Former Great Jockeys Shroff and Narredu Are Now Aiming For The Big Prize As Trainers - By Shailendra Awasthi | TNN
Posted on - 31 Jan 2013
Former Great Jockeys Shroff and Narredu Are Now Aiming For The Big Prize As Trainers
Shailendra Awasthi | TNN
WHEN Pesi Shroff — the most successful jockey in the history of Indian Derby — was gunning for the coveted crown as a trainer for the first time with a serious contender in Set Alight, he banked on jockey Malesh Narredu to guide the filly to victory which unfortunately didn’t happen. Now four years later, the two former winners of that big race are in fray as competitors on the big day.
While Shroff has two contenders in Montezuma and Hemispehere, Narredu has Shivalik Hero, who is one of the fancied ones for this year’s spectacle. With this year’s Indian Derby wide open, it will not be a big surprise if one of them emerges a winner. If that were to happen, it will be a second Indian Derby victory for Shroff after wonder filly Jacqueline made him proud in 2010.
As for Narredu, it will be his first ever triumph as a trainer if Shivalik Hero manages to hit the wire first. His only Indian Derby success as a jockey came with Indictment, who he had guided to victory in 1997.
Shroff started his carrier as a jockey in 1981, Narredu came on the scene four years later in 1985. Both Shroff and Narredu have won nearly 2000 races in their approximately over two-decade old career and won many classic races.
The exploits in the Indian Derby, however, put Shroff in front. Shroff has succeeded in exhibiting his class as a rider eight times through Enterprising (1984), Revelation (1985), Exhilaration (1989), Desert Warrior (1990), Starfire Girl (1990), Littleover (1994), Storm Again (2001) and Psychic Flame (2004) before going on to saddle Jacqueline in 2010.
Narredu, on the other hand, failed to add another Derby feather in his cap after Indictment’s thumping victory but is certainly eyeing his maiden Derby crown this year as a trainer.
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