Derby winner In The Spotlight may next race in Doha - By Ikram Khan TNN
Posted on - 08 Feb 2012
Derby winner In The Spotlight may next race in Doha
Ikram Khan TNN
Bangalore: Now that she has beaten the best without raising a sweat in the Indian Derby, the connections of the wonder filly In The Spotlight have rightly decided to parade her skills in international events. A mega Group-I event in Doha scheduled on March 1 tops the list followed by a 3200m event in Dubai on the Dubai World Cup day.
“In The Spotlight proved that Indian competition is no match for her. Now the onus is on me to test her ability on the international scene. We are pushing hard to gain an invitational entry for the Group-I event in Doha. She stands a good chance of racing in Doha and if that happens she will skip the Indian Turf Invitation Cup in Bangalore on Sunday, March 4,” said her trainer S Padmanabhan.
“She undoubtedly is the best I have owned. Most old hats in the game, including a couple of international jockeys donning silks at this centre, are of the opinion that she has the potential and class to compete on the international stage. Now that she has done us all proud, I’m only willing to do my bit for her,” said owner Capt. Jamshed Appoo, who reportedly refused a Rs 6-crore offer to sell In The Spotlight before the Indian Derby.
Padmanabhan disclosed that the nominations for the Dubai event closed on January 14 and they are eagerly looking forward to an invitation. “The chances to race in Doha are good. Gaining an entry in Dubai is tough but this filly deserves a chance,” he said.
When asked how he compared In The Spotlight with Jacqueline, Padmanabhan said: “In the Spotlight is far better. Each time, be it in Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai, she has demolished her rivals and to do that, particularly in the Indian Derby, is not an easy task. But she did it easily and that suggests she is in a class of her own,” said Padmanabhan.
With only three weeks to go for the big event in Doha, and the fact that In The Spotlight will need to observe the quarantine regulation before her journey to the Gulf city, Padmanabhan, Appoo and the Poonawallas are racing against time to confirm her passage. If that comes through then In The Spotlight may well do what Mystical did in Dubai.
