September Racing Starts off in Style - By Mahendra Mallya
Posted on - 04 Sep 2012
September Racing Starts off in Style
By Mahendra Mallya
The Pune Meeting 2012 is well and truly starting to blossom, with five weeks of exciting racing now gone by. September started off on a festive note, with Radio One bringing in delightful fashion sequences to mark their race - The Radio One Run. This was a Class III handicap race over 1000 meters. Sabina Sanghvi, the Station Head, Radio One Pune, a warm and hospitable lady, was overseeing all arrangements herself. She was very much involved in looking after the guests. After the running of the race, she was thoughtful in inviting all the important people of the Radio One Team to take the place of prominence on the presentation Podium. Celebrity Music Jockeys Teejay Siddhu and Tia graced the podium. They handed out attractive gift hampers – an attractive collection of Godrej Nature products, to the winning connections.
“It has been an enjoyable afternoon and the racing action really took our breath away,” said Ms Sanghvi. “The association with the RWITC has been encouraging and it is indeed delightful to see the ‘Radio One Run Trophy’ in the race card. We are keen to continue our association with the Club.” She then presented Mr Vivek Jain with a special memento to commemorate the event. Mr Jain too replicated the gesture on behalf of the Club.
Smart Strider won the race as he liked and looked the winner long way from home. Smart Strider has shown great improvement on her Mumbai form, here in Pune.
“He was a bit rigid and immature in Mumbai,” explained trainer Karthik. “He wouldn’t settle down as required and was very distracted in his preparation while in Mumbai. I had to be patient with him and tolerate his tantrums. That seemed to have worked and he paid back and how! I was very happy over his maiden win earlier in Pune, but his victory in the Radio One Trophy was a much classier effort. I reckon his next assignment will be the Panchshil Million race over six-furlongs. Though he won both his races over five-furlongs, I am confident he will do as well over the extra furlong as well,” said Karthik who won two races this weekend the other being Rewarding.
Smart Strider humbled favourite Victorious March from trainer Rehanullah Khan’s yard. “I would have been happier had Victorious March won, however, I am not unduly worried. He ran well within himself, I feel he was not comfortable with the surface (monsoon track). He was after all, running on this surface for the first time. He was running after a lay off too, so I can understand this loss. I wouldn’t say he has run below par. He is a good horse and won’t take too long to give a better account of himself. I also give credit to Smart Strider, he ran an incredible race. The way he accelerated, it would have been difficult for any horse to better him. Victorious March, I assure you, will do well. I only need to be patient with him,” said Rehan while assessing his ward’s loss.
The feature event for Saturday’s races was the traditional race - The General Rajendrasinghji Million and Blue Ace was the hot favourite to win this race. As it turned out, Blue Ace, for the fifth time in his budding career, ended second, as Shivalik Hero, donning the Gold and Brown silks of Dr MAM Ramaswamy won the race with surprising ease.
“This is awfully frustrating,” admitted Dallas Todywalla who trains Blue Ace. After a narrow loss to Capriole, who won again beating a tougher set (Alma Matar, Volterra& co ), I was confident he would do well. However, I feel, going by his latest performance, I should try him over a shorter distance. We will sit and chalk out new plans for him. He has the ability, I don’t have any doubt on that, it’s a matter of time before he converts his efforts into winning ones,” said Dallas.
The mood was completely different in the other camp. Malesh Narredu just couldn’t stop smiling. “I am truly happy. Honestly, I was nervous. I was saddling my first horse for boss (Dr MAM Ramaswamy). I have ridden so many races for him and enjoyed a very successful stint riding for his stables.
However, this was a different ball game and the butterflies in the stomach were inevitable. I called him and sought his blessing and he was gracious in encouraging me. ‘Don’t worry too much Malesh’ he said to me. ‘I only expect him to run well, win or loss is absolutely ok with me. All the best’ - that’s what he said to me. I was thrilled no end when Shivalik Hero returned triumphant. This is another memorable moment of my life!” said Malesh Narredu. Asked about the future plans with his ward Shivalik Hero, Malesh said that he would prepare him for the big one – The Nanoli Pune Derby scheduled on October 14th 2012.
If Saturday was the ignition, Sunday’s races were at full throttle. The main attraction for the day was the AGP Colts’ & Fillies’ Million sponsored by the Ashwin Gidwani Productions. Bizarro bounced off his rivals in a scintillating stretch-run, winning by a widening margin. In celebration, Mr Ashwin Gidwani, MD, AGP, popped champagne on the dais. “It is matter of pride and privilege to be associated with the RWITC and we promote our race as a mixture of equine excellence mixed with enthralling entertainment. We will surely take this to a higher level in future,” he assured the Club.
Mr Vivek Jain said “I thank Ashwin for the magnanimous sponsorship at Pune. The entertainment value that the AGP adds is top class and racing and entertainment is now being accepted the world over,” he said, as he handed Mr Gidwani a memento on behalf of the Club.
Bizarro showed a lot of maturity and class in winning the AGP Milllion in the manner he did. His trainer Cooji Katrak was visibly satisfied. “Oh yes, Bizarro pleased me no end. He was prepared with this race in mind. He had run a good mock race under his belt coming into this one and that credible run was enough to fine-tune him. I was confident he would run a good race, but what he showed on the track did quite come as a bonus. I see a good horse in him and I shall decide on his future plans shortly,” said Katrak.
The Hyatt Regency Pune Trophy was the other main race of the day. Fourteen three-year-olds were seeking their first career victory. Barringo was the prime fancy. Dreamland chose his debut run to find his moment in sunshine. He took off right from the start and made every post a winning one. Barringo put up a stiff challenge and drew alongside to give her a real scare at the business end of the race. Both Dreamland and Barringo flashed past the winning post locked together. The judge finally declared Dreamland the winner by a short-head. It was racing at its best!
Mr Gadi Hassin, General Manger Hyatt Regency Pune, gave away the trophy to Mr A Rashid and Mr & Mrs R Rashid, owners of Dreamland. Mr Hassin too popped Champagne. “The Hyatt Regency is glad to associate with the RWITC as hospitality partners. The afternoon has been engaging and enjoyable and this is something we will look forward to in future as well. I invite you all to enjoy the Hyatt hospitality and world class comfort that comes with it, when in Pune. I am sure you will enjoy your stay with us, we have special privileges to offer members of the RWITC,” Mr Gadi Hassin said.
The winning owners were visibly jubilant. Asked how he felt with his colt winning on debut, Mr Riyad was crisp; “I am in Dreamland” was his witty reply.
It was an especially memorable weekend for one young lad – apprentice jockey Mosin. He scored his first career win atop Rewarding, in the concluding race on Sunday. For Malesh too, it was a splendid start, saddling a winner for Dr MAM on his first attempt.
Mr Shyam Ruia along with his trainer Noshir Cama and jockey Neeraj Rawal also had a good Saturday with their debutante filly Edith Piaf and Quid Pro Quo returning triumphant in the last two rqces of the day. Trainer Noshir said, “Edith Piaf had dished out good work in her morning trials and we were excited to see how she performs. We knew she was ready and the victory was not exactly unexpected. We are happy with the result though and she is sure to improve further. Quid Pro Quo had won well in Mumbai and after her last run here, was better prepared. I am happy to have pulled off the double.
September then, has started on the right note. With popular races such as the Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy and the September Handicap on Saturday and the Southern Command day coming up along with the Class I - Odds On Trophy on Sunday, lots more action is awaiting patrons, as the Season heats up to a boiling point.
