Smart Chieftan wins Invitation Cup in style

By H. S. Manjunath

BANGALORE, APRIL 2. Smart Chieftan reaffirmed his status as the undisputed champion by stomping the Wills Indian Turf Invitation Cup field with his now familiar late swoop here today. Richard Hughes shut himself off the pace well into the straight. But once he moved there was no stopping Smart Chieftan who cruised home smooth as silk. The Jim Foley trained Smart Chieftan sported the colours of Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy.

Going out as the shortest priced runner in the Invitation Cup in recent memory, Smart Chieftan preferred to remain unseen at the back of the field as his stable companion Priceless Ally cut the pace. There were absolutely no moves from the back till Richard Hughes decided to work his way up at about 800m. When the early leader was shaken off by Alameda into the turn, Smart Chieftan in no time shifted gears.

A touch of drama was added when Pesi Shroff, aboard Bonzer, who came up with a steady stretch run to peg back Congratulations (P. Eddery) after being tightened a bit at a crucial stage of the race, raised an objection against Richard Hughes for coming in sharply at the 400m. Shroff's contention was that Smart Chieftan had cut in sharply while taking over, thus tightening Congratulations who in turn caused his mount to check. The objection expectedly was overruled. The early pace being slow, Smart Chieftan's timing of 2 min 39.77 sec. ranks among the fourth slowest since the inception of the Invitation Cup in 1963. Incidentally it is the slowest since Desert Warrior's Calcutta timing of 2 min 40.9 in 1990.

Dr. Ramaswamy said Smart Chieftan is the best he has ever owned and is targetting the Indian St. Leger for this Placerville- Stunning gelding before moving him over along with Polar Falcon for a tilt in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Wills Super Mile Cup produced the most exciting finish of the week-end. Acrobat and Aslam Kader were shuffled back to the rear from a prominent position. But the pair clawed back to wear down Priceless Asset on whom Richard Hughes had stolen a march after tackling the front running Bountiful Treasure. The duel worked up tremendous excitement in the stands as the battle of bobbing heads was won in the end by the Darius Byramji-trained Acrobat.

Aslam's driving finish helped Affliction stave off a determined bid by Aerobee (Prithviraj) in the four-horse Japan Trophy.

The Turf Authorities of India presented a memento to Dr. Ramaswamy to mark his 300th classic win. Later in the day a compendium on the life and times of Dr. Ramaswamy was officially released.

Jockey Aslam Kader and trainer Darius Byramji returned with a double each.

Though the Winter Season officially ended on March 25, the championship mementos were given away today by the chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club, Mr. Marilingaiah.

Leading individual owner: Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy (Stakes won Rs. 52 lakhs).

Leading joint owner: Mr. D. Khaitan, representing Soom Stud Farm Pvt. Ltd., and Maj. P.K. Mehra (Stakes won Rs. 25 lakhs).

Champion trainer: Jim Foley (29 winners).

Champion jockey: Appu (28 winners).

Indian jockey claiming allowance: P. Ramesh (7 winners).

Leading stud farm: Usha Stud (18 winners).

Leading bookmakers: M/s. Om Enterprises (field money Rs. 63 lakhs); II Enclosure: M/s. Prakash & Co. (field money Rs. 8 lakhs).

Leading tipster: Deccan Herald (91 winners); Card Publishers: Lucky Spinner (84 winners).

Champion horse: Alchemy (Stakes won Rs. 23 lakhs).

Horse of the season: Golden Goal (one second and four wins in a row).

Jockeys fined:

Mrs Silva Storai, rider of Silvano in the Chennai Trophy (Div. II) was fined Rs. 1,000 by the Stipendiary Stewards for suddenly changing course towards the inside approaching the 200.

M. Suresh, rider of Dunhill Star in the Hyderabad Trophy (Div. II) was fined Rs. 1,000 by the Stipes for not sufficiently persevering with his mount during the race.

Richard Hughes, rider of Smart Chieftan in the Wills Indian Turf Invitation Cup was fined Rs. 2,000 by the stipes for suddenly changing course towards the inside approaching the 400m thereby tightening Congratulations (P. Eddery) and Bonzer (Shroff).

The results:

1. CHENNAI TROPHY, Div. II, (1,100m) - Maiden 3-y-o only (Terms): The Music Man (Distinctly North-Isola) 55 C. Rajendra 1, Soviet Dance 55 Shroff 2, Tudor King 55 (Cd 56) Hughes 3 and Silvano 55 Ms. Silva Storai 4. All ran. Nk, nk and 7. 1m 9.33s. Rs. 19 (w), 12, 14 and 17 (p). F.P: Rs. 38. Q: Rs.17. SHP: Rs. 33. Trinella: Rs. 59 and Rs. 37. Favourite: The Music Man.

Owner: Mr. Shashi Gopal. Trainer: Darius Byramji.

2. HYDERABAD TROPHY, Div. II, (1,600m) - rated 10 to 25, 5 & 6-y- o: Belezian (Ilheus- Firefly) 54.5 Gallagher 1, Pen Lop (Cd 54) J. Shukla 2, Young Lust 53.5 (Cd 54) P. Krishna 3 and Young Gentleman 57.5 Shafiq 4. All ran. 3, 3/4 and 2. 1m 43.28s. Rs. 25 (w), 13, 16 and 31 (p). F.P: Rs. 54, Q: Rs. 37, SHP: Rs. 43, Trinella: Rs. 252 and Rs. 157. Favourite: Belezian.

