PAST THE POST-A REVIEW OF THE POONAWALLA BREEDERS' MULTI-MILLION (GRADE 1) - By Cyrus Naterwalla
Posted on - 25 Feb 2020
PAST THE POST – A REVIEW OF THE POONAWALLA BREEDERS’ MULTI-MILLION (GRADE 1)
- By Cyrus Naterwalla
FOREST FLAME BLAZES HER WAY TO JUVENILE GLORY
For the 4th straight year in succession, the colours of the Poonawalla family were carried to victory as the piping hot odds on favourite Forest Flame (Leitir Mor x Memory Bay) a full sister to Mystic Bay maintained her perfect record to record her 3rd successive win to stamp her authority on the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi- Million – the richest Juvenile race in the country and crown herself as the queen of the current 3 year old crop. Hailing from Bangalore and trained by veteran trainer S. S. Attaollahi, Forest Flame travelled to Mumbai after scoring an impressive 6 furlong maiden win at her home centre, to contest the Breeder’s Produce Stakes, the traditional lead up for this event in which she decimated her rivals to score a fabulous wide margin victory in a smart time which firmly established her as one of the leading contenders for this rich prize. She was pitted against 10 rivals today, the next in demand being her owner mate Golden Oaks, whom she had convincingly beaten in their maiden run and whom had gone on to score in the B.K. Rattonsey Multi Million on Derby Day. Leading the home challenge was the beautifully bred Air Blast, an impressive maiden winner over 6 furlongs who had then travelled to Hyderabad where he had finished a close 2nd to the unbeaten Lombardy, who was also in the fray today. Impressive winner of the Gool S. Poonawalla Million California was also in the fray along with her stable companion Giant Star, highly touted and having scored an impressive debut win over a mile also on Derby Day.
Due to the diligent and hard working efforts of the RWITC Marketing Committee and the Poonawalla family, a larger than usual crowd was present at the Mahalaxmi race course to enjoy the evening’s festivities as the 11 colts and fillies were paraded in the paddock. Forest Flame appeared to be a bit on her toes and not too thrilled with the large crowd, jig-jogging around but still looking a picture while the others who caught the eye in the parade ring were the other Bangalore challenger Violin who was adjudged the best turned out horse, Golden Oaks, and Air Blast.
The 11 runners broke to a perfect start from the 7 furlong barrier and it was the Hyderabad Challenger Lombardy who set out to make every post a winning one from Golden Oaks racing prominently in 2nd in the centre with Violin also showing early speed to be a close 3rd up on the outside. Tucked in on the rails in 4th in a good position was Air Blast with Forest Flame improving down in the centre and Giant Star also making headway on the outside to be close up with the leaders. Successor in the black cap came next with Taimur trying to improve but racing quite wide on the track. Next in the field came California who was ridden off the pace with Excelerator the rank outsider 2nd last and Super Girl a close last as they charged towards the 1000M marker. Lombardy continued to take them along a at a good clip from Golden Oaks all the time poised to strike in 2nd with Air Blast making a little ground to improve into 3rd followed by Forest Flame and Violin who had dropped back slightly. These 5 five were now about 2 ½ lengths ahead of California and Successor with Giant Star also having lost his position slightly but the field quite closely grouped as they straightened for home. Lombardy set sail for home once they straightened up with Golden Oaks putting in a nice run in the middle to come and challenge, Air Blast getting a nice split and coming through to make his bid and Forest Flame now being called upon for an effort by David Egan with the rest looking to be struggling to keep up the pace. Golden Oaks took charge passing the 300 and kicked away to a 2 ½ length lead over Forest Flame now going in chase with Lombardy trying to rally on the fence and Air Blast on her outside. Golden Oaks looked to have a decisive lead at the furlong pole but Forest Flame showed the stuff only true champions are made of and put in a powerful burst inside the last 150M to run down the gallant leader and begin to assert as the line drew near. To the delight of the large crowd, the favourite travelled better and better the further they went and was well on top at the finish although this was not as easy as her previous 2 wins, sparing one and a quarter lengths at the wire. Golden Oaks showed significant improvement and must have given the favourite a scare at one point, ending up a most honourable 2nd. The front two pulled 3 ½ lengths clear of the rest with Lombardy kicking on to finish up a decent 3rd and Air Blast keeping on to fill the frame in 4th.
David Egan thus continued his dream first season in Mumbai by picking up yet another rich prize. Forest Flame clearly appears to be the best among the current lot of 3 year olds and is likely to finish this season unbeaten. She may return home now or stay in Western India for the Shapoorji Pallonji Fillies Championship over a mile. Golden Oaks the runner up looks vastly improved and was gallant in defeat. It will be interesting to see where she is targeted next. Lombardy, who had never been beyond 1200M ran out of gas in the closing stages but still confirmed the form with Air Blast who did not show the anticipated improvement and might do better once reverting to more patient tactics as he did on his debut run.
After having won over a mile on debut, this drop in trip was never going to favour Giant Star and he could not keep pace when the leaders kicked for home and was staying on late in the day to finish 5th. He needs to tackle distances of a mile and beyond. Successor ended up 6th and seems to be a bit short of this level for the time being while California showed no spark at all and also probably found this opposition to be too tough. The rest were outclassed.
(Disclaimer : Views are entirely that of the correspondent only and RWITC takes no responsibility for the same).
