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Be Safe, Amazing Grace OR Alaindair who will win The Invitation Cup? - By Bob Sawhny

Posted on - 22 Feb 2015

Be Safe, Amazing Grace OR Alaindair who will win The Invitation Cup?
 
By Bob Sawhny
 
Mumbai: Irrespective as to how many horses run in The 2400M Omkar Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Grade 1) on 1st March, 2015, this esteemed race will be ardently remembered as the clash of the Titans which will go down in history as the greatest Horse Race of the decade between three great thoroughbreds namely the 4YO Phenomenal Colt Be Safe or the 5YO classy Mare Amazing Grace or the 5YO Colt Alaindair. Before, one can decide who should be the winner it is extremely necessary to check their relevant Racing Records and who they have run against and beaten and in what manner, also their pedigree, their temperament, Stamina, Speed, acceleration or turn of foot and other relevant details before giving  Final Analysis of the celebrated trio, who are presently going from strength to strength and it will be somewhat prudent, to give a firm decision as to who is the better among the three great thoroughbreds. But, on going through their individual relevant specifics as aforesaid, the Trio's relevant details & My Final Analysis are given below:
 
BE SAFE :Be Safe is a phenomenal 4YO Colt and an impeccably bred thoroughbred, who is a machine and who is endowed with all the qualities of a supergiant racehorse who possesses an excellent physique, extremely lovely and an amazing temperament, high-class speed, breathtaking top class  acceleration, a terrific turn of foot and admirable stamina. And when Be Safe competes in a high-speed fast run race he is akin to a pepped up F1 Ferrari who is racing against a bunch of 3-wheelers whom he zooms past in a jiffy. In the past, there have been some extremely classy thoroughbreds in the Indian Turf like Squanderer, Bright Hanover, Prince Pradeep, Red Rufus, Adler, Elusive Pimpernel, Storm Again, Indictment, Astonish, Royal Tern, Continual, Six Speed, Smart Chieftan and many more but none have shown the qualities of a highly classy and highly abnormal thoroughbred like- Be Safe, who presently has zoomed up to a Handicap Rating of 126 after winning the Indian Derby (Gr.1) on 1/2/2015  in record time & the 5Yo filly Amazing Grace  comes pretty close with  a Handicap Rating of 134.
 
But, with the passage of time, Be Safe will surpass the Handicap Rating of Amazing Grace. That is because Be Safe will win The Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1) as he is getting better with each victory. Plus, he will win many more high-Class Million and Graded races. Be Safe on 4/1/2015 ran The 2000M Ramniwas Ramnarain Ruia Gold Cup (Gr.2) in which he shattered the course record clocking 2-1.08 prior to The McDowell Indian Derby (Gr.1) on 1/2/2015 which he decimated the tough opposition viz. Tiger Tops & Quasar and authoritatively won like a spirited champion shattering the course record and stopping the clock at a superb 2-27.71s.
 
The present racing record of Be Safe (Holy Roman Emperor-Oriental Lady)  is extremely creditable and he has run 10 races, Won Nine and he ran 2nd on 23/2/2014 in The 1400M Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million (Gr.1) a race, which he should have easily have won, but unfortunately lost because of unwieldy circumstances. 
 
Pedigree wise, Be Safe from his Sire's side, easily gets a mile, which he has stylishly shown and Be Safe from his Dam's side, as given below, should get longer trips. Be Safe is exquisitely bred and his Great 'Sire'- Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) is by Danehll (USA) out of L'on Vite (USA) from the legendary Northern Dancer line. Winnings:7 Starts: 4  good wins & 2 places and he had a Career Earning of a lavish $764,836 which inc.won 1400m Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere/Grand Criterium (Fr-G1),won Phoenix Stakes.6f Ire-G1, 6f Railway St.(Ire-G2);2nd 7fNational St.(Ire-G1),2nd7f Dewhurst S.(GB-G1.). Brother to the classy Aus.10f Mare Milanova; half brother to high-class Japanese performer Big Viking, and smart German winner Heart Of Oak; dam is sister to D'Accord and Medaille D'Or Champion European 2YO and co-champion European 3YO.
        
