ASSERTIVE WIN FOR PSYCHIC STAR IN 1000 GUINEAS - By Usman Rangila
Posted on - 16 Dec 2024
Turned out in prime condition by her master Pesi Shroff, the three-year old filly Psychic Star outclassed her opponents to claim the JSK1 Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr.1) in taking style at the Mahalaxmi racecourse on Sunday. A large field of fifteen three-year old fillies were in the fray but Psychic Star emerged as the champion filly on the day. Soon after the gates flew open, Golden Glory showed plenty of early speed to hit the front and had Mumtaz, Expedite, Excellent Lass and Jade racing behind whilst jockey G. Vivek settling Psychic Star nicely in the sixth spot. Mumtaz seized the running as the field turned for home and led briefly for a furlong before being tackled by Expedite and Excellent Lass but they were both caught up with by Psychic Star, who was travelling on cruising speed. In a matter of a few strides, Psychic Star (Multitude – Psychic Light) had stolen a march over her rivals and she galloped in solitary splendour in the last furlong of the mile trip. Field of Dreams got stronger in the straight and finished runner-up ahead of Star of Night, who also made good ground in the final lap to be third while Expedite completed the frame of first four. Psychic Star is the prized possession of Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, Mrs Liane M. Luthria and Ms Ameeta Mehra. Psychic Star is half-sister to the Indian Derby winner Immortality and the Bangalore Summer Derby winner Supernatural, who were bred at the Usha Stud Farm and mentored by Shroff.
Debutant Sovereign King was also tuned for a big show by Adhirajsingh Jodha and the two-year old juvenile scored a fluent win in the hands of CS Jodha. Surrealist led all the way from the gates and brought the field of thirteen into the straight following which Sovereign King, after lying in the fifth position and waiting to pounce on the leaders, came with a flourishing run when Jodha changed gears and zoomed into the lead in the last furlong and half. Sovereign King (Top Class – Starlet) won well from stable-mate Zafferano, who moved with rapid strides when shown the daylight by Trevor on entering the home stretch. The duo was followed home by Kings Gambit, Superstar and Oliver, all hailing from Shroff’s yard.
The second winner saddled by Adhirajsingh was Amadeo, whose search for a bracket finally came to an end in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy (Div-II). Amadeo was ridden well off the pace by Trevor as no-hoper Ananya headed the field with The Millenium Force in hot pursuit. Trevor timed his challenge to perfection and sent Amadeo hunting for The Millenium Force, who had snatched the lead in the last furlong from Silver Braid and Ananya. Amadeo (Cougar Mountain – Oomph) responded well to his rider’s call and put in a solid run to vanquish The Millenium Force in the last hundred metres. Mansa Musa came through the shortest way in the straight but failed to quicken and finished third ahead of Esconido.
Earlier, it was the skilful riding of Trevor which saw top-weighted Magileto stave off the tenacious bid of stable-mate Snowfall in the Mahalaxmi Sprint Million. Trevor got Magileto in the pole position as speedy Dream Seller made no effort to assume the front-running role when the field of eight was flagged off by the starter. Aman Hussain-nurtured Magileto (Sedgefield – Providence) held a narrow advantage over Dream Seller till the last furlong and half where Trevor gained the upper hand and did not let his guard down till reaching the destination. Favourite Snowfall found her moorings quite late and came with big run down the straight but her valiant effort could not upstage Magileto, who won sparing half-length to his rival. Dream Seller managed to finish in the money ahead of Market King. Miss American Pie failed to make headway after being prominent till the final turn and ended last but one ahead of Joaquin.
Veteran professional Saeed Shah, standing in for indisposed MK Jadhav, led in a brace of winners through Turn and Burn and Waikiki, both partnered in the saddle by Nikhil Parmar. Heavily favoured to strike over the five-furlong scurry, Parmar atop Turn and Burn showed no haste as Fast Approach went screeching ahead as soon as the field had sorted itself out and waited till approaching the two-furlong marker. Turn and Burn (Western Aristocrat – Celestrella) then inched closer with every stride and overtook Fast Approach a furlong away from the winning line. The bay gelding won comfortably after stretching out under the whip with Ultimo landing the runner-up berth whilst Gypsy Soul and Fast Approach finished close behind.
