The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Members of 1,000+ club to display their wares

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

Members of 1,000+ club to display their wares

CHENNAI, MARCH 3. Accompanying the wealth of horseflesh in town for the weekend's big events are the professionals — trainers and jockeys — who have made the journey from their home bases with a view to supervising and guiding home their wards to victory.

Amongst the saddle artists, one who will be sorely missed this time is the now-retired Pesi Shroff, who guided home the winner of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Storm Again, last time around.

However, with the likes of B. Prakash, M. Narredu and K.P.G. Appu displaying their wares, local railbirds have a rare treat ahead of them. What is unique about this trio? They are all members of the 1,000+ club, riders who have steered their mounts home over a thousand times!

Prakash Bhosle, himself the son of a jockey, began riding at Pune in 1992 and has, according to the database maintained by M/s. Indian Turf Services, booted home 1,177 winners all over the country until February 21, 2005. He has excelled at Guindy, with 206 winners from 222 mounts.

Mallesh Narredu, brother of former "knight of the pigskin" Satish Narredu and uncle of the promising Suraj Narredu, has a healthy 32% strike rate in Chennai, although obviously he is not seen often in view of his commitments elsewhere. From available data, commencing November 1, 1992, he has brought home 1,031 successful mounts all over India.

Kenchpura Prakash Gnanamurthy Appu has been the busiest of the lot, having faced the starter 6,437 times in India and on a few occasions in Mauritius as well. 1,143 of his mounts in this country have entered the winner's enclosure, of which a mere eight have been at Guindy. However seven of these came during the last carnival, from a mere dozen mounts. So clearly he is quite at home on the course.

Incidentally, hot on their heels is C. Rajendra, with 930+ winners. By the time this carnival comes around to Guindy again, he ought to have added his name to the list of those who have striven hard to earn these coveted laurels. — Anil Mukhi

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