Dominant Force scores a facile victory

PUNE

THE PUNE season is now in full swing, with almost all the major teams having commenced unleashing their firepower. As such, winner finding has not been too difficult for those who do their homework.

The opening event of the weekend, run on the main track, had a pair of three-year-olds thrown into a Class IV metric mile event. A punter with deep pockets could have backed the pair - Yukon and Crowning Moment - and still come out on top. Those with lesser resources need only have studied the strike rate of juveniles fielded by their respective trainers and deduced that Vinayak's ward was the one to follow. Sure enough, Yukon reeled in Crowning Moment in the last 100 metres, although he had to suffer the stings of Mallesh Narredu's active whip.

Likewise, anyone trying to select between Dallas Todywalla's Dominant Force and Hosidar Daji's Runaway Bay in the 2000 m. Potential Champion Trophy need only have looked at the latter's percentage at the time the race was run (6%) and deduced that the former, at 24%, represented better value. Under B. Prakash, Dominant Force turned out to be an extremely easy winner. The got-abroad is a son of the modest Rock Hopper, banished to an obscure corner of Ireland, after he proved less than successful from his former base in Newmarket.

All the money was on Altiama in the Class III handicap. With regular rider Aslam Kader away in Hyderabad, C. Rajendra did duty and made no mistake on the Khaitan standard-bearer. He sent Bezan Chenoy's ward into the lead a long way from home and held on from the luckless Orange King, who remains a maiden at the age of five. Make a note of Legendary Lover, who was clearly in need of the race. He was a fair third and can improve significantly.

Bound By Honour is a nice type of individual. For some reason only his connections can reveal, he was sent into the lead by C. Ruzzan fully 1000 m. out in the 1400 m. maiden, which left him as a sitting target for the favoured Machrihanish. However, the brief moment of joy the latter's numerous followers felt was soon replaced with anguish as Sedona mounted a fierce challenge under Rajendra on the outside to score with a modicum of ease. Imtiaz Sait's chunky ward has a lot of scope and should go far.

Tazo is purely a 1000 m. specialist and has been wisely kept to the minimum trip. Entrusted to retained rider Rajendra, she pinged out of the gate, assumed command, and kept going to annex the Sir Bruce Trophy, thereby completing a second consecutive treble for her rider. The hardworking private trainer of the Manjri Stud Farm, Sarosh Mody, has done a good job of placing his ward. Challenging Tazo in the closing stages was Shirley Valentine, whose bloodlines - she has Roberto and Vaguely Noble as her two grandsires - indicate she needs twice as far!

The bandaged Batroyale was given an excellent ride by Mark Gallagher, who managed to keep her balanced despite being forced wide turning for home. Unfortunately, this good piece of work was not rewarded with success as the unconsidered Silver Rock, a 10 to 1 shot, came flying on the outside to score. Bajrang Singh galvanized Magansingh Jodha's ward into displaying this acceleration. The support for Shooting Mercury was mystifying - only on 3 occasions have the offspring of Rebounding Thrill scored at their seasonal debuts, from some 100 opportunities!

Having just knuckled under to Free Gold last time out, Peace March only had to reproduce that form to score. S. S. Rathore had not yet opened his account for the season but did so here by sending Suresh Chavan's ward to the lead from the start, and holding on with a degree of comfort. The got-abroad Raise A Toast was a hard-pressed runner-up. He obviously needs further - his dam scored at over a mile in the U.S.A., and her first offspring also triumphed over a ``route''.

It's rare for a three-year-old to be able to produce its best over 2400 m. this early in the year, and hence the support for Russian Czar in Sunday's opener was misplaced. At one stage he was over ten lengths clear but weakened rapidly and under the strong driving of Ruzzan, Jonty's Pal obliged at 7 to 1. This Enrico gelding had been running poor races at Mahalakshmi. His trainer, Nirad Karanjawala, told TheHindu that his ward is only now coming to hand, and that he had effected gear changes by way of a rubber bit and a tongue strap, which have helped the four- year-old to display improved form.

Last time out, Helianthus had been unlucky to come up against a couple too good for her. Here she was pitted against undistinguished opposition and only had to line up and race to emerge from the maiden ranks. Rajendra had an armchair ride on Capt. Jamshed Appoo's bay daughter of Alnasr Alwasheek.

A couple of inconspicuous runs evidently brought about much physical improvement in Knight Moves, hitherto a maiden. This four-year-old had just missed when heavily fancied back in April, so obviously had the talent to prevail in Class V company at some time. Until now, no one knew when! The Tecorno gelding from Hormuz Antia's yard checked in 6-1/2 lengths clear.

Karanjawala has always held a high opinion of Arvana, but this four-year-old filly has been plagued by limb problems and has been hard to keep sound. Gallagher kept his bandaged mount towards the rear and fought out a spirited battle with Arabian Fighter in the straight to prevail by three-parts of a length. Queenstown still looked a shade on the heavy side and should strip fitter next time. Combined Venture missed the kick and although his rider brought him up to be in the fighting line at one stage, the effort told and he weakened.

That set the stage for the first Graded Race of the season for three-year-olds, the F. D. Wadia Trophy. As many as eleven lined up, two of which had scored twice, while three were maidens. The much-touted Deep Blue was considered home and dry by her admirers, who however paid scant attention to the fact that her impressive maiden win had been gained against modest opponents. Deep Blue duly led and for a moment or two flashed the impression that she was a true champion as she led unchallenged into the straight.

The illusion faded like a chimera, as the half-sister to Super Brave bobbled when put under pressure and then weakened right out of contention. The big-made challenger from Bangalore, The Music Man, had not made the trip only for soaking up the Pune air, and showed he meant business by buckling down to Ruzzan's driving in a most professional manner. With raking strides, the son of Distinctly North mastered his rivals and annexed the prize. Almost in a line behind him was a trio of Steinbeck fillies, Princess Xena, Anagram and My Blue Moon.

In The Music Man, bred at the Galloping Acres stud, champion trainer Rashid Byramji has a fine prospect for the future, more so as the brown colt hails from a German female family that represents toughness and stoutness. There is little doubt that he will get 2000 m. at least.

By an own-brother to leading sire Fappiano, out of a full-sister to leading sire Polish Precedent, Heartbreaker had the credentials to be something out of the ordinary. The homebred gelding has been plagued by problems and was out of action for a whole year. Nursed back to fitness by Mody, he signalled his well-being last time out with a runner-up effort and was thus supported here at half-money, despite being a maiden. The money turned out to be well-placed and he recorded an easy win under Rajendra.

On a day of significance to the Parsi community - Pateti - coincidentally all the races so far had been won by the wards of trainers from that minority. Carrying on the celebrations and making it a 100% record for them for the day, Todywalla's Hearts In Motion stunned Very Beautiful by half a length in the concluding event with a very late move.

DARK LEGEND

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