Debutant Sovereign King was also tuned for a big show by Adhirajsingh Jodha and the two-year old juvenile scored a fluent win in the hands of CS Jodha. Surrealist led all the way from the gates and brought the field of thirteen into the straight following which Sovereign King, after lying in the fifth position and waiting to pounce on the leaders, came with a flourishing run when Jodha changed gears and zoomed into the lead in the last furlong and half. Sovereign King (Top Class – Starlet) won well from stable-mate Zafferano, who moved with rapid strides when shown the daylight by Trevor on entering the home stretch. The duo was followed home by Kings Gambit, Superstar and Oliver, all hailing from Shroff’s yard.The second winner saddled by Adhirajsingh was Amadeo, whose search for a bracket finally came to an end in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy (Div-II). Amadeo was ridden well off the pace by Trevor as no-hoper Ananya headed the field with The Millenium Force in hot pursuit. Trevor timed his challenge to perfection and sent Amadeo hunting for The Millenium Force, who had snatched the lead in the last furlong from Silver Braid and Ananya. Amadeo (Cougar Mountain – Oomph) responded well to his rider’s call and put in a solid run to vanquish The Millenium Force in the last hundred metres. Mansa Musa came through the shortest way in the straight but failed to quicken and finished third ahead of Esconido.
Earlier, it was the skilful riding of Trevor which saw top-weighted Magileto stave off the tenacious bid of stable-mate Snowfall in the Mahalaxmi Sprint Million. Trevor got Magileto in the pole position as speedy Dream Seller made no effort to assume the front-running role when the field of eight was flagged off by the starter. Aman Hussain-nurtured Magileto (Sedgefield – Providence) held a narrow advantage over Dream Seller till the last furlong and half where Trevor gained the upper hand and did not let his guard down till reaching the destination. Favourite Snowfall found her moorings quite late and came with big run down the straight but her valiant effort could not upstage Magileto, who won sparing half-length to his rival. Dream Seller managed to finish in the money ahead of Market King. Miss American Pie failed to make headway after being prominent till the final turn and ended last but one ahead of Joaquin.
Veteran professional Saeed Shah, standing in for indisposed MK Jadhav, led in a brace of winners through Turn and Burn and Waikiki, both partnered in the saddle by Nikhil Parmar. Heavily favoured to strike over the five-furlong scurry, Parmar atop Turn and Burn showed no haste as Fast Approach went screeching ahead as soon as the field had sorted itself out and waited till approaching the two-furlong marker. Turn and Burn (Western Aristocrat – Celestrella) then inched closer with every stride and overtook Fast Approach a furlong away from the winning line. The bay gelding won comfortably after stretching out under the whip with Ultimo landing the runner-up berth whilst Gypsy Soul and Fast Approach finished close behind.
Parmar adopted similar tactics astride Waikiki over the mile trip for the MN Nazir Trophy and went in chase of Lord and Master. Meanwhile, the fancied trio – Booster Shot, Angelo and Tiepolo, chose to play the waiting game in the rear. With about two furlongs left for home, Parmar hustled Waikiki into the lead and the headstart gained at this stage by the filly put his rivals in a spot of bother. By the time Angelo and Booster Shot could rally and pose a danger to her chances, Waikiki (Leitir Mot – Mauna Kea) had scampered home to register an upset win over Angelo by half-length with Booster Shot ending just under a length away. Tiepolo yet again failed to make any impression and finished faraway to be fourth.
Ardakan, the recent migrant from Bangalore, was astutely prepared by Pradeep Chouhan to win in only his second outing in Western India. Entrusted in the safe hands of Trevor, Ardakan raced in the mid-bunch as Cordelia sprinted ahead but faded out of contention soon after entering the home stretch. Ghirardelli tried to sneak through the inner rails but went nowhere as Moonlight Kiss surged ahead and flattered briefly before the favourite flashed on to the scene. Trevor brought Ardakan (Excellent Art – Desert Lightning) with a sustained run to go sailing into the lead and had the race sewn up a long way from home. Ghirardelli got to take the second spot ahead of Scorsese, who had Moonlight Kiss in tow.
Well-bred Caliph celebrated his return to the lowest class by registering the second success of his career. Karthik Ganapathy-saddled and A. Sandesh-ridden Caliph (Ruler of the World – Augenblick) outclassed the bunch of burnt out contestants he was asked to take on barring Cascade. After lying unconcerned in mid-pack, Caliph took control of the running in the straight and was soon home and dry. Cascade, Marlboro Man, Leo The Lion and the rest ended in that order in a procession behind the winner.
