INDIAN TURF INVITATION CUP 2008
A Star is Born

The Invitation Cup weekend in Hyderabad produced some top notch performances with a host of talented horses vying with each other for the coveted tag of ‘champion’ in the four designated championship races.

One horse in particular, the Mumbai based Oasis Star (Senure-Gumbaru Etsu), lit up the weekend with her scintillating performances and proved beyond any doubt that she is a true equine superstar.

Oasis Star came into the Sprinters’ Cup as the on- money favourite based on her triumph in the Dr. S. C. Jain Sprinters’ Million where she had to circle the entire field before making her winning run. Only Woman On Top attracted some interest in the betting ring with the rest available at 8’s and over.

Srinath, who had partnered Oasis Star in Mumbai, rode a confident race on the filly. He had her settled along the rails as Lady One took up the running from Onnu Onnu Onnu. Srinath moved off the rails as they approached the final bend to get Oasis Star into a challenging position. As they entered the home stretch, Lady One skipped away from them and Onnu Onnu Onnu faltered as his suspensory ligament gave way. In the process he hampered Oasis Star who was beginning her challenge on her outside. Srinath had to gather his filly once more and drive her out. Once into the open and with room to run, Oasis Star changed gears in a trice and went in pursuit of Lady One. Two back-handers in the final hundred metres were enough for her to streak past and win with a measure of comfort in a race record time of 1 minute 09.72 seconds. Lady One was a well deserved second with Evatina, who had stayed out of trouble, finishing well for third place.

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ARABIAN KNIGHT LEAVES FIELD TRAILING IN THE STAYERS’ CUP

The Vijay Mallya and Arjun Sajnani owned Arabian Knight (Brave Act-Arabian Rose) produced a tremendous front running display in the hands of Samuel Fargeat to leave his rivals trailing in the gruelling 3000 metres Stayers’ Cup (Gr.1).

Samuel Fargeat has been a regular winter visitor to this country for some years now and he is at his best when allowed to dictate the race from the head of the field as he showed to remarkable effect when astride Simply Supreme in the Invitation Cup of 2004. His ride on Arabian Knight in this year’s Stayers’ Cup was every bit as good.

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ON TO THE MAJ. P. K. MEHRA SUPER MILE WHERE DIEGO RIVERA

This Grade 1 event had had the crowd on their feet as two game horses went stride for stride to the wire in their attempt to win the mile championship.

Diego Rivera (Diffident-Rahy’s Serenade) was the form horse in this race and Malesh Narredu had the Pesi Shroff- trained gelding well positioned throughout. Splendid Surprise came through along the rails with a smooth run but soon thereafter found himself trapped for room as Rhapsidion Snow challenged the front running Khaleels Pride. Malesh waited until he was well into the straight before pressing the button on Diego Rivera who responded with his electrifying turn of foot.

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SUCCESS FOR THE GOLD AND BROWN STABLE

After dominating the previous three Invitation Cup weekends Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy’s colours were conspicuous by their absence in the winners circle in the latest renewal. The Indian Turf Invitation Cup was the last major event to be run over the weekend and the hopes of the gold and brown brigade lay with Bourbon King and Sweeping Success.

The betting favoured Bourbon King and the gelding, who had dominated the classic scene until his defeat in the Indian Derby, had a major point to prove. Sweeping Success had done nothing wrong coming into this race and in fact the Placerville out of Lady Moura filly had shown an iron constitution by winning the Deccan Derby and the Indian 1000 Guineas and finishing second in both the Indian Oaks and the Indian Derby. (She was later to be declared the winner of the Indian Oaks after the winner on the track, Yana, was disqualified for returning a positive sample).

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THE BYRAMJEE JEEJEEBHOY ECLIPSE STAKES OF INDIA (Gr.2)

A furiously run affair, courtesy Desert Dust, that played right into the hands of the well-weighted Spinoza (Pennine Ridge - Shingle Path). Himself a front- runner, he was towed along beautifully by the S. S. Shah horse till the two furlong marker, when his rider asked him to race in earnest. Quickening impressively past the gallant Secret Memory, Spinoza poached a vital two-length lead that stood him in good stead as Gruezi bore down upon him; at the post, a length separated him from the grey mare in a very fast time over the mile and a quarter that evidently suits him well.

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THE POONAWALLA BREEDERS’ MULTI-MILLION (Gr.1)
AUTONOMY SEES RED!

He had a score to settle, a point to prove. And Autonomy (Razeen - All Heart) avenged his absurd eclipse in the Nitco Million with so decisive a turn of foot that what actually happened on the 13th of January is now capable of just the single interpretation. On the day that mattered, his lionic stride did the talking, overhauling Red Romeo in a style that smacked of championship class.

Hell, it would seem, hath no fury like Autonomy scorned. Robbed of the Breeders’ Produce Stakes within the confines of that most hallowed of sanctuaries, the stewards’ room, this richest of all juvenile races came as cloyingly sweet compensation. And, in the twinkling of an eye, he assumed his rightful perch at the pinnacle of a pyramid unusually saturated with three-year-old talent.

A strikingly handsome individual with temperament to match, he looks every inch the finished product. The laid back attitude that enabled him to relax in the first half of the race was a major plus. And not for nothing does Richard Hughes, as canny a stalker as Mahalakshmi has witnessed, share with Jamie Spencer the distinction of “head-waiter” of his generation. Tracking the favourite with practiced ease, Hughes allowed Red Romeo to lead him through a packed field, threading his way through beaten horses with silky stealth, all the while delaying his challenge in a manner that couldn’t have done owner and trainer’s blood circulation much good.

