Cannon Baby does it in style

HYDERABAD

THIS YEAR the participation of outstation youngsters was hardly seen in the four major races allotted to them except for the Bangalore trained Forest Rose, who won the Byerly Turk Stakes and is partly owned by Mr. S. Rangarajan. That gave enough opportunity for the local horses to take advantage of the situation.

The Alcock Barb Stakes on Sunday was claimed by Cannon Baby, owned and trained by K. R. K. Raju beating the favourite Petrushka. This grey filly had taken her chances earlier in two of these sweepstakes races, finishing third on both occasions. Petrushka having won only one race carried the least weight compared to Repose who gave Cannon Baby and Petrushka 3 kgs and 10 kgs, respectively. To give loads of lead weight to your own age group is always a disadvantage unless a 3 year old is of exceptionally high quality.

The M. A. M. R. Muthiah owned Repose led the field of six of which only one was a colt. When the heat was turned on, the daughter of Ajaad folded up and slipped down the ladder. Petrushka who took up the baton gave hopes for her owner but B. V. Krishnan astride Cannon Baby floated from thin air, taking the wider path, spurting splendidly making the others look like bystanders. As one daughter failed to deliver the goods, Ajaad's other progeny Cannon Baby stylishly claimed this trophy. This is the grey's fourth win of the season and she could be ranked amongst the top rated 3 year olds in station.

A thrilling encounter unfolded in the Cat I cup event as we saw a three pronged finish involving Golden Turn, Caution and Most Wanted. Favourite Monsignor testing his prowess for the first time this winter after a lay off due to breaking of blood vessels returned with the same malady. It looks as if this gelding will be retired. Passing the 800m Caution lost a forward place and fell back while Golden Turn eased out into the lead. Finding a gap through the rails Caution steadily moved up while Most Wanted came the other way. The three way finish ended up in favour of S.Narredu who rode a strong race to tilt the scales in his favour, giving Sk.Kassam a rare double.

In an earlier race Sk. Kassam's Oscar Lady avoided the fallen rider R. B. Shinde by curving out, smoothly striking ahead to win by five lengths. Colorado Springs taking the lead shifted in towards the rails and suddenly lost her footing thereby unseating R. B. Shinde. This caused many of the other runners to bend outwards crowding them like a pack of cards. Bon Chance one from the group must have clipped the heels of a horse in front which caused the fall of B. V. Krishnan. Luckily both riders were unhurt and rode in the very next race.

Personal Accord's consistency was rewarded at last. Personal Accord has placed in each of her six outings this winter. She showed some determination and guts to overcome Sugar Isle. This mare headed Personal Accord down the straight but the Deshmukh filly ridden with vigour by Cariappa snatched the race in the last few strides.

It took three outings for Golden Sambar to leave the maiden bracket. Built to carry condition this stout looking colt, a son of Young Senor/ Kenya Girl, half brother to Nishamt, got his act together with B. V. Krishnan the ideal jockey to goad this youngster, who answered his rider's efforts to pull away by 4-1/2 lengths. Royal Sovereign a positive runner in his previous race was not upto the mark when he had the chances. He drifted back to fourth spot. Royal Fantasy due to his fractions behaviour.

In the other division of the maidens race the highly improved Align who ran fourth behind today's favourite On The Run showed his vast capacity to turn the tables. This chestnut was handled superbly by K. Suresh to keep the pressure of K. Satheesh and Suresh on Leo D'Silva and B. V. Krishnan for the championship title which revolves around these four professionals. Making the finish exciting, Bonzsingh and Magical Legend were fine examples of what to expect from this pair next time which might be next week. Align bred at Sans Craintes Stud is the first foal of her dam Pechora a line that traces back to Pebbles the brilliant Champion Turf Filly in USA in 1985. She won the General Accident 1000 Guineas, the Dubai Champion Stakes, the Coral Eclipse Stakes, etc. Rodney Figredo had to wait for two runs from YoursMineNOurs before this mare was able to reward him in Cat II where she was dropped down to. In the race where none of the starters had any form to rely on except Somerset, who came third last time, Desert Fox found favour coming from the stable of D'Silva and ridden by S. Narredu. This combination flickered for a while but the light went out. YoursMineNOurs went through the formalities to slip back to Cat I but she should tackle the terms races in Cat II. The runs of Rustom and Change Over were catchy, both might score next week if they can come out fresh. Trying to lead from the gates, Spark was overpowered by the Satheesh trained filly Palace Green who outstayed the former in this mile event. The Ramaswamy 4-year-old picked up her second back to back win.

Pushed up to Cat I, Dance Melody had made her intentions clear that she will be no push over in this company when the daughter of Cristofori ran a close second to Baazigar and Super Image last time. True to form but available at 7 to 1 since most of the money fell on High Point, bottom weighted Dance Melody in the hands of B. Shanker, who does not get a winner so often, tuned her timing to a nicety to pull out a narrow victory. She was chased and hounded by Fabulous Gem and Baazigar who followed her home. Slightly unlucky Reine Beau who did not get the best of runs had to change course, flying in at the finish to place fourth. High Point was not in her usual mood and may have just felt jaded.

With the end of season in sight most of the maiden races are being divided for a larger share of the spoils to get some stake money. Both the divisions were won by identical verdicts - three lengths in favour of Clarence and Mohican Chief. The former still a shade green seemed to race slightly erratic shifting either way, Narredu managed to steer this D'Silva trained filly to a comfortable win. The 3 year old Victory Gallop is missing out the winners enclosure repeatedly. This was the fourth time in a row that this gelding was runner up.

