Super Weekend of racing in store- by Shailendra Awasthi- |TOI
Posted on - 14 Dec 2017
Super Weekend of racing in store
by Shailendra Awasthi- |TOI|
Mumbai:The premier racing centre in the country, the Mahalaxmi racecourse, will be the cynosure of all eyes as it hosts the Super Weekend which will usher in the best three-year-old filly and colt respectively on Saturday (Indian 1000 Guineas) and Sunday (Indian 2000 Guineas).
Both the classic races are wide open with many contenders capable of springing up surprises and upset the apple cart of the fancied ones.
Though there are nine runners in the Spartan Poker Indian 1000 Guineas, three fillies, Ruffina, Manifold and Lady In Lace are likely to attract a major chunk of the money. The way Dallas Todywalla schooled Ruffina, the highest rated filly in the race, trounced class I field on the opening day of the Season, deserves attention. “Ruffina is the only unbeaten filly in the field. I am confident that she will continue her unbeaten streak in the 1000 Guineas,” her owner and ace breeder Cyrus Poonawalla told TOI.
The major threat to Ruffina will come from Pesi Shroff’s Manifold, winner of the Bangalore Summer Derby this year. Shroff, one of the finest trainers in the country, was as modest as ever when asked to comment on the possibilities. “I have two fillies participating, Manifold and Windsor Forest. Both fillies are doing well and stand a fighting chance,” Shroff said.
The Hyderabad challenger and winner of the Pune Derby, Lady In Lace, will be right there, felt her trainer KSV Prasad Raju. “My filly has taken the travel well and the long straight of Mahalaxmi should suit my filly. Manifold, however, is the biggest threat to her,” observed Prasad Raju.
Veteran trainer Mansingh Jadhav’s Themis is a dark horse and is capable of adding more drama.
Sunday’s Jacqueline Indian 2000 Guineas (Grade 1) has 10 top colts in the fray with many running with some degree of chance. Three of them, Castlebridge, Bateleur and Mygrator are expected to figure in the final battle. Bharat Singh-trained Castlebridge is the highest rated in the field and had given enough hint of his superb form with fluent victory in his lead up race, Maharaja Of Morvi Trophy. “Castlebridge worked well and I’m happy with the way he’s looking,” said his trainer.
Vishal Gaikwad’s Bateleur is the biggest threat to Castlebridge’s chances and the latter’s trainer acknowledged that. “He should run well considering that he was kept quite far behind in the Morvi Trophy,” said Bharat Singh.
Trainer Malesh Narredu’s Mygrator is the third prime contender. “My colt has won four races in a row. The horse everyone has to beat is Castlebridge but I still hope Mygrator surprises them,” hoped the former top jockey.
