Guineas but her stablemate Aprillia is likely to be the stable’s choice for the plum event. Siachen is expected to stay back for the Bangalore Oaks before proceeding for the Indian Derby. This seems to the ambitious plan chalked out for Siachen by the connections.
Dhariwal’s another ward Oban floored the opposition in the 1800 metres Ashoka Chakra Cup, a nine furlongs race for horses rated 80 and above, after loitering in the rear till turning for home. The daughter of Greensmith produced a splendid burst of speed in the final furlong to get the measure of Spearhead. Cielo Rey led all the way and kicked clear in the straight but just as he was being hailed as a winner, he began to distress signals. Spearhead came up with a flourish to go ahead but the finishing burst of Oban put paid to the hopes of Spearhead. Favourite Criminal Lawyer was never in contention which was not exactly a surprise.
Irfan Ghatala’s Sun Control completed a hat-trick of wins at longer odds when easily winning the Udupi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Strategic Change who had changed stables was widely expected to resume his winning ways but the progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek who was cramped for room along the rails right through the race did not raise a fluent gallop and was a tame fourth. He appears to be one paced and over hyped. Sun Control who had made swift progress from the rear approaching the final bend, quickened nicely to go sailing clear of the front running Supremacy to record a comfortable win. Love Conquers All ran on from behind to finish second ahead of longtime leader Supremacy.
Crown Empress finally obliged after a few disappointing efforts in the lower division of the Udupi Plate. Jockey Hayes had Crown Empress dictating the pace from the word `go’ and though the filly drifted in and out slightly causing inconvenience to Mark of Genius who was making a strong run along the rails, she managed to prevail by a neck at the finish, with Sun Dawn being a late rallying third. Jockey P S Chouhan raised an objection against Hayes for tightening him and taking his ground. Though there was interference, it was not serious enough for the race to be taken away from the winner.
Accurate had served notice of an early success when he had finished an unextended third on the opening day of the season. Now backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the 1400 metres Saddle Up Plate (Div I), the progeny of Hurricane State readily obliged with a start to finish effort. Emerald made a valiant bid but the favourite was not in a mood to relent. The lower division of the race was won by Delacroix who was making his debut. Though sporting bandages, Delacroix proved speedy enough to keep the challenge of Hard To Pin Down who warmed up to the task when the race was in the safe keeping of the front runner. Karisini, who was well backed, ran green but should be better off for this educative third.
Trainer Babu Rao brought off a good touch on Your My Life in the 1100 metres Linganamakki Plate. The progeny of Kingfisher Derby winner, Fantabulous King was backed down spiritedly. Apprentice jockey Praveen had the lesser fancied runner dictate the pace from the start and broke into a big lead which held her in good stead as The First Bullet made a half-hearted late surge. Legend Reborn was a poor third.
The unfancied Cortina from the stables of Jaggy Dhariwal upset the applecart of owner mate and favourite Celebrity in the final moments of the race to win the 1100 metres Sirsi Plate, a race for maiden two year olds. Hayes pushed Celebrity to take over the running but the progeny of Burden of Proof slackened inside the final 100 metres. Cortina who was hampered in the early part of the race by the favourite, gathered steam with a furlong out and got the measure of the front runner in the closing strides of the race.
Comments
Post a Comment