PAST THE POST - A Review of the 2019 Pune Derby (Grade 1) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 14 Oct 2019
PAST THE POST - A Review of the 2019 Pune Derby (Grade 1)
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
The 2019 Edition of the Blue Riband of the Pune Racing Season – The Pune Derby which sadly this year saw the lack of a sponsor bore a very open look to it with no outstanding contender in the fray. The traditional pointers to the Derby tend to be the other 2 lead up races – the F.D. Wadia and the S.A. Poonawalla. While the F.D. Wadia winner Golden Guest did not seem to have the stamina for the 2000M trip and was not entered, both the winner and runner up of the S.A. Poonawalla were expected to renew their rivalry. On that occasion, Sultan Suleiman had narrowly gotten the better of Trouvaille but many expected the positions to be reversed over this longer trip. Sadly the much anticipated rematch did not take place with Sultan Suleiman being withdrawn on the morning of the race on veterinary grounds. That left a field of 7 rivals to take on Trouvaille. Heading the list of challengers was Wizard of Stocks, a lightly raced and improving sort from the all conquering Pesi Shroff yard who had finished a distant runner up to Tasawwur on his opening run of the season in a 2000M contest. He had earlier run 5th in the Colts Championship Stakes in Bangalore behind War Hammer and Impavid and was the more fancied of the Pesi Shroff duo. Pesi’s other runner Rhapsody was an interesting and unexposed type having won 2 of her 3 starts including an impressive win over a mile last time out but that form had been let down when the runner up Hokkaido was comprehensively beaten on Saturday. Victorious Sermon from the Vishal Gaikwad yard had performed creditably during the Bangalore summer and started a hot favourite for the S.A. Poonawalla but ended up an insipid 3rd although he was also expected to be better over the longer trip. Moriseiki, from the stable of young AdhirajsinghJodha had made an impressive comeback after a long break when scoring an easy maiden win over 2000M on his reappearance and was expected to improve as was the only out station challenger Prince Valiant from Hyderabad who had finished 4th in the S.A. Poonawalla. Rounding out the field were the two apparent long shots, Daddy’s Pride – possibly the first big race runner for Trainer Subhag Singh and Justified, a highly regarded colt from the Imtiaz Sait yard.
The race appeared competitive in the betting as well and Trouvaille who opened the favourite was easy to back on the course with strong support for both Victorious Sermon and Wizard of Stocks who was very well supported before the off. The field of 8 runners broke to an even dispatch from the barrier and it was the Hyderabad challenger Prince Valiant who set out to make every post a winning one from the Pesi Shroff trained duo of Rhapsody and Wizard of Stocks who were both prominent in the early stages, with Moriseiki settling into 4th spot on the fence just preceding Trouvaille in the Rajesh Monga colours, racing 5th on the outside. Victorious Sermon was tracking Trouvaille along the inside with Justified 2nd last and Daddy’s Pride content to race at the rear of the field at this stage. Prince Valiant kept the pace steady through the backstretch with Rhapsody keeping him honest in 2nd spot, Moriseiki improving to race in 3rd relegating Wizard of Stocks to the 4th spot. Victorious Sermon had also improved into 5th with Trouvaille now in 6th spot and Justified and Daddy’s Pride still the final pair. The pace began to quicken as they approached the bend with Justified the first one off the bridle and soon joined by Daddy’s Pride and Moriseiki who’s riders were all hard at work as they rounded the bend with Prince Valiant, Rhapsody and Wizard of Stocks all racing almost abreast and Victorious Sermon and Trouvailled both poised to strike in behind. Wizard of Stocks bounded into the lead as they entered the straight with Trouvaille throwing down a strong challenge on the outside, Rhapsody and Prince Valiant both caught a bit flat footed but trying to stay on, Victorious Sermon under pressure and looking in trouble and the rank outsider Daddy’s Pride running a mighty race and beginning to stay on down the stands side. Wizard of Stocks and Trouvaille settled down to fight it out with the latter clearly travelling the better of the two and in spite of hanging in under pressure, asserted his superiority close home and was drawing away at the finish. Wizard of Stocks ended up a good 2nd with Daddy’s Pride running the race of his life to finish a most creditable 3rd. Victorious Sermon could not quicken when push came to shove and stayed on at the one pace to finish 4th. Rhapsody too was disappointing and looked a non stayer, ending up a poor 5th ahead of Moriseiki who was a faraway 6th. Prince Valiant weakened to beat just one runner home that one being Justified who ended up last of 8.
Predictably Neeraj Rawal objected against the winner for coming in and taking his ground and while there was marginal interference, it appeared that it would not have impacted the result and that the better horse on the day had won. Hence, the decision of the Stewards to overrule the objection seemed a fair one. Trouvaille at present clearly seems to be the best colt at this centre and looks set for a promising Mumbai season where he is sure to lock horns with Wizard of Stocks again. The Pesi Shroff ward appears to be making steady improvement and ran a cracker in 2nd. He has every chance of gaining revenge in the Indian 2000 Guineas where the pair are likely to renew their rivalry. The surprise package of the race was Daddy’s Pride who few gave even a semblance of a chance to make the frame and who had struggled to win a Class IV mile handicap on his earlier start. He did his trainer and his connections proud although he will have done his handicap mark no favours and this was an improved performance. Victorious Sermon looked flat and clearly is not as good as connections hoped he would be and maybe he is just suited by the Bangalore track. He does not appear to be upto this level at the present time. The rest looked to be outclassed with Rhapsody finding the task to be too stiff at this early stage of her career although she does have scope to improve. The other three simply were outclassed.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same).
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