Tiger Tops sets sights lower in the Stayers Cup - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 26 Feb 2015
Tiger Tops sets sights lower in the Stayers' Cup
By Tom Krish
A seven-race card on Saturday and another seven-event card on Sunday over the Invitation Cup weekend is in keeping with the English racing tradition. On Oaks Day at Epsom, there are seven races and the same number of races await the fan on Derby Day. Here is the first benefit. There is quality racing. With the exception of a race for 1 to 26 horses, the racing quality is of a high order. A long drawn card with 10, 11 or 12 races is not in the best interests of fans. In America, big race days start at 11 AM and go on until 6 30 PM. A 12-race card on Kentucky Derby day has three races for maidens. The more the merrier is fine in some situations. By the time the Kentucky Derby comes up, generally the 11th or 12th race, fans are drained physically and depleted financially. A long afternoon can get longer is there is an inquiry or two or something untoward happening.
The second benefit is 'fan focus.' Much 'handicapping energy' is frittered away on uninspiring undercard races. A seven-race card keeps fans interested, makes wagering brisk and the professionals better equipped to deal with their challenges physically and mentally.
There is also time for an interview or two with a jockey or a trainer. An occasional chat with an owner could enliven the proceedings. Such conversations will keep the fans involved and provide the platform for disseminating information that can keep the fans informed.
Let me now get to the racing on Saturday. Eternal Flame should be an odds choice in the opener, the Mysore Race Club Million over 1200 metres. The Arazan filly broke the duck in Bangalore with Trevor Patel. She came to Mumbai and gave a thrashing to Costa Del Sol in the 1400-metre Kunigal Stud Breeders' Produce Stakes. David Allan was the rider. The winning time was 1 23.7 seconds. In the Poonawalla Million, Costa Del Sol was held up from an outside drawand devoured ground late in the lane when asked by Trevor Patel. Therefore, Eternal Flame, CostaDel Sol's conqueror, is a stand out. The drop back from 1400 to 1200 is a minor concern but does not take anything away from Eternal Flame's solid grip in the opener. Eternal Flame, to be ridden by Sandesh, ought to give Dr M A M a great start as the Invitation action gets under way.
Arazan, owned by the Aga Khan and trained by John Oxx, had a remarkable season as a freshman. His major loss came to Mastercraftsman at the Curragh in a Group race at the Curragh. I believe that the year was 2009. Anabaa, Goldikova's sire, is Arazan's sire.
The next race that attracts my attention is the third, the Japan Cup over 1800 metres. I like the chances of Lord Jim. Second as the half money favorite in his debut in Pune in August, Lord Jim raced on January 24 in Mumbai. In a 14-horse field, Lord Jim was exclusively supported with Malcolm Kharadi in the saddle and won effortlessly. It was a 20 to 46 race and on Saturday, Lord Jim takes on 40 to 66 horses.
Richard Hughes, now looking for his fourth British riding title in a row, will ride Lord Jim. Iffraaj is the sire of Lord Jim. Iffraaj, trained by the late Michael Jarvis, was the winner of the Wokingham Stakes at York in 2005. That was the year Royal Ascot was conducted at York. Ascot was being rebuilt. Philip Robinson rode Iffraaj at York that Saturday afternoon.
Lord Jim, if my memory serves me right, is the name of a horse that raced in Western India in the late 1960s. Pandu Khade won with Lord Jim in Pune and it was a rainy day.
There is a step-up in class but the manner of graduating suggested that Lord Jim can elevate his game.
This is what I need to tell you about the 1200-metre Attila Sprinters' Cup. Dancing Prances is getting a deal of attention. The five year-old gelding is in irresistible form. Sandesh rides. The Altaf Hussain-trained Dancing Prances has post 12.
Brynhill lost to Dancing Prances by a neck last time. On weights, there is little to choose between the two. However, Brynhill comes out of stall 15, a disadvantageous draw no matter how you look at it.
Im Different has an uphill task and the odds should reflect that.
Invincible Prince, a runaway winner in Bangalore late in November, represents trainer Padmanabhan. The long spell of inaction is something that needs to be considered.
Maximus, from MaleshNarredu's stable, had the beating of Machiavellinism in the Hyderabad 2000 Guineas. Soundness issues have taken their toll. Over the Derby weekend, Maximus held the fast-finishing Maisha in a stunning upset. Now six, Maximus gets the services of Suraj Narredu.