The steadily improving Mohican Chief who was fitted with a hanging bit seemed more focussed today when the well bred son of Ilheus/ Bugles kept the pressure throughout and romped away from Flying Bee who could be safely followed in her next race if Srinivas decides to push her into the last weekend of racing.

The unmoved posture of B. V. Krishnan on Honey Well who trounced his rivals by four lengths which could have been doubled if wanted showed the ease of victory. The terms of this race were strongly in his favour as the son of Ajaad never exerted a muscle while Krishnan was motionless on his back.

With Janus breaking her blood vessels to eventually run last it was left to three horses who finished a short head-short head between them. Capital Talk tried to run away with the race. X- Press and Bet Me Best rallied from the unknown to come flying at the finish. The judge gave the verdict to the Ganesh ridden X- Press. It was a race where all three deserved to win. At one stage of the race X-Press had no hopes of coming anywhere near victory, but the right gaps at the right moment made all the difference.

Royal Sign was not able to give 11 lbs to Cavalero in a race for 3 year old winners. Cavalero who led, gave up his advantage to Royal Sign but the burden was out of limits for this Raju trained filly who faded down to fourth spot. Cavalero regained his supremacy to smartly spurt into the winners circle for a back to back win. Suvin was impressive with his long strides to reach the second place. A distance of ground would be to his advantage. The second D'Silva runner in the race Anaheim was another to put in a late appearance and hang on to third place.

Coincidence that both divisions of the Mir Fazilath Hussian Memorial Cup had the first two horses finish far ahead of the rest and in both events the favourite beaten to second place. The Chairman had to buckle under Ewigkeit who came about four deep off the fence to overtake the former in a smooth effort while in the other division Royal Tour kept her place intact leading from the start and for a brief moment in the straight Teri-Merzi made her life miserable but the 5 year old mare from KRK Raju's stable was ably guided by SD Pawar to clinch the issue.

As Wisen Up shortened his strides, Statesman easily gained the advantage to romp home by five lengths in a Cat IV race.

General Challenge prevails

Racing on Feb. 20 was again for the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund. The Dhunjibhoy owned Fine Glance under the care of Ananta Vatsalya was well tuned. With the experienced Mark Gallagher on top the daughter of Cristofori/ Cadenza left the maiden ranks. Brave And Bright who led had to buckle under to Sundial at the finish. This Habeebullah trained gelding has all the ingredients to be followed if entered during the concluding weekend. Fine Glance kept on the rails by Gallagher found enough space to smoothly clip away, her rider giving her the best of guidance to win comfortably. Chanks was withdrawn at the gates since the grey was reluctant to enter the stalls.

There is no doubt that Grassisgreener shifted many notches by her exceptional performance in a 2200m race. Whether Gallagher in the saddle made all the difference cannot be denied, because he gave a balanced ride throughout. More towards the lower end of the field earlier, Gallagher was noticed to gradually nudge her along and a few short cracks to be in touch with the field. Persevering stoutly down the straight Grassisgreener once in full steam galloped away to win by nearly a distance. Trainer Deshmukh had decided to remove the blinkers on this Green Forest filly, which may have given the right incentive for this upbeat form she came into.

In a race for non-winners since July 2000, Royal Afghan was steered home by Ganesh who provided a perfect match for this 4 year old. The Srinivas trained gelding available at 7 to 1 in the opener was a forewarner of the defeat of favourites which eventually folded up at the end as one ticket was left in the final leg giving out an amount of over 2 lakhs. The winner should have been the fancied filly She's A Rocket. A. Samad's ride was atrocious and all indications were there that he was not interested in winning. Slow get away at the gates he hardly made any effort to improve his position, remained switched off and even at the top of the straight he sat motionless. Once Royal Afghan was safe and sound at the post Samad worked up some effort, as she was suddenly given the freedom of a strong hold that held her up, flying at the finish. This was a perfect case of a favourite being denied the right to win. Hope the Stipes have taken note of this incident and some action is taken.

Jockey A. Samad who had ridden the D'Silva trained She's A Rocket was a different rider when astride General Challenge. Working his way past horses from the rails, Gallagher took Helookslikegrundy to fight out the issue with Woodbine. Flying out of the pack from the outer track came General Challenge who blasted past the two in combat and won by a neck in a nail-biting encounter. This D'Silva 4-year-old ran a close second in Cat III to be pushed up to the higher group. The possible and sudden drop in weights might have just sparked off this fine victory, the first for this gelding this season.

Steadily down in weights, Monterey Bay finally picked up a win which was long overdue for his owners. He struck the front and kept his frame ahead under RB Shinde. Palo Alto remained at his tail throughout. Daring Grey had no clue why he was made the favourite with a lacklustre performance under Gallagher. Monterey Bay had been backed but went off the money market just before the start.

Lead kept changing in the straight when Moonlight Prince and Finnigan Terrace came together. The latter who led, gave up, but with sheer guts and willpower took back the advantage. Suresh on Moonlight Prince was in no mood to give up, hurling everything into a final fling, the 6 year old answered back to snatch the race at the wire.

In the last race Real Mover had all the right ingredients to win, while running third in her first race this winter. Even with Suresh in the saddle this filly who should have gained the race experience folded up and was beaten badly by Cannon Time a surprise winner at 8 to 1 giving Azhar Khan the much needed boost, since this jockey was without a winner since July 2000. Kaza's Wonder stayed on to take the second place.

A tip for the final weekend. It would be wise to follow the fortunes of four professionals who are in line for the championship title, since they would be going all out to win as many races over the next two race days. Trainers L.D'Silva and K.Satheesh and jockeys B. V. Krishnan and K. Suresh.

ARIEN

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