Comic Plot Twists on Indian Derby Day
By Sharan Kumar
Punters once again sat down with what they thought was
a race card and discovered it was actually one of Pesi’s patented cryptic
crosswords, printed without clues and solved only after the race is over. The
Gr 2 Thackers Eclipse Stakes turned into another brain teaser where confidence
went in bold and results came in invisible ink. Psychic Star was the people’s
banker, but King Ke, attending his first graded party, walked away with the
silverware. Thalassa sneaked up the rails late to grab second from the multi-classic
hero Psychic Star. Several with respectable resumes, including Regina
Memorabilis and Guineas placegetter Namiri, chose Derby day to conduct a
disappearing act. When top yards throw curveballs instead of winners, punters
start reading philosophy.
Karthik Ganapathy’s Buckingham at least behaved like a
well-briefed favourite in the Rattonsey Million. He justified the buzz and held
off D’Artagnan after a proper stretch duel. Nebula, once fashionable, drifted
in the market like a forgotten New Year resolution and ran accordingly. After
Starlight Serenade showed the way, Buckingham was produced with intent, briefly
headed, then clawed back as David Allan found the right buttons while others
were still looking for the remote. Winner and runner up look useful types.
Nebula looks more six furlongs and has limitations over longer trips.
Darius Byramji trained African Gold in the Gr 3 Rusi
Patel Trophy was expected to keep the winning conveyor belt rolling and did
most things right except escape Pride’s Prince without a fight. Akshay Kumar
went pillar to post, but the challenger with the weight pull made him earn
every stride. Santissimo attracted support despite medical footnotes written in
small print and invisible ink, and finished behind a wayward but recovering
Chagall. Raving Beauty took third without causing a riot.
Pesi Shroff trained Puccini, the short priced star of
the Keki D Mehta Memorial Million, proved that good jockeys cannot manufacture
miracles on demand. Despite Tom Marquand’s presence, the favorite ran like a
rehearsal and finished a polite third. Alexios, overlooked by most, stretched
away by seven lengths under David Allan, while Radiant Reign chased without
ever threatening to rewrite the script.
Lady Scarlet advertised her promise loudly, stepping
forward from her strong previous second to score decisively. Being related to
Time And Tide clearly comes with useful software preinstalled. Pinnacle and
Beast Mode filled the frame without denting her authority.
Social Butterfly turned recent promise into profit,
swooping late to nail the speedy Esperanza. Scaramouch raided the rails to grab
second, proving once again that inside runs are racing’s version of a secret
passage.
The Queen’s Necklace Million saw a quiet gamble land
on Desert Classic, who finally remembered what winning feels like after a long
drought and a drop in class. Mukesh Kumar timed the strike well, collaring
Santana Row late. Favourite Ministry of Time arrived, as usual, just in time to
see the photo and read the result. Trevor was again fashionably late, which is
stylish at dinners but expensive in sprints.
Jockey Trevor Patel managed to turn a winning chance
into a near courtroom exhibit on Don Julio in the Tattersalls Million, a race
for horses rated 20 to 45. In a packed field where position is currency, Trevor
chose to park Don Julio in the rear at the jump and then guarded that slot like
reserved seating. The refusal to improve position proved costly, and when
Looking Like A Wow crossed over, Don Julio was pushed to the penultimate spot,
momentum and opportunity both misplaced.
Ironically, that interference may have doubled as a
shield. Without it, the spotlight on the ride itself would have burned far
brighter, and not kindly.
In sharp contrast, apprentice Adiya Waydande delivered
a composed and clever ride on the well-backed Vincero. Settled in the rear as
well, but with purpose, Adiya hugged the rails, saved every inch of ground, and
produced Vincero at precisely the right moment.
Ashwa Gypsy held command deep into the final furlong
and looked home, but Vincero arrived on cue with a perfectly timed run to edge
past close home.
Don Julio, meanwhile, finished like a late train with
the brakes off, flying at the finish after being forced very wide in the
straight. He missed by a neck, a margin that reads small on paper and enormous
in judgment. Waydande earned full marks for craft and timing. Trevor’s ride
invited more questions than applause.
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