Nefyn will be trying to win the Sprinter's Cup for the third consecutive year. In the 'form' department, Nefyn, a BezanChenoy, is profoundly deficient. ColmO'Donoghue will be the jockey.
Shivalik Star, a son of the speedy Shamardal, made a promising start to his career. Problems on the way have put the brakes on Shivalik Star's progress. Given the shape the Arjun Mangalorkar trainee is in, I would rate Shivalik Star a peripheral possibility.
Smile Stone checks in from Bangalore. His record shows that he needs to move his game to another level in the Sprinters' Cup.
Speed Six has come close twice and agonizingly close to winning the Sprinters' Cup. The Padmanabhan pupil won his lead-up race in great fashion in Bangalore. Will third time be the lucky charm? I am sure trainer Padmanabhan thinks that way.
Whispering Gallery and Emperor Cruise seem out of their league.
King Kong, the Delhi sensation, was third in the Derby there. I believe that in the Sprinters' Cup, King Kong will be in uncharted territory. I have a joke about a fan who had not cashed a ticket in a long time. He famously said," My last winner was when King Kong was a monkey."
Solomon was outrun in the race that Dancing Prances won last time. The Rebuttal gelding has shown a fondness for Mahalakshmi. Post 14 is enthusiasm-dampening.
Un UnUn is a speedball from Hyderabad. He likes to set shop up front. The front end will be under immense pressure and that will put Un UnUn in an uncomfortable situation.
Vijay Viraaj, from Deshmukh's stable, will have P S Chouhan. An inside draw will help Vijay Viraaj a great deal but in the overall picture, the son of Jeremy is out of his depth.
Do I have a pick in this race? Yes, there is one but only for the notebook. Speed Six may finally reward Padmanabhan for his perseverance.
The sixth race in the Saturday card is the 3000-metre Deltin Casinos Stayers' Cup. Ademaro, from Vijay Singh's yard, has done well in Kolkata. He is up against India's elite stayers and that will test him seriously.
An Acquired Taste has had physical problems and his brilliance has been blunted.
I liked Astapi in the 2013 edition. He was spinning his wheels that afternoon. In the 2014 race at Malakpet, Astapi came from out of the blue to win at long odds. I doubt his readiness and I cannot be optimistic.
Okavango, Pursuit Of Fame and Rodeo figure to be outsiders and rightly so.
Tintinnabulation, winner of the 2013 Invitation Cup, takes his chances here. Deshmukh, who put Hyderabad on the Indian racing map not long ago, trains the son of Intikhab. There is no doubting Tintinnabulation's distance-getting prowess. A fast pace will advance his cause.
Wind Stream was second in the 2013 Indian Derby. The Steinbeck gelding was touched off in the 2014 Stayers' Cup. Moments after the 2013 Derby, Martin Dwyer who rode Wind Stream, told me that the best horse had run second. Satish Narredu's Super Storm was the winner. In the recent Bangalore Stayers' Trial, Wind Stream ran on determinedly to beat Agostini. Suraj Narredu has taken Wind Stream over Authentic, a horse trained by his brother, Rajesh Narredu. Suraj's judgement has to be respected.
Authentic ran a blinder when playing bridesmaid to Bold Majesty in the Bangalore Derby run on January 26. Authentic, in excellent form at the moment, will have Darren Williams. The 27 year-old Rajesh Narredu has his first runner in the Invitation Festival. Let us say it is the Invitation Festival from now on. Rajesh became a licensed trainer at the beginning of the 2014 Bangalore summer meeting. He has had eight winners. Rajesh has a rich racing background but he is looking like a young man who wants to be self reliant. He works hard and is on his way to making a name for himself. We had a look at Authentic in Malesh's barn late Thursday. I also saw Quasar and Be Safe.
Right Dimension has a Hyderabad record worth a second look. He has to find a lot more in the Stayers' Cup.
Tiger Tops is the likely favorite. The Tiger Hill filly has a splendid record. She has had a freshening spell. If you run second to Be Safe in the Derby, should you not be favored when Be Safe is out of your way? ColmO'Donoghue will ride. It is not hard at all to make a case for Tiger Tops. She is in form. She is consistent. She can be rated. She gets a rider who knows what needs to be done in distance races. She has done well in much stronger company. She has less on her plate. What more does one need?
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)