The final furlong brought wild Africa to Mumbai in glorious technicolour, the glowering carnivore in deadly pursuit of the nimblest gazelle, the stakes astronomical. The artistry of Hughes pitted against the aggression of Michael Kinane will pass into Indian racing legend, the last word on elegance mingled with intent. Bravo both.

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THE C. N. WADIA GOLD CUP (Gr.3)

The handicapper-turned group performer Personified (Razeen - Magical Moments) maintained his upward march by outbattling Gruezi to clinch a solidly-run race, short- heading the grey mare to add to the already remarkable tally of pulsating finishes this season.

The Razeen resurgence swelled with a vengeance with Personified completing a four-timer to land this well-contested event. Having reeled off his hat-trick in handicap company, this was, by far, his stiffest test to date. Personified came through with flying colours. Patiently ridden in rear, he quickened to telling effect at the two furlong marker, seeming to have the race won. And, with Gruezi looming menacingly upside, he managed to pull out that vital bit extra to keep his nose in front at the post. The pair pulled a long looking three and a half lengths clear of Mountain Bear, form that reads well with the Indian Derby as a yardstick.

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THE FORBES BREEDERS’ JUVENILE FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr.3)
MAHALAKSHMI SET ALIGHT!

Seldom, if ever, has a juvenile filly towered so imposingly over her generation as has this magnificent thoroughbred, whose performance here equals, if not surpasses that of Lei in the same race a few seasons ago. Tailor-made for the Bangalore Summer Derby, it will take an exceptional three-year-old to lower her colours there.

She had, on her running with Autonomy in the Breeders’ Produce, only to turn up to collect. But, the manner in which she treated her rivals, including the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million third, had to be seen to be believed. Travelling easily in third, she looked like she could have done with an even faster pace than the one set by Aurora Aurealis; immaterial. Cruising into the lead two furlongs out, she lengthened majestically on being shown the whip to leave her field stranded in a different county. Her wide-margin (seven and a half lengths) victory, the staggering time (2.8 seconds faster than Juventus recorded an hour later) are clear proof of Set Alight’s (Razeen - Set Aside) quite outstanding ability; the next season’s fillies classics look in her safekeeping.

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THE SHAPOORJI PALLONJI JUVENILE COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr.3)
JUVENTUS ENTERS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!

A tight result to a major race, with less than three lengths between the first and last, but Juventus did dam Flying Home and elder sibling Hotstepper proud by breaking his duck in a championship event, with more to follow.

More questions asked than answered here, though that shouldn’t take away any credit from Juventus running out a length and a quarter winner. With the wholly admirable M. Narredu taking over from T. S. Jodha, Juventus (Glory of Dancer - Flying Home) was asked to race in earnest two furlongs out, made relentless progress under strong driving, quickened to lead a furlong out and ran on in determined fashion to the line. He’ll get further, and looks set for a tilt at the Pune Derby.

The Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million second Red Romeo had to concede 5 kgs. to his field, and that made the difference between victory and defeat. He came with a powerful lunge in the final furlong, and emerged the best horse in the race. The mile proved no problem, and his relaxed manner of racing may seen him through the Pune Derby trip.

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THE TIROL MILLION

A modest bunch of maidens barring the favourite Divine (Placeville - Tide of Fortune) who, on his debut fourth behind Kiara in the Rattonsey Million, looked head and shoulders above his fourteen rivals. Win he did, but only just, all out to hold the fast-finishing debutant Black Sapphire by the proverbial whisker. He shaped as though ready for a crack at seven furlongs in Pune.

The second ran a race bubbling with promise, and would probably have won had inexperience not got the better of him. Outpaced early, he entered the straight in rear, then made eye-catching progress up the straight, only just failing to head the more experienced winner.

Algorithms came with what seemed a winning run at the two-furlong marker until passed by the two principals; he shouldn’t have any difficulty in winning his maiden. The rest require scant attention.

THE HDIL INDIAN ST. LEGER (Gr.1)
SOMETHING NOBLE ABOUT SUCCESS!

As classic finishes go, this was pure Oscar material in virtually every category, from best suspense thriller to the most heartrending soap to the spiciest rags-to-riches fairytale. He was 0-2 down with Sweeping Success, but Noble Prince pulled one back by nailing the great Ramaswamy filly on the post to take his first, thoroughly deserved classic.

Had it been a boxing bout, it would have been contested in the Heavyweight Category. And they would have gone the distance, battered to a pulp, yet emerging with heads held high. Noble Prince’s (Placeville-Amazing Princess) fighting qualities, terrier-like in their refusal to cry enough, were amply showcased in an agonizing two-furlong battle that topped that of the Indian Derby, something that would have seemed unthinkable beforehand. Under strong pressure at the bend, he looked booked for a place at best, but his ability to produce the goods when flat out won the day. Physically frail he may be, but inside beats the heart of the most hardened of streetfighters.

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THE GOOL S. POONAWALLA MILLION (Gr.3)

A race marred by the well below par runnings of Bee Quick and Aurora Aurealis. Kiara (China Visit - Blue Ridge), however, took the race by the scruff of its neck at the furlong pole to win in sparkling style.

Her sixth race, and probably her best. Never out of the first two in five outings to date, we knew she was as game and genuine a three-year-old as we’d seen all season. Here, she displayed her versatility by abandoning the front-running tactics that have served her so well by coming from last to first to sweep past Successor and win going away by two and a half lengths. Dynasty, who ran in the same colours, triumphed under top-weight in a Class I handicap, but Kiara promises to be even better.

Another commendable performance from Successor to finish second. Tempting though it would be to say that, had the race been run over five furlongs, he would have fared even better, such isn’t the case. He did, however, seem to find the seventh furlong beyond him in the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million, and his rematches with the winner over sprint distances will prove informative.

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