UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM- BIG RACE PREVIEW - THE VILLOO POONAWALLA INDIAN OAKS (GR.1)- By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 21 Jan 2017
UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM- BIG RACE PREVIEW - THE VILLOO POONAWALLA INDIAN OAKS (GR.1)
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
This years Oaks has attracted a field of 9 fillies but of these 5 fillies appear to have a realistic chance to add their name to the Roll of Honour for the “Ladies Derby”. A brief analysis of each of these is given below.
MRS. PATMORE :-is by Holy Roman Emperor out of mare called Eliza Gilbert. She has raced 3 times till date so has the maximum scope for improvement amongst these fillies. She made her debut over a mile in Pune, going down narrowly to Frivolous. Turned out early in the Mumbai season over 7 furlongs, she was an impressive winner over 7 furlongs in Class III, showing a smart turn of foot to win decisively. To her credit on just her 3rd career start, she was a battling winner of the Indian 1000 Guineas where she showed good resilience to beat the more experienced and battle hardened Hall of Famer in a fighting finish. The added advantage was Mrs. Patmore did not get the clearest of runs in the straight whereas Hall of Famer had the run of the race. She in now entering unknown territory but if she does stay, then she looks to have all the class to be an Oaks winner. P. Trevor retains the ride and she should start a worthy favourite.
TEMERITY :-is the 2nd of the Pesi Shroff runners and is by Intense Focus out of Narmina. After running an unextended 4th on her debut, Temerity established herself as one of the leading Fillies at the centre winning 4 races on the trot to establish herself as firm Guineas favourite. She won the F.D. Wadia Trophy beating the Poonawalla Million runner up In My Dream conceding weight and also gave weight and a beating to well performed Sky Mine. She played up in the gates in the 1000 Guineas and that clearly affected her as she was off the bridle before the bend and was eased up in the straight. She has been brought along steadily since then, looks likely to stay well on pedigree and clearly can trouble her stable companion. She is the highest rated in this field and will be ridden by NeerajRawal..
MEKONG DELTA :-Also runs in the Vijay Shirke colours and is by Art Connoisseur x Nesaah’s Princess. After shedding her maiden tag over a mile in Mumbai, Mekong Delta was beaten in 3 middle distance handicaps in Pune in Class III and IV. However, she took her form to a new level during the Mumbai season, first going down narrowly to Pugnacious over a mile and then finishing a flying late 3rd to Mrs. Patmore in the 1000 Guineas where she was best moving at the finish. She is more exposed than the 2 Shroff fillies but does have the form to upset and looks a likely stayer on pedigree. She will be ridden by A. Sandesh.
SILVER BEAUTY :- who is by Aussie Rules x Maharanee was also a decent handicapper before travelling to Kolkota where she really came into her own winning the 1000 Guineas and Oaks in great style. She finished well behind Hall of Famer in the Kolkota Derby but had a bit of a troubled passage but for which she may have been closer. Taking a line through Hall of Famer it looks unlikely she will trouble the other three but she merits consideration. YashNarredu takes the ride.
ASTER ROSE :-is the only out station challenger and is beautifully bred by Multidimensional x Lei herself a bottling 2nd in the Oaks. Aster Rose had some excellent form to her name, finishing a flying late 2nd to SerjeantAt Arms in the Bangalore Summer Derby and also going down narrowly to Star Nijinsky in the Hyderabad Monsoon Derby. However, she blotted her copy book on her most recent start when she tamely lost the Golconda Oaks at odds on finishing 3rd to Veronesse and Frosty who reopposes today. Aster Rose needs to shrug off that indifferent run but if she can bounce back then she looks like a dark horse who can upset. She is trained by Arjun Mangalorkar and will be ridden by SurajNarredu..
Of the remaining contenders, Frosty and Winter Renaissance look way out of their depth while Et Voila and Book Thief appear to be pace makers for their most fancied owner mates.
CONCLUSION :-Mrs. Patmore and Temerity look likely to fight it out to give Pesi Shroff another Indian Oaks. Mekong Delta could expose any chinks in their armour while Aster Rose could be a force to reckon with if her last poor run is over looked.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
