The Hindu : Sport : Mystical flashes home in the Invitation Cup

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 06, 2006

Sport

Sport

Mystical flashes home in the Invitation Cup

Anil Mukhi

PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY

M.A.M. Ramaswamy and M.A.M.R. Muthaiah, the owners of Mystical, receiving the Invitation Cup from the Karnataka Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

BANGALORE: In a repeat of last year's result, India's leading rider, B. Prakash, sported the well-known silks of Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy while guiding his mount to victory in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup astride a Subbaiah Ganapathy-trained runner.

The resemblance ended there, for — unlike Southern Regent in 2005, who had it all his own way — Mystical only just got home this afternoon at Bangalore. The margin was a perilously close neck, not necessarily a true reflection of his superiority over stablemate Flashing Star, but then Prakash had a troubled passage and lost his whip at a crucial stage close home.

Holding Court showed the effects of his hard race in the McDowell Indian Derby at Mumbai four weeks earlier when weakening into third, almost five lengths in arrears, despite a perfect trip. Fourth-placed Refreshing was a further two and a quarter lengths behind, running virtually the same race as she had when runner-up to Flashing Star in January. Overall, the result was most satisfactory in that the principal runners had performed precisely to their level of ability.

That Admiral's Force was a misfit in this company was demonstrated moments after the start when the so-called pacemaker was unable to lead for more than a stride or two. It was Democraticus who surprisingly took up the running, moving sweetly as they passed the winning post for the first time. Following him was Admiral's Force, with Holding Court prominent and Mystical taking much closer order than he had at Mahalakshmi. After all, an intelligent rider, which Prakash certainly is, does not make the same mistake twice!

Moving well

Mystical was always moving well and his pilot seemed unperturbed even when stablemate Flashing Star accelerated away and tackled Holding Court as they entered the straight. For a few brief moments, Mystical was pocketed, causing an audible gasp to go up from amongst his many followers. However, like the champion he is, he lengthened his strides once he had an opening, challenged his stablemate and pulled a neck clear of Flashing Star at the wire. Initially it appeared a cheeky victory, with Prakash going hands and heels in the last 50 metres. It soon became clear that this was because he had lost his whip, but for which — his trainer opined — Mystical might have won by a length or two.

Bred at the Poonawalla Group of Stud Farms, Mystical followed in the footsteps of his paternal half-brother, the 2001 winner Storm Again, both being sons of Alnasr Alwasheek. He became the tenth runner from that breeding establishment to record a success in this prestigious event.

Amazing Power triumphs

The fabulous run of the Ramaswamy/Ganapathy/Prakash combine came to an end when last year's Invitation winner Southern Regent, coming down to the metric mile after an attempt at the 2,000m Eclipse Stakes of India, was just nosed out of the Grade I Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile. In downing last year's champion, Amazing Power, sent out a picture by the painstaking Vinayak, paid a huge tribute to Mystical who had easily held him in the Indian 2000 Guineas at Mumbai back in December. It required all of Niall McCullagh's raw strength to persuade his mount to succeed, providing — like the Invitation Cup — a grand spectacle to the assembled throng who funnelled over Rs. 5 crores into the Tote.

Earlier in the afternoon, next year's putative champion was spotted in the shape of Placerville's son, Southern Empire, who donkey-licked his four rivals in the Japan Cup. Needless to say, the smart youngster — who cut a significantly faster time than Class I runners over 1,400m during the afternoon — shares the same connections as the Invitation Cup winner.

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