Long Shots Wreak Mayhem on Punters


By Sharan Kumar

Punters expect favourites to win. Fair enough. It doesn’t happen all the time, nor should it. Racing is not a public service. But when proven form horses suddenly play truant, that’s when the punter begins to feel less unlucky and more cheated.

 

If favourites were winning simply because they attracted money, the betting ring would double up as a mint. Sadly for gullible punters, horse racing does not recognise crowd funding as a performance-enhancing substance. The comforting belief that a heavily backed runner must automatically be the “best horse” keeps sending many straight to the wrong end of the stick, where optimism is abundant and returns are strictly optional.

 

In an era bloated with lower-class races, where form is about as reliable as a weather forecast, upsets are no longer exceptions. They are standard issue. Yet every race day, the same ritual unfolds. Money pours in on reputations, yesterday’s headlines and familiar silks, while horses with a quiet but meaningful forward run are treated like uninvited guests and politely ignored. When the inevitable ambush occurs, disbelief follows, as though chaos has violated some unwritten rule of order.

 

Nobody expects favourites to win all the time. Racing is competition. The best horse on the day is meant to win. What rankles is not defeat, but decay. Horses expected to dominate are suddenly running like they’ve misplaced the accelerator, while long shots sprout wings and discover a turn of foot nobody ordered. Patterns emerge, but scrutiny does not. Multiple runners from the same stable, one attracts money, another does the job, and the rest serve as decorative accompaniments. Whether the Stipes study the card beforehand or merely perform a polite post-mortem afterwards remains a mystery. Race day reports rarely help. They recycle adjectives, avoid explanations and never quite tell you why a horse with credentials ran like it had left them in the stable.

 

Sunday’s Mumbai card served as a live demonstration.

 

Sanjay Kolse-trained Earth produced a seismic upset in the 1400 metres Beautiful Stranger Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 and the supporting act to the Indian 2000 Guineas. Earth hadn’t won for 316 days, last scoring in Kolkata, and went to post at odds that suggested she was there to enjoy the breeze. Red Bishop, winner of the Gr 3 Deccan Colts Championship Stakes and placed in both the Deccan and Mysore Derbies, was the obvious favourite despite cutting back in trip and taking on open company. Money briefly flirted with Ultimo, causing Red Bishop’s price to drift, but logic still sat with the favourite.

 

In the race, logic misplaced its footing. Red Bishop lacked early speed and arrived late, finishing second with all the frustration of a train that missed its platform. Earth, who led early, drifted alarmingly in the final furlong but still managed to thrust her head in front where it mattered. Opus Dei finished strongly for a close third, while Scaramouche, stretched beyond comfort, ran a tame fourth. Apprentice Ramswarup, often the nearly-man, finally found the winning side of a whisker.

 

Pesi Shroff, widely tipped to sweep both Guineas, endured disappointment as Zacharias delivered a listless performance after Fynbos disappointed last week. Consolation came via Tiepolo in the 2000 metres Gracias Saldanha Memorial Million, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, where Shroff fielded four runners. King Ke, a hat-ricker, carried top weight, had Oisin Murphy aboard and duly went off favourite ahead of Tiepolo. Bugatti missed the start, King Ke led into the final furlong, and then discovered that leading does not guarantee finishing first. Tiepolo breathed down his neck, went past, and settled matters with authority. Endurance plugged on for third.

 

The opening race, predictably low in class and high in comedy, set the tone. Both favourites were beaten in the 1400 metres Castlebridge Trophy, and a horse that lost significant ground at the start still managed to win. Ashwa Ankar drew solid support, Marlboro Man followed, while Madison was largely dismissed. Madison was slowly away and tailed off last, then produced a withering run in the straight to overhaul Ashwa Ankar comfortably. Marlboro Man hung on for third, apparently satisfied with participation. When trainers believe they have no chance, runs are sometimes given in ways best described as interpretative.

 

The only favourite to salute across ten races was Malesh Narredu-trained All For Love in the 1400 metres Synthesis Trophy (Div I), for horses rated 20 to 46. Armed with a valuable forward run, All For Love led throughout and held Lucio safely. Bravo Zulu closed from the clouds to grab third ahead of Ensky. The lower division produced further punishment for the faithful. Short-priced Bezalel never looked like winning and finished a meek third, while apprentice Aditya Waydande delivered American Eagle with a perfectly-timed rail run to win at generous odds from Savage Attack. The rest made up numbers, with admirable commitment.

 

The 1200 metres P D Avasia Trophy (Div I) saw another outsider prevail as Prithviraj-trained Mriga nosed out Heaven’s Rhythm. A former failed favourite and unimpressive at Pune, Mriga slipped through inside under A S Peter and rediscovered forgotten enthusiasm. El Moran was a close third. Akitania, well backed on previous form, folded when pressure was applied. In the lower division, Enforcer was strongly fancied to repeat, but Eastern Monarch had other ideas. Yash Narredu moved Enforcer early from a wide draw, but when Eastern Monarch came charging, a check was taken, the race was lost, and the objection was dismissed as lacking substance. Ministry of Time arrived late for third.

 

The 1600 metres Gulamhusein Essaji Trophy brought further disillusionment as Brasilier failed to justify expectations, finishing a tame sixth. Longshot Cornerstone briefly teased, but Looking Like A Wow, guided smartly by apprentice Ramswarup, got home to complete a double for the rider. Absolute Gorgeous edged out Vincero for the place.

 

The card concluded with the 1200 metres Faiz Jasdanwalla Trophy for maiden two-year-olds. P S Chouhan-trained Admirable took charge early in the straight and won with ease from Invictor, who at least had a race run to his name. Rambo held third ahead of Lorenzo, while well-backed Radian Reign never threatened, reminding punters that support in the ring is not transferable to effort on the track.

 

 


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