His 'Dam' Oriental Lady is by Kings Best out of Otaiti (IRE). And although, his dam Oriental Lady did nothing significant, 'His' classy 'Grand dam'-Otaiti-IRE (Sadlers Wells- Ode) had Career Earnings of $ 73, 957 which included 2000M Prix De Liancourt (Listed), Longchamp, France,  2000M Grand Prix De Compiegne (Listed), France and she came a good 2nd in 2700M Prix De Pomone (Gr.2), Deauville, France. Plus his 'Dam's Tail-Line' is a very strong one, as it goes down to the likes Of Ode, a highly reputed stayer who had 4 very classy wins in FR, with Career Earnings of an enormous amount of  $ 861, 820. Hence, Be Safe is well-bred and will stay distance trips on his pedigree alone.
 
Moreover, Be Safe who has a highly exquisite pedigree, is presently in terrific form and has yet to peak, which conspicuously indicates that the champion Colt will continue his winning streak. Furthermore, Be Safe is endowed with a superb temperament very rarely seen in race horses and he has an additional uncanny mettle, which he shrewdly uses to assess the category of a race that he is competing in, from the other horses that he is running against.
 
AMAZING GRACE : She, is an extremely attractive and well bred filly with a very sturdy anatomy, presently in brilliant winning form and she has had 11 runs, out of which she has won 9 races last 8 races in succession, which reveals her present terrific condition. On 13/9/2014 in Pune she gave 5Kg to Circle of Bliss and easily beat the latter, in The 2400M Idar Gold Cup (Gr.3) being her 7th win. Then the 8th win of Amazing Grace was on 28/9/2014 when she won The 2800M Signature Indian St. Leger (Gr.1) literally toying with Alaindair and winning by 7 L. So, now the Handicapper has raised the H.R. of Amazing Grace to 134,
 
Pondering, over Amazing Grace's pedigree, her Sire 'Hurricane Run' (Montjeu-Hold On) from 14 starts, had 8 wins, 3 places, 2 shows C. E. of $ 4,858,493.At 2:1st:Prix de Belleville At 3:1st: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), Irish Derby (Ire-G1), Prix Hocquart (Fr-G2), Prix Niel (Fr-G2), Prix de Ferrieres 2nd: Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) At 4:1st: Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-G1), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond S.(GB-G1)2nd: Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1), Prix Foy (FR-G2)3rd: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), Champion S. (GB-G1) Ranked No.1 horse in world by World Thoroughbred Racehorse rankings for 2005 and 2005 Cartier European Horse of the Year.
 
And although Amazing Grace's Dam 'Efrinha did nothing Significant, 'Her Grand Dam' Equate had 3 good wins, 3 places, 1 show with Career Earnings of $ 58,063. Plus, the Dam's Tail-Line of Amazing Grace was a strong one, as it goes down to likes of Glamour (Nasrullah – Striking) who had 6 good wins, 7 places, C. Earnings $ 60,775. Hence, the pedigree of Amazing Grace is a fairly good one & from her Sire's side Hurricane Run is good.
 
So, Be Safe is a far better horse than Amazing Grace. Accordingly, Be Safe should get the better of Amazing Grace in The Omkar Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1) on 1/3/2015.
 
