UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM -Preview of the S.A. Poonawalla Million (Gr.3) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 16 Sep 2017
UNRAVELLING THE CLASSIC CONUNDRUM -Preview of the S.A. Poonawalla Million (Gr.3)
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
This is traditional one of the show case races for 3 year olds in Pune and is a worthy lead up race for the Pune Derby. Named in honour of the late Soli Poonawalla, the race was developed along the lines of the hugely successful Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million in Mumbai and also features a contest of skill where nominating the first four places could win you a car. The race used to be a Grade 2 race since the early 1990’s but was reclassified as Grade 3 in 2015. Last year saw the gutsy Germanicus fight off Silken Eyes to score for The Shirke – Dhunjibhoy combination while in 2015, the race fell to Jefferson for Geoffrey Nagpal and S.K. Sunderji. In 2014, the classy Zachary scored a resounding success for the Dhunjibhoy’s while in 2013, Falcon emerged victorious for the Narredu brothers and JaydevMody who also won it in 2012 through the filly Neona, trained by BezanChenoy. 2011 and 2010 saw back to back wins for the combination of Vijay Shirke, Pesi Shroff and B. Prakash with Cardinal in 2011 and Eloise in 2010 both proving worthy winners. Interestingly, none of the winners of this race in this decade have gone on to Classic Glory although Germanicus did win the Hyderabad 2000 Guineas and Derby.
This year’s renewal sees a small but select field of 5 youngsters and in spite of the small field, this race looks extremely interesting competitive with 4 of the 5 looking very closely matched and the 5th horse a total unknown.
Below is a brief summary of the credentials of the leading contenders
CAPRISCA (Steinbeck x Xisca)
TRAINER :- Imtiaz Sait
WEIGHT :- 57 kgs.
JOCKEY :- C.S. Jodha
DRAW :-3
RATING :- 58
Caprisca is a classy 3 year old Colt who is the son of Multi Classic winning mare Xisca who had stamina in abundance and hence Caprisca is unlikely to have a problem with staying in the future. He has raced 4 times till date, winning two of those races and running an extremely close 2nd in the other. He made his debut on Derby Day in the B.K. Rattonsey Memorial Multi Million and finished a decent 6th behind some good quality horses over 1200M. He duly showed progress from that run next time out when upped to 7 furlongs where he showed good resolve to hold off Themis and Selfie Star and win from end to end. He had the advantage of fitness over Selfie Star that day and beat her by just under a length but she ran very green and inexperienced that day and shifted out at a crucial stage but for which she would probably have won that day itself. Caprisca then went on to run a mighty race in the Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders Juvenile Colts Championship over a mile where he just lost out to Pure Zinc by a long neck in a battling finish. Making his reappearance in The August Handicap in Pune, Caprisca was given fresh tactics and was ridden off the pace contrary to his previous runs and he showed a good attitude to beat Glyndebourne decisively conceding weight all around. He has been working extremely well since that run indicating that he has improved again and looks set to run a very big race today. In the absence of his regular rider P. Trevor, C.S. Jodha takes the ride and he looks one of the leading contenders
PURE ZINC (Sedgefield x Skipperess)
TRAINER :-AdhirajJodha
WEIGHT :- 55.5kgs.
JOCKEY :- A. Imran Khan
DRAW :-5
RATING :- 50
This grey son of Sedgfield is very highly regarded by his connections and has done nothing but impress in his two starts till date. However, he does not appear the easiest to train as he was withdrawn before his intended debut in Mumbai and is again running after an extensive lay off. Both his runs have been over a mile so far and both have been impressive. He made his debut in an ordinary maiden back in February and gave a tough fight to the odds on favourite Zenon before going down fighting by a short neck. He was the complete outsider of the bunch a month later in the S.A. Poonawalla Multi Million but showed terrific improvement and tremendous resolve to wear down Caprisca in a battling finish and score a thrilling upset win. There were whispers going around at the start of the Pune season that he would emerge as the winner of the Pune Derby this year but is making a belated reappearance in this race after an extensive lay off. His preparation has been quite solid and he has been given two Mock Races so he is expected to be fit enough. However, race fitness is a big advantage in a race of this stature so Caprisca may just have the edge on that score but he is in receipt of 1.5 kilos as a result. He has the maximum scope to improve among this lot and if he is to indeed win the Pune Derby then he needs to win this well
SELFIE STAR (Excellent Art x Maharanee)
TRAINER :- Dallas Todywalla
WEIGHT :- 55.5 kgs.
