Siachen, Mallya's new femme fatale

Shailendra Awasthi TNN

Mumbai: Born out of Irish father and an American mother, she has a beauty to die for, speed and stamina to leave her rivals stranded and is the highest rated among her contemporaries. No wonder then that Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant owner of the India's only Formula One team, is bedazzled by her. Well, we are talking about a three-year-old filly, Siachen, which is set to become a star attraction at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

?? Siachen's thumping win in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas two weeks ago compelled Mallya to direct her managers to change her schedule and bring her to dominate Mumbai classics aka Indian Classics. "Mallya is too keen to see her race at Mumbai and that's why we had to drop the plans to run her in Bangalore Oaks and bring her to Mumbai soon after her 1000 Guineas win," informed Zeyn Mirza, Mallya's racing manager who paid a late entry fee of whopping Rs 4.5 lakh to enter the Guineas race!

?? Mumbai has a long history of southern superstars coming down and challenging local talent. This time the first classic of the Mumbai season, the Indian 1000 Guineas scheduled for Sunday is billed as a battle royale between Siachen and local star Moonlight Romance, owned by builder Rakesh Wadhawan.

?? Siachen had beaten Moonlight Romance in their only previous clash on the turf so far. That was in the Fillies Trial stakes during last summer in Bangalore. Next they were scheduled to clash in Bangalore Summer Derby but Siachen had developed a stress fracture in her right fore leg and could not participate. In Siachen's absence, Moonlight Romance, as expected, ruled.

?? Siachen's leg injury was so bad that she was away from action for over five months. However, like a true champion, Siachen showed great heart in overcoming adversity. She took to the field after a long lay-off and simply toyed with the opposition in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas. It was a inspired performance which prompted Mallya to dispatch her to Mumbai.

?? "She has taken the travel well and looks in pink of condition," informed Mirza. Siachen has won in three of her four starts while losing by shortest of margin in another. Moonlight Romance on the other hand has won four of her six starts so far while finishing second in the other two.

?? Siachen has given Mallya camp a sense of superiority. "Whoever wants to win Indian 1000 Guineas this Sunday will need to beat Siachen," claims Mirza. But Wadhawan camp is not ready to buy the Mallya camp's confidence.

?? "My filly did not have the luck of the race when she was beaten by Siachen," says Cooji Katrak, trainer of Moonlight Romance. "She was badly bogged down on the rails due to which her run was badly hampered," claims Katrak.

?? Whoever may emerge victorious in Indian 1000 Guineas, there is no denying that Siachen has brought Mallya in battling mood. Certainly a sign of thrilling times in store for Mumbai race enthusiasts this Sunday.