ALAINDAIR : He is a very good Bay Gelding who has won 8 races from his 12 outings. His 1st maiden win was in Mumbai on 7/4/2013 where he superbly won the 1400M Karl Umrigar Trophy, a terms race for 3YO maidens only by a widening 5 3/4L, in a good time of 1: 24.24s. Then on 28/4/2013 in Mumbai, he finished a close 3rd to Mint Approach and Archie in the 1400M Bennett Coleman - Procam Million, a terms race for 3YO only. Distances separating the trio were 3/4L & 3/4L. Subsequently, Alaindair went to race in Bangalore and made a grand name for himself, as a brilliant juvenile, by immediately winning Classic Races there. On 23/6/2013, Alaindair (A. Sandesh up) marvelously won his 2nd Race, the 1600M Colts Championship Stakes (Gr.1), a terms race for 3YO only, by a widening 5 1/2L in a good time of One Minute 37.50s. The brilliant gelding soon followed it up, on 14/7/2013 by winning his 3rd Race, the 2000M Bangalore Kingfisher Derby (Gr.1) (A. Sandesh up), a terms race for 3YO only, beating tough rivals, such as Turf Striker, Acclaimed, Mariinsky, Murioi, Amelia, Starry Eyes, Scenic Warrior, Trance, etc. Subsequently, Alaindair's 4th win after a gap of over 4 months, was in Mumbai on 17/11/2013, a Class I race, for horses Rated 80&U -The 1400M Mathradas Goculdas Trophy, which he decisively won in a superb time of 1: 23.24s, despite being hampered in the race. Then, on 22/12/2013 he was trounced by Murioi in The Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1) in which he ran a poor 2nd. But, he very soon redeemed his formidable reputation by his 5th win, on 2/2/2014 by winning The McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Gr.1) by 2-1/2L in a record time of 2-28.05s. Subsequently, Alaindair's 6th win, was The Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1), Hyderabad on 8/3/2014 which he won superbly, in a good time of 2-29.87s. Then, the Champion's 7th win was The 2400M President of India Gold Cup (Gr.1) at Hyderabad on 7/9/2014, which he authoritatively won by a widening 2-3/4L. Subsequently, his 8th and last win was on 8/2/2015 in Mumbai the 2000M Byramjee Jejeebhoy Eclipse Stakes of India (Gr.2) in which he had only two easy horses to beat –Sheer Class & Circle of Bliss.     
 
His 'Sire' Multidimensional {IRE} (Danehill-Sacred Song) is from the legendary Northern Dancer line and Multidimensional won 5 races at 3 to 5 (1800m) including Prix Guillaume d'Ornano -Haras  d'Etreham (Gr.2), Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Gr.3) and placed including 2nd in Hardwicke Stakes (Gr.2) and 3rd in Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Gr.3). His 'Dam' God's Grace (Razeen -Regal Star) did not race but his "Grand dam' Regal Star won 9 races incl. Calcutta Oaks (Gr.2), Calcutta 1000 Guineas (Gr.3), Governor's Cup, Rasoi Alokananda Stakes etc; dam of 5 winners: Chief of Staff, 13 wins, incl. South India 2000 Guineas (Gr.2), Artillery Cup, Royal Verse, 10 wins, incl. Nilgiris Derby (Gr.1), Nilgiris Colts Trial Stakes (Gr.2), Christmas Cup, Gr.3, Noble Pet, 8 wins, incl. T.N. Dept of Racing Cup (Gr.3), B.T.C. Trophy, etc; producer, Smart Ruler, 5 wins, including R.C.T.C. Million (Gr.1), etc. DANCING PIRATE, 1 Win and placed 3rd in Mysore Race Club Trophy, etc. So Romantic, placed, incl. 2nd in National Flag Cup, etc; dam of: Lady Gibraltar, 7 wins and placed incl. 4th in South India St. Leger (Gr.2), etc. Stolen Kisses, 5 wins, incl. Mehra & Usha Stud Million, Charles Forbes T, etc; producer Chief Commissioner, 2 wins and placed incl. 3rd in Darley Arabian Stakes (Gr.3), etc. God's Grace, above. Hence, Alaindair's pedigree is a good one.
 
My Final Analysis: The exquisitely bred 5YO gelding Alaindair is the winner of  8 races with his best victory being on 2/2/2014 when with Y. S. Srinath astride he  won the McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Gr.1) in a record time of 2- 28.05s. Then, Alaindair continued his superb winning streak on 8/3/2014 at Hyderabad by easily winning The Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1) on 2nd March, 2014. In my opinion if Alaindair can even come 3rd to Be Safe and Amazing Grace, in the Omkar Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Gr.1) on 1/3/2015 it will be a very good effort. 
 
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)

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