Spotlight on In the Spotlight in the McDowell Signature Premier Indian St Leger on Sunday - By Vivek Jain
Posted on - 26 Sep 2012
Spotlight on In the Spotlight in the McDowell Signature Premier Indian St Leger on Sunday
By Vivek Jain
The record breaking filly, In the Spotlight, bids to set an unprecedented mark in the history of Indian racing, by attempting to break the 5 crore earning mark in the last of the Indian classics on Sunday.
With stakes earnings of Rs 489.41 lacs, already the highest winnings by any horse in India, the over Rs 30 lakh winning prize for the Leger, would take her well past the 5 crore mark, which will be an unprecedented achievement. The chestnut has already won 10 graded races, including 5 Grade-1’s, which would, in all probability, be yet another record. The property of Capt. Jamshed Appoo, the filly has a career record of 10 wins from 14 starts.
Her trainer, the Bangalore based S.Padmanabhan, has a fine record of training champions, the most recent being Borsalino, who won the Bangalore Summer Derby this year.
The next highest earner, last year’s heroine, Moonlight Romance, earned Rs 359.49 lacs. Interestingly, the top four earners are all fillies.
Every sport needs heroes, and Indian racing is lucky to have one, and the mere presence of In the Spotlight should attract a higher attendance. A few years ago the Jacqueline vs Becket match in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Mumbai created a huge buzz, and now we have this filly's march to further glory. The media deserves to play this up.
Racing is dogged with so much controversy, negative image, and with so very little written on the magnificence of the sport. With a rare superstar in Indian racing's midst, her feat deserves to be applauded and honoured.
When I had approached Dr Vijay Mallya two years ago to sponsor this race he was initially hesitant, commenting that it is usually a lack lustre race, but finally agreed when he was convinced that an Indian classic had its own prestige and heritage. It is fitting that an all time great is all set to give the race a mighty boost on Sunday, complimenting the stature of the race and USL's decision to associate with it.
The top 5 earners in Indian Racing history:
In the Spotlight Rs 489.41 lacs ch f by Alnasr Alwasheek- Radiate
Moonlight Romance Rs.359.49 lacs b f by China Visit- Wandering star
Quest for Victory Rs.349. 48 lacs b f by Always a Rainbow- Beau Wonder
Jacqueline Rs.325.98 lacs b f by King Charlemange- Talita Kumi
Sky’s the Limit Rs.288.65 lacs gr c by Predappio- Bold as Silver
Alnasr Alwasheek, a Poonawalla Farms resident stallion, has produced such champions as Mysyical, Icrebreaker, Southern Bay, Storm Again, Noble Eagle and more.
Though In the Spotlight’s dam Radiate, has had no other significant performer, her grand dam Aroma,produced graded race winners in Radical Force, Golden Edition and Road Runner.