JOCKEY :- Y. S. Srinath
DRAW :-4
RATING :- 59
Selfie Star is a half sister to the brilliant and tough Silver Beauty and she appears to have inherited her sire’s speed and her dam’s staying prowess which is a unique trait. She like Caprisca has raced 4 times till date with 2 victories but she has shown significant improvement this term which is a big positive in her favour. She made her debut against Caprisca back in Mumbai and was sent off favourite that day and she looked a winner before inexperience got the better of her and she drifted out that day to go down by just under a length. She then contested the Breeders Juvenile Fillies Championship over a mile and ran respectably finishing 4th behind Themis and Manifold. She appears to have matured considerably over the summer and reappeared in sticky conditions over 7 furlongs to score a fluent win over Sweet Music who then went on to beat F.D. Wadia winner Rochester which appears to give her an edge over Summer Rays. However, her last performance over a mile was the most impressive where she did not look fully stretched when easily beating Turning Point and conceding 8.5 kilos to some of her peers. She looks to be in peak form at present and Y.S. Srinath has been flown down especially to ride her. On present form, she looks the one they all have to beat and is a leading contender
SUMMER RAYS (Phoenix Tower x Donttellmewhattodo)
TRAINER :- Imtiaz Sait
WEIGHT :- 55.5 kgs.
JOCKEY :- Suraj Narredu
DRAW :-1
RATING :- 54
Summer Rays is the most experienced filly among this bunch having raced 6 times so far and also has 2 wins to her name. She was a most impressive early season winner over 6 furlongs in Mumbai but then came up against a red hot Ruffina in the Gool S. Poonawalla and had to play 2nd fiddle to her being well beaten. She then competed in the Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million where she appeared to be stretched by the 7 furlong trip and finished up just off the frame in 5th. Possibly the mile and her 4th run of the season took their toll in the Breeders Juvenile Fillies where she ended up a poor 5th but just behind Selfie Star at level weights. Dropped back to 6 furlongs in Pune, she was again an impressive winner over Goldie’s Pet who went on to score in Class III and then she showed she stays at least 7 furlongs in the F.D. Wadia Trophy when ridden in restraint and finishing on late to be runner up to Rochester. Summer Rays has still not convinced that she will stay the mile trip and although she has been working well, there is a nagging doubt that she will find one or two of her rivals too strong here
BATELEUR (Western Aristocrat x Al Khazneh)
TRAINER :- Vishal Gaikwad
WEIGHT :- 54kgs.
JOCKEY :- A. Sandesh
DRAW :-2
RATING :- 45
Bateleur is the least experienced of this lot having made his debut just 3 weeks ago in a 7 furlong maiden. He travelled supremely well throughout that day and although he was tiring late in the day as he was entitled to do, he was still good enough to hold Admo at bay with the pair pulling 8 lengths clear of the rest. Admo was a decisive maiden winner today which would give the form some substance and Bateleur was not fully wound up that day so is sure to improve appreciably. However, he is taking on a much stronger field after just a 3 week break and a race of this stature is probably coming a wee bit too soon for him. Having said that, his astute trainer would probably not have entered him in this contest without thinking that he had a chance so although he is way below the others on the bare form and rating, he must be respected
In conclusion, this race looks extremely close between Selfie Star, Caprisca and Pure Zinc and run of the race or luck could also play a role in which of the three emerges triumphant. On fitness and current form, one would probably just give the edge to Selfie Star over Pure Zinc with Caprisca right on their heels. All in all it promises to be an exciting finish and one worthy of a race of this stature.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
