Angara justifies confidence

PUNE

WELL-BACKED favourites, fell like nine pins at the races on Sept. 16.

Angara's chances of winning the Piaggio's Ape' September Handicap looked rosy as this daughter of Tecorno had matched strides with better class horses such as Tobler and Rambus earlier where she had finished a close third.

However, the speed factor in Tecorno breeds held a question mark over her staying potential in this sponsored event. But Pesi Shroff keeping Angara alongside the leader Midnight Star for a big slice of the trip and that too without any discomfort dispelled doubts about her staying quality. Just a few cracks from Pesi Shroff in the straight sent Angara into full steam for a splendid win. Angara has thus catapulted into the classic picture.

Though Roll Of Dice, an impressive winner in his last essay was seen at his bristling best at the bend, the spark of running away from the field was clearly missing when M.Narredu pressed his ``go'' button in the straight. Perhaps the opposition was too strong to be tackled.

Nautilus' third is worth keeping a note of. Al Humair's mock race and his Mumbai form were largely responsible for attracting good support in the betting ring but this Alnasr Alwasheek colt disappointed by ending fourth. Perhaps his relish for more galloping room might help in the near future.

The well backed Zongrilla met a tarter in Silver Sea who despite poor performance earlier outing was her bristling self.

Ride The Lightning who was moving comfortably till the bend began to shorten his strides and ended a poor third. His ideal trip would be 2000m.

A gush of money on Adam's Light was a confounding sight. No doubt the filly had worked well but that did not mean she should receive such unwavering support in the ``ring''. Her second suggests that she needs some more time to shed the maiden status.

Romanza's start to finish attempt in the hands of Aadesh Kumar helped her score an upset victory.

Land Lady's overdue win at last brought relief to the Magansingh Jodha camp. A bad knock from Judgement Call at the start sealed Beautiful Stranger's fate there itself. He should be persisted with.

The experienced Ruffles in a neck and neck duel from 400m onwards got the better of Accademia in the fourth race.

Las Mareas' nowhere suggests that she would be useful over a longer trip.

Killarney's success in the stepped up class brought happiness in the Dhunjibhoy's camp and she should be supported till beaten.

Anthology's slender lead in the straight raised hopes for a while but in the final furlong he felt the pinch of hard run. Right Moment's fifth despite the 5 kgs allowance substantiated that the trip was beyond her compass.

Zuhaak was too good to be beaten in the sprint race.

Note Sabara for an early win.

Loretta's surge to peg back Big Blaze in the straight was so zestful that her rivals found it difficult to nab her at the end. Big Blaze missing the kick at the start cost him a race. Despite M.Narredu's superb handling Big Blaze could not topple the winner.

Champagne Gold scores

The intermittent rain forced the authorities to hold the races on the monsoon track on Sept. 15.

Hosidar Daji's ward Champagne Gold had better claims than his rivals in the Manitou Trophy as he was meeting them on better terms. Despite Prince Nicholas' efforts to change the result at the wire, Champagne Gold succeeded in his start-to-finish attempt.

When jockey M. Narredu was asked the reason for Ally Mcbeal's failure, he said: ``The penalty of last win was so stiff that it was very difficult to keep pace with the winner. Even if I did not have the rough passage along the rails, I could not have beaten the winner.''

Rebel Countess' start to finish runs earlier and the presence of C. Rajendra in the saddle enabled the 8-yearold mare to come into the money. Whirling Dervish's powerful surge looked as though she might do the trick over 1,100m trip. Castle Moon belied expectations when she ended in the ruck. She had displayed good initial speed in her previous runs.

Great Magician planted at the gate and did not take part in the race.

Palazzio came out with another success to enhance trainer Bezan Chenoy's stature in Western India.

He trains his wards with lot of patience and understanding can not be denied. In the stepped up class with the stiff penalty, this daughter of Placerville slaughtered her rivals in a good time of 1 min 25.31 seconds.

If a horse is well groomed and well-placed in weights, it hardly matters who guides his destiny. Trainer S. K. Sunderji's choice for a five kilo claimer on Days of Glory paid him richly when his ward landed the spoils.

After waging a strong battle with Heroic till the distance post, Special Happening roused hopes but in a trice, P. S. Chouhan conjured up on Forest Hunter and snatched the verdict from Special Happening by a neck at the business end. Heroic should be earmarked for early success over a scurry.

Avenging Angel bled during the race and ended last.

The focus for the Fourth Estate Trophy stayed mainly on Aureus due to the filly's impressive second behind Flyme To Themoon and Vivienne who was entrusted to Aslam Kader.

Vivienne's free style of running along the rails was a clear indication that she would come up trumps. Aureus' overtaking Vivienne proved to be her undoing.

Philosopher's style of hitting the front from the top of the bend stood him in a good stead when he could ward off Sharpman's challenge midway up the straight. Sharpman under Pesi Shroff was seen stumbling near 1,000m and even if he had not met that mishap, it would have been difficult for him to match strides with the winner. Sharpman's aptitude for more galloping room was noticed when the gelding was closing in on the front runners in the straight.

With the withdrawal of Dazzling Gold from the race, the supporters of Top Gun had to settle for half price.

Top Gun's victory in the hands of Gallagher was never in doubt as the gelding was comfortably racing on the outer section of Bearer Bond soon after the start. Star Alone's spirited challenge became spritless when he could not get the better of the winner and had to be content with a runner up berth.

RAM D. ZODGE

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