Be Safe who is raring to go will win all the Classics in Mumbai - By Bob Sawhny
Posted on - 19 Dec 2014
Be Safe who is raring to go will win all the Classics in Mumbai
By Bob Sawhny
Mumbai: The phenomenal coltBe Safe is an absolutely brilliant juvenile, who in my opinion is far superior than all the other Indian, three-year olds. Moreover, he has a habit of distinctly making his presence felt, in an extremely strong manner, when competing in a stiff race, because he possesses all the attributes of a Great Champion Colt.viz a superb temperament, a devastating turn of foot, blinding speed and admirable stamina. And, it will take, an extremely powerful horse to get the better of him, in any race, especially in the forthcoming Indian Classic races in Mumbai. Be Safe will pulverize the opposition in the ABV Nucleus Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) in which nine horses have accepted to run. This prestigious Classic race, will be run here on Sunday, December 21, 2014 and it is the 7th race in a card of Eight events and it is scheduled to be run at 4.30 P.M. Total Stakes in The ABV Nucleus Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) is Rupees 6 Million and the Winner will get Rs. 3.6 Million.
The racing record of Be Safe (Holy Roman Emperor-Oriental Lady) is extremely creditable and he has run seven races, Won Six and he ran 2nd on 23/2/2014 in The 1400M Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (Gr.1) a race, which he should have easily won, but unfortunately lost because of unwieldy circumstances. Be that as it may, his stylish victories were his maiden win on 27/10/2013 in Pune over 1000M by a widening 2-1/2L and on 29/12/2013 in Mumbai-The 1200M Zoroastrian Multi-Million in 1M-11.14s beating 2 good juveniles viz. Maisha & Shivalik Storm. Then, on 1/2/2014 he easily won The 1400M Kunigal Stud Breeders’ Produce Stakes (Gr.3). And the manner, in which he won this race, was akin to a turbocharged Ferrari zooming past, a bunch of lifeless three-wheelers. But, subsequently Be Safe unluckily lost by a neck, on 23/2/14 as the on-money favorite in The 1400M Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (Gr.1). Thereafter, Be Safe was rested and after some easy work-outs in Bangalore, he literally trounced the opposition, whilst authoritatively winning The Nanoli Stud Juvenile Million (Gr.2) on 25th May 2014. Subsequently, the grand colt decimated the opposition in The Colts Championship Stakes (Grade 1) in Bangalore on June 22, 2014, effortlessly winning the elite race by a widening 7-3/4Lengths from the worthy colt- Last Chance.
Subsequently, on July 13, 2014 in very soft going, with the penetrometer reading being as high as 5.8, Be Safe (Suraj Narredu up) cantered away to an extremely effortless victory in the 2000M Kingfisher Derby(Gr.1).No-hopers Supreme Dominator and Connemara did the early running and showed the way to Tiger Tops and Be Safe. Suraj Narredu had nudged the favorite to take an advantageous 4th position on the rails and the colt was moving comfortably under him. Culebra, Bold Majesty and Alexandra Mills were holding their positions at the back. As the 12 horse field took the rising ground near the three furlong marker and finding the pace a bit slow for her liking, Zervan soon took Tiger Tops to the front. The filly led the bunch into the straight, but her dominance was short-lived as Suraj had brought Be Safe with a smooth run through the middle and asked him to “go”. The free striding colt responded immediately and he easily cantered away, to effortlessly win by a widening 5-1/4L, with the huge crowds cheering him lustily. Culebra rallied late under Srinath’s handling to take second spot ahead of a tired Tiger Tops 3rd and Bold Majesty 4th.
Pedigree wise, Be Safe from his Sire’s side, easily gets a mile, which he has stylishly shown and Be Safe from his Dam’s side, as given below, should get longer trips, as he authoritatively won the 2000M Kingfisher Derby (Gr.1) at Bangalore and derives immense stamina, from his Dam’s side. Be Safe is exquisitely bred and his Great ‘Sire’- Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) is by Danehll (USA) out of L’on Vite (USA) from the legendary Northern Dancer line. Winnings:7 Starts: 4 good wins & 2 places and he had a Career Earning of a lavish $764,836 which inc.won 1400m Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere/Grand Criterium (Fr-G1),won Phoenix Stakes.6f Ire-G1, 6f Railway St.(Ire-G2);2nd 7fNational St.(Ire-G1),2nd7f Dewhurst S.(GB-G1.). Brother to the classy Aus.10f Mare Milanova; half brother to high-class Japanese performer Big Viking, and smart German winner Heart Of Oak; dam is sister to D'Accord and Medaille D’Or Champion European 2YO and co-champion European 3YO.
His ‘Dam’ Oriental Lady is by Kings Best out of Otaiti (IRE). And although, his dam Oriental Lady did nothing significant, ‘His’ classy ‘Grand dam’-Otaiti-IRE (Sadlers Wells- Ode) had Career Earnings of $ 73, 957 which included 2000M Prix De Liancourt (Listed), Longchamp, France, 2000M Grand Prix De Compiegne (Listed), France and she came a good 2nd in 2700M Prix De Pomone (Gr.2), Deauville, France. Plus his ‘Dam’s Tail-Line’ is a very strong one, as it goes down to the likes Of Ode, a highly reputed stayer who had 4 very classy wins in FR, with Career Earnings of a lavish amount of $ 861, 820. Hence, Be Safe is well-bred and will stay distance trips.
And although, the brilliant bay colt Be Safe, has never traversed more than 2000M, his splendid style of winning the 2000M Kingfisher Derby (Gr.1) & his exquisite pedigree, especially from his ‘Dam’s’ side’, as stated above, show that the grand colt will get trips up to 2400M. So, the McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Gr.1) & The Invitation Cup (Gr.1) seem well in the grasp of Be Safe who should win both these Gr.1 races over 2400m, after he pulverizes the opposition in The Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1).
Moreover, Be Safe who has a highly exquisite pedigree is sparingly raced but presently in terrific form and has yet to peak, which conspicuously indicates that the champion Colt will continue his winning streak, up to a distance of 2400Metres. And the grand Colt after winning The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby (Gr.1) surely looks superior than all the other Indian three-year olds, in all respects.
Be Safe has last run on 13/7/2014 where he authoritatively won the 2000M Kingfisher Derby (Gr.1). And, although Be Safe, is very likely to run after a gap of over Five months directly on December 21, 2014 in The Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) the champion Colt, is extremely fit as Be Safe performed superbly in a Mock Race on 21/11/2014 over 1400M, in which he easily & domineeringly did the trip in 1-24 (-21) 600 36 (-9) beating some very good horses incl. the classy 4yo filly Mariinsky whose H.R. is 114. Plus, on 22/11 on the IST Be Safe with Superlicious H.R.70 easily and smartly did 1400M in 1-44 (-11) 600 in 40 (-5). Former started 3L behind and easily finished 5L ahead. Then on 5/12 Be Safe was absolutely brilliant in a Mock Race over 1400M in 1-24(-21)60036(-9) along with a couple of good horses winning by over 10L. Subsequently, on 11/12 (IST) Be Safe continued to blaze the track & he very easily and stylishly did 1200 in 1-20 (-10) 600 in 36 (-9). Hence, Be Safe who has thoroughly excelled in his work-outs is extremely fit, raring to go and in my assessment and also in the opinion of his prodigious Owner, Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy - BE SAFE is far superior, than all the other Indian three-year-olds and will win all the classic races in Mumbai, which he competes in, namely The ABV Nucleus Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) to be run on 21/12/2014, The McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Gr.1) on 1/2/2015 & thereafter The Omkar Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1) on 1/3/2015.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author’s personal views.)