Owner: Mr. V. V. Abdullah. Trainer: S. Dominic.

3. JAPAN TROPHY (1,400m) - 3-y-o only (Terms): Affliction (Excalibur's Lake-Running Wild) 55 Aslam Kader 1, Aerobee 55 Prithviraj 2, Aloritz 55 Eddery 3 and Actress 53.5 C. Alford 4. All ran. 3/4, 3/4 and 7. 1m 28.26s. Rs. 23 (w), 14 and 20 (p). F.P: Rs. 30. Q: Rs. 23, SHP: Rs. 31. Trinella: Rs.40 and Rs.11. Favourite: Affliction.

Owners: Mr. D. Khaitan, rep. Soom Stud Farm Pvt. Ltd., and C.K. Pasari. Trainer: Vijay Singh.

4. CHENNAI TROPHY, Div. I, (1,100m) - Maiden 3-y-o only (Terms): Carnival Craze (International-Cinch) 55 Warren 1, Complimentary 53.5 (Cd 56) Hughes 2, Winelight 55 Appu 3 and Red Quartz 55 Faisal 4. Not run: Karis. 1/2, 1/2 and 3/4. 1m 9.64s. Rs. 292 (w), 43, 16 and 18 (p). F.P: Rs. 884, Q: Rs. 334, SHP: Rs. 46. Trinella: Rs. 3,987 and Rs. 1,281. Favourite: Eyes Of Truth.

Owners: Mr. V. Ramnani and Mr. Harish Puri. Trainer: Harish Puri.

5. MUMBAI TROPHY (1,600m) - rated 20 to 35: Tresorie (Cruachan- Diamante) 53 Eddery 1, Native Tactics 54.5 Aslam Kader 2, Ronson 60 Bajrang 3 and Cyclades 53 Ms. Silva Storai 4. All ran. 1-1/4, 2-1/2 and 1-1/4. 1m 40.68s. Rs. 68 (w), 20, 13 and 63 (p), Trinella: Rs. 675 and Rs.498. Favourite: Native Tactics.

Owners: Mr. S. Padmanabhan and Mrs.Sharmila Padmanabhan. Trainer: Padmanabhan.

6. WILLS INDIAN TURF INVITATION CUP (2,400m) -4-y-o only (Terms):

SMART CHIEFTAN (Placerville-Stunning) 57 Hughes 1.

BONZER (Green Forest-Bonhomie) 57 Shroff 2.

CONGRATULATIONS (Razeen-Wayward Lady) 55.5 Eddery 3.

ALAMEDA (Steinbeck-Parfait Amour) 57 Srinath 4.

All ran. 4, 1/2 and 1-3/4. 2m 39.77s. Rs.14 (w), 11, 15 and 14 (p). F.P: Rs.25. Q: Rs.22. SHP: Rs.33. Trinella: Rs.42 and Rs.17. Favourite: Smart Chieftan.

Owner: Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy. Trainer: J. H. Foley.

7. CALCUTTA TROPHY (1,200m) - Rated 30 to 45: Haynes Park (Williamstown-Mizcarolyn) 50 I. Chisty 1, Alisa 48 Rajesh 2, King's Star 57 Rakesh 3 and Pretty Boy Floyd 54 Srinath 4. All ran. 4-3/4, 1/2 and 3. 1m 14.62s. Rs.49 (w), 21, 195 and 39 (p). F.P: Rs.674. Q: Rs.772, SHP: Rs.581. Trinella: Rs.10,546 and Rs.3,129. Favourite: Pretty Boy Floyd.

Owner: Mr. Yadvendra Singh. Trainer: Byramji.

8. WILLS SUPER MILE CUP (1,600m) - 4-y-o and over (Terms):

ACROBAT (Chief's Crown-Fly For Baby) 56 Aslam Kader 1.

PRICELESS ASSET (Placerville-Baroque Pearl) 57.5 Hughes 2.

BOUNTIFUL TREASURE (Riyahi-Private Collection) 59 C. Alford 3.

REGAL EQUITY (Razeen-Florescence) 59 Shroff 4.

All ran. Nk, 1-1/2 and 2-1/4. 1m 38.88s. Rs.28 (w), 17 and 16 (p). F.P: Rs.48, Q: Rs.18, SHP: Rs.39, Trinella: Rs.630 and Rs.524. Favourite: Acrobat.

Owners: M/s. D. Khaitan, rep. Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd., and Maj. P. K. Mehra. Trainer. Darius Byramji.

9. HYDERABAD TROPHY, Div. I (1,600m) - rated 10 to 25, 5 & 6-y-o: Cornish Fair (Forest Fair-Cornish Dame) 57 S. Marshall 1, Self Esteem 58.5 R. Marshall 2, Galleon De Espania 60.5 Appu 3 and Nearco Prince 60 Rakesh 4. Not run: The Bird. 3, 1 and 1-1/2. 1m 43.32s. Rs.185 (w), 42, 25 and 14 (p). F.P: Rs.1,019. Q: Rs.477. SHP: Rs.77. Trinella: Rs.1,372 and Rs.506. Favourite: Galleon De Espania.

Owners: M/s. K. M. Ravi Cariapa and M. N. Prasad and M. Tara Prasad. Trainer: Komandur.

Jackpot: Rs. 16,713 (122 tkts.).

Jackpot runner-up: Rs. 374 (2,336 tkts.).

Mini jackpot: Rs. 19,571 (seven tkts.).

Treble: (I): Rs. 1,842 (30 tkts.); (II): Rs. 2,261 (62 tkts.).

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