ARSHAD ALAM RECORDS FINE TREBLE

The talented Arshad Alam cornered glory on the penultimate day of the winter season, recording a fine treble through Harley Quinn and Opening Act from the stables of Azhar Ali and the well backed Blue Blazer from trainer Imtiaz Khan's yard.

After her smashing victory in her last essay, Harley Quinn was fancied most by the stable connections despite the heavy penalty she was asked to shoulder in the Malpe Trophy run over a sprint. But the in-form Azhar Ali ward successfully managed to defy the handicap, edging out Noahs Ark in a thriller. The Inayathullah schooled Mint shared the favouritism with Harley Quinn before the dozen runners came under the starter's flag, but she could only finish third.

Blue Blazer who failed to earn his cornbill last time thanks to the injudicious effort of jockey Pradeep Chouhan was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals in the upper division of the Masters Key Plate and he made no mistake romping home in style. Del Porto did well to gain the runner-up spot ahead of the old at tooth Freenemee, while Iron Man took the fourth spot. The winner, it appears is in the best of health and it will pay to follow him again early in the summer season.

Astride the second in demand at the betting ring, Opening Act in the lower division of the event, Arshad packed punch on the Azhar Ali ward to take command at the distance post before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Tarini from Satish Narredu's yard finished on purposefully at end to nose out Birchwood, who in his effort to make every post a winning one went out of gas in the final furlong but yet managed to save place money.

Satish Narredu, earlier led in Kingsfield who made a heartwarming debut in the Becket Plate. The winner, who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring hit the front soon after the 12 juveniles came under the starter'ss flag and was never headed, increasing his margin of victory in the final furlong. Keevah, another debutant finished a game second ahead of Spiritous while Tiger Returns from Arjun Manglorkar's yard, who was also strongly fancied in this event despite the bad draw (12) returned home a none-too-impressive fourth.

The Inayathullah-trained Tea Wid Me, who performed like a dud in her last essay last week, appeared to have sprouted wings and in exactly a week's time produced a sublime effort to floor all her nine rivals in the upper division of the Irupu Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs.Tea Wid Me over an identical distance last Wednesday finished more than 11 lengths behind Bellerophon and this Wednesday she streamrolled the opposition to win by more than five lengths in the hands of T S Jodha. The vastly improved performance in just a week calls for an explanation, but the stewards and stipes at this centre are more interested promoting their candidates for the forthcoming elections and  keeping away a seasoned and senior race correspondent without a charge or a caution. The improved performance of Tea Wid Me calls for an enquiry and explanation. The hopefully the stipes and stewards will take a serious view of the many blow-hot, blow-cold cases in their effort to gain the confidence of the poor punters who are floored by the sudden change in form made a mockery of the book of form. The on-money favourite Purity, who was not favourably placed at the top of the straight started galloping only after Tea Wid Me and her owner were sipping a cup of tea after stunning one and all.

Pinyada helped Inayathullah record a double, winning the RCTC Cup in the hands of leading pro Srinath. The favourite travelled nice and easy all through the seven furlongs trip before Srinath reminded the public choice of the task ahead and the Inayathullah ward responded gamely to score in convincing fashion from arch rival Rum Runner and Mickey Mouse.

After a while trainer Mahesh struck it rich in the Magod Falls Plate run over a mile. Good Time Indeed fancied quietly by the insiders and right connections donkey-licked her 11 rivals while providing jockey Jagadeesh an easy victory. So Mi Dar and Dynamism garnered maximum support in this event. While Dynamism finished second, So Mi Dar, who was ineptly piloted by Shailesh Shinde finished fourth behind Scarlet Princess.

By Ikram Khan

HARTNELL LIFTS CALCUTTA ST LEGER

Rutherford Alford-trained Hartnell proved beyond doubt that he is no mean stayer as he lifted the season’s last and longest classic – The Calcutta St Leger – with a degree of comfort, thanks to an intelligent piece of horsemanship by the vastly experienced YS Srinath. Gradually moving up the son of Western Aristocrat (out of Mother’s Pride) from the rear of the seven-horse field, Srinath gave his rivals the slip just after the turning for home, to win eventually by just over a length. In contrast, his nearest rival Alldero (Dashrath Singh up) was ridden in a haphazardly manner and paid the penalty. To make matters worse, the colt dropped his bit between the 1200m and 1000m markers and lost position drastically. Rather ironically, it was his giant stablemate Shohin who took the box seat behind pace-setter Panchovilla from the 1600m marker, which contributed partly to Alldero’s debacle. Dashrath was committed to the rails and could not extricate himself until it was too late. Having said that, all due credit must be given to Hartnell’s mentor who paraded him in the paddock in tip-top condition. His confidence in his ward was reflected on the odds board as it closed as the 18/10 favourite. Kudos to young Rutherford for delivering the goods with such confidence!

That rating is not a criteria in such races was proved by the filly Very Special who ended up a good third despite being rated the lowest at 43. Her breeding (China Visit-Star Supremacy) was the reason that she performed so admirably over an extended trip of 2800 metres. Her dam line (Razeen-Gourgandine) has an abundance of staying blood and this became evident as the race progressed..

Rutherford had earlier led in Sheer Force (Net Whizz-Celtic Manor) who made every post of the Regal Connection Cup a winning one in the hands of Srinath. The colt, who closed as the favourite,  had to be hard ridden in the final furlong to keep Coup De Grace at bay. Both of Rutherford’s winners are owned by Suchit Jayraj Shah.

The afternoon commenced with Shezad Khan riding an absolute blinder atop Bath-trained Glorious Run (Rebuttal-Beautiful Crown/ Hazara Stud). Available at 10/1, the gelding was held back for most part along the rails before being switched to the outside in the straight and forged a difficult passage through a packed field to get the better of Everglow who was in a clear position to pocket the race. City Heights finished on well to occupy the runner-up berth.

The two divisions of the Robin Hood Handicap were no-whips races. The withdrawal of Born To Win cleared the way for a duel between Amaranthus and Carpe Noctem.  However, as the gates opened, it became evident that it was going to be a one-horse race as Carpe Noctem (Surfrider-Princess Helen) shot out of the gates like a scalded cat to give apprentice Vikram an armchair ride. The lower division belonged to Vikash Jaiswal’s Dancing Prince (Ace-Dancing Greens) who closed as the favourite and made every post a winning one in the hands of PS Chouhan.

The race for The Royal Blue Handicap saw One Man Army set a scorching pace which threw favourite Arakawah out  of gear. It was left to James Mc Keown-trained Nobu (Burden Of Proof-Soviet Lake/ Kunigal Stud) to collar the front-runner, aided by some hrd riding from Trevor in the saddle. James Mc Keown brought the curtain down with a hard earned victory. His ward Rustler was ridden with great vigour by Dashrath to land the spoils. However, the race would have been undoubtedly won by Demonstrate with a reliable full-jockey to guide him. What was the necessity to declare a whip-less apprentice on  a bottom-weight who has been responding impressively to the stick ? More so, since the trip was merely six furlongs, which can be considered a trifle short for him. It was a technical error and the connections paid for it.

By Epsom Ace