PAST THE POST - A Review of the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million (Grade 1) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 27 Feb 2018
PAST THE POST – A Review of the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million (Grade 1)
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
The 29th running of the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million took place on Sunday the 25th of February 2018 and saw one of the strongest out station challenges ever with out station horses making up almost 50% of the field of 11 runners. With a dearth of frontline contenders from the home contingent, there were several challengers from both Hyderabad and the South and the race bore an extremely open look with it being very difficult to compare and tie in the parallel form from different centres. The most feared out station challenger was the unbeaten Athenaeus sporting the colours of the Dhunjibhoy's who arrived here with a formidable reputation. He had won both his starts albeit over 6 furlongs most impressively, easily getting the better of Corfe Castle, a full brother to last year's winner Ruffina although the latter had to endure a troubled passage that day. Corfe Castle too came with a strong reputation, having won his maiden in brilliant fashion and having excuses for his tame 2nd to Athenaeus on his last start. He moved very attractively in a Mock Race on the Mumbai track itself and connections were hopeful of gaining revenge over the additional furlong. Star Superior and Salvador Dali also came from Bangalore off good maiden victories while Astral Force had won his last race over 7 furlongs in Mysore clocking a very good time. Pioneer spear headed the local challenge, having been unbeaten in both his starts and scoring a smart success in the Breeders' Produce Stakes last time out while Dance The Dream – the winner of the B.K. Rattonsey Memorial Maiden Multi-Million was also competing after her stylish maiden win. Most of the runners looked fit and well in the pre parade ring with the three most catching the eye being Star Superior, Corfe Castle and Dance The Dream who all looked particularly well and it was no surprise that Star Superior was adjudged the "Best Turned Out" horse as he looked splendid in the preliminaries. Pioneer was made the favourite and was well supported at 5/2 in from an opening price of 11/4 while Athenaeus was weak in the market and drifted out from 11/4 to 9/2. There was a little money for Corfe Castle who was backed in from 6/1 to 11/2 while Star Superior and Dance The Dream were available at 8/1.
The field of 11 broke to a lovely even dispatch from the 7 furlong chute and it was Albemarie who surged ahead to make the early pace to Astral Force in 2nd spot on the fence with Dance The Dream also prominent in the early stages along with Athenaeus on the outside. Wider still came Octavius making a forward move wide on the track with Salvador Dali settling into mid division. Holding the fence in midfield also came Pioneer being tracked in the middle by Star Superior with Corfe Castle just behind him on the outside and ridden off the pace. Oomph the other filly was 2nd last with Pulverize last of all and already struggling to keep up the phrenetic pace. Albemarie kept a solid gallop and led them into the straight before retiring and it was Astral Force who now took charge from Athenaeus making his challenge on the outside with Dance The Dream trying to get into it in the middle, Oomph and Corfe Castle both coming through the shortest way and making ground along the inside and Pioneer under the whip in between horses and being the first one of the fancied runners to come under pressure with Star Superior beginning a strong run down the stands side. Astral Force and Athenaeus were battling it out when Oomph came through with a powerful run on the inside, Star Superior began to eat up ground on the outside but none was going better than Corfe Castle who finally got into the clear and was asked for an effort by P. Trevor. The response was absolutely electrifying as Corfe Castle unleashed a sizzling burst of speed, not unlike his now famous sister, to surge into the lead and it was clear all through the final furlong that there was only going to be one winner. Corfe Castle quickly opened up an insurmountable lead and was just given a tap by Trevor in the final 100M before being eased down close to the line, winning in glorious fashion by just over 3 lengths. Star Superior continued his run all the way to the line and galloped on to beat the rest convincingly and end up a creditable 2nd on just his 2nd start while the filly Oomph also ran a terrific race and finished on down the inside to end up an honourable 3rd. Astral Force kicked on to fill the frame in 4th just ahead of Athenaeus who sadly could not sustain and ended a tame 5th.
On this showing Corfe Castle provided a joyous win for Simone Poonawalla who had the distinction of breeding this horse as well and set up a unique precedent of a full brother or sister emulating the feat of their sibling and winning back to back races in this prestigious event. He clearly looks an exciting prospect and gave a first win in this race to veteran Hyderabad trained L D'Silva who has his roots in Mumbai being of local origin. For P. Trevor, it was his 3rd win in the last 4 runnings, having previously been successful on Costa Del Sol and Accolade. Corfe Castle is reportedly now to travel to Bangalore to contest the Summer Classics and he is likely to acquit himself well there. Star Superior was gallant in defeat and looks a long striding type who could get even better over further. Pioneer the favourite clearly ran way below par as he had the measure of Oomph last time out and on paper, should have finished ahead of her. Astral Force tried his best but lacked the speed of the winner and the runner up while Athenaeus possibly did not see out the 7th furlong. Dance The Dream and Salvador Dali were simply not good enough on the day and found this opposition to be too strong.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same)
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