| |
Dallas Todywalla trained Ruffina suffered a rare defeat when she went down fighting to Timeless in the Gr 3 Bookmakers Association Turf Club Million, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Pune races. Though Ruffina was conceding weight to all her contemporaries, she was still expected to overcome the disadvantage and have a bold show but a slight inadequacy on the part of the jockey perhaps could be attributed to the defeat of the champion filly. Jockey Trevor Patel had a rich haul, booting home four winners in the card of eight events.
Ruffina went to the post as an on-money favourite and this was in keeping with the wide belief that the champion sprinter had no worthwhile opponent who could beat her. Possibly by intent, jockey Neeraj Rawal had Ruffina take a rather sedate start and soon she was shuffled right back to the rear of the field. Thereafter Neeraj lost the plot as he travelled wide into the straight and the filly drifted out slightly under pressure racing on the wide outside. Though the progeny of Excellent Art produced her best under the circumstances, Timeless who had seized the initiative along the rails in the final furlong, made good the lead and held on to win by a neck. Your Royal Majesty made swift progress along the rails to take the third position while New England, as is his wont, made a late charge to complete the frame. Timeless won in a smart time of one minute 23.526 seconds which could be considered excellent for the Pune track. The race was run at a furious pace with Dancing Phoenix who set the pace eventually finishing last.
Shiraz Sunderji trained Kilkarry Bridge who was well prepared to make a winning debut had no problem in living up to the expectation in the 1200 metres Reuben Star Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jodha had the favourite lead all the way and in the straight, the Manjri Stud Farm produce expanded the lead to win by a widening margin of five lengths. The progeny of new stallion Strong Suite proved too speedy for the rest. Highland Lass who was in chase found her opponent too strong for comfort. Myrcella was faraway third. Another of Shiraz trainee Bernice won the lower division of the race with explosive speed in the final furlong. After Bonafide took charge and led into the final furlong, Bernice showed up on the wide outside with a powerful run and bounced clear in a trice to win in great fashion. Joplin ran on to edge out Bonafide to get the runner-up berth.
Dallas Todywalla trained Princess P was driven out by Trevor Patel to win the 1000 metres Merint Dubai Million, a race for horses rated for 40 to 66. The best horse in the fray was Karthik Ganapathy trained Gallant Knight but the biggest drawback for him was the sharpness of the trip. Last start winner Enchanted was believed to have the credentials to record an encore and was made the favourite but the filly was out of depth in this class. Princess P who led from the start lasted out to win from Gallant Knight who lacked the early speed but had to cover the leeway as a result. Though Gallant Knight produced a strong effort, the sharpness of the trip went against him. Wise Child once again saved place money.
Trevor Patel excelled on lesser fancied Epiphany in the 1200 metres Moosa M Hoosein Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Epiphany was chopped off at a crucial stage of the race in the final furlong and fell behind. Trevor was unperturbed by the scare and was persistent on Epiphany who came home with a powerful run to get past Polyneices and La Magnifique who were disputing the issue. It won`t be an exaggeration to say that Trevor snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by his courageous approach. Favourite Perpetual Warning was nowhere in contention. Trevor had favourite Eden Rock chase Godsword well into the straight before driving out Eden Rock to assume command in the lower division of the race. Eden Rock broke clear and the lead established held him in good stead as Scion came home with a late burst only to miss the target by half a length. Godsword stayed on to take the third position.
*******************
Bernice (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Ruben Star Plate (Div-II)
Eden Rock (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Moosa M Hoosein Trophy (Div-II)
Kilkarry Bridge (C S Jodha up) winner of the Ruben Star Plate (Div-I)
Princess P (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Merint Dubai Million
Timeless (C S Jodha up) winner of the Pune Bookmakers Association Turf Club Trophy (Gr.3)
Epiphany (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Moosa M Hoosein Trophy (Div-I)
Pathan (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Strategic Move Plate
|
|
Top
