Allaire confirms her status

MUMBAI

REBOUNDING from her narrow defeat at the hands of Simply Noble in the McDowell Indian 2000 Guineas last month, Allaire confirmed her status as Queen of the 1997 crop by a scintillating victory in the Kingfisher Indian Oaks at Mahalakshmi last Sunday. This column had reported that Aslam Kader had ridden a ``tactically unsound race'' on the former occasion by making his effort too early. The veracity of this assessment became amply clear when Aslam chose to hide his mount here and to essay his challenge only in the last 250 m.

Unleashing the brilliant turn of foot she is known to possess, Allaire burst through to score a ridiculously easy win by over five lengths from Star Shine. Running beyond her ideal distance, McDowell Indian 1000 Guineas heroine Six Speed was surprisingly finishing on to be third, after meeting with some interference, a further five or so lengths behind. The most dismal show was put up by Nanoli Stud Pune Derby winner, Piccolina, who was - in retrospect perhaps unwisely pitched in here after a series of setbacks. She is reportedly off to stud.

Allaire is a member of the all-conquering 1997 crop by the Mehra Stud stalwart, Razeen, from which Access All Areas, Adamile, Aloritz, Altimara, and Altenburg are other Graded Stakes scorers. Coincidentally, all these sport the silks of the Calcutta-based Deepak Khaitan! Allaire is handled by Darius Byramji, who told TheHindu that, in order to avoid the mishap that befell his talented filly in the ``2000'', he had instructed the rider to keep a tight hold till midway up the straight, irrespective of any considerations of possible interference that might result by pursuing such tactics.

Fresh from a morale-boosting last gasp win astride Altenburg the previous afternoon in Bangalore, Aslam excelled here, displaying glimpses of his old form. Fly For Baby, dam of Allaire, has excelled in the paddocks with her first foal, Fly For Avie winning a Grade 1 stakes in North America (the E.P. Taylor Stakes) and her second, Acrobat, annexing the Kingfisher Colts Trial Stakes (Gr.1). In her, the Mehra Stud has a world-class broodmare. The other item of interest was the decision of the R.W.I.T.C. Ltd. to allow the use of mobile phones during race days, on payment of a fee of Rs. 1,000.00 per instrument. It is unlikely that these will be used by racegoers for purposes other than betting with unofficial bookmakers. As such, the move is clearly unethical and amounts to a tacit confession by the club and the government that they are unable or unwilling to tackle the menace of illegal bookmaking.

On the other hand, the club is so cash-strapped that the anticipated additional revenue of Rs. 2.5 crores per annum might make the difference between survival and ruin. If only there was a more understanding government, such desperate measures would not have been needed. It has been announced that this measure is experimental. One hopes that once the present financial crisis is over, the status quo ante will be restored.

A good type of youngster was introduced on Thursday when The Pelican made a winning debut. The handsome son of Placerville looked in need of more work, but belied his appearance by bounding to the front soon enough and pulling clear under Niall McCullagh. In the big-made chestnut, trainer M.K. Jadhav has a fine prospect who will shine if campaigned sparingly. Hot favourite Destiny Calling, although second, was struggling throughout and must surely be capable of better. Wordsworth was a faraway third.

It has taken a great deal of effort, along with a surgical operation on her breathing apparatus, to get Victory March back to racing fitness. Narendra Lagad's talented filly was returning to action after four months away, and trounced her rivals in the Class IV event over 1400 m. Once C. Rajendra got his mount into full gear, she pulled further and further away. As she is dry- coated, her further progress is in part dependent on the weather.

Hitherto, Cristina had never occupied the winner's enclosure at Mahalakshmi, reserving her best for Pune. Unfancied here as most of the action at the windows was directed towards Zeta Jones, Cryptonite and Winning Girl, the Cristofori racemare came up late under P. Kamlesh to complete a double for Jadhav and sporting owner Vijay Shirke, who bred this winner from his top performer of some years ago, Thumbelina. Zeta Jones bled and was unplaced, while the other market fancies finished in that order behind the winner.

A grand field of a dozen older runners was assembled for the Astonish Trophy, but only eleven started as Razalin had to be scratched after being found to be lame. On the face of it, the race looked tailor- made for Strengthtostrength. After all, he was the highest-rated runner in the field, was racing at level weights, had already had a lung-opener and enjoyed racing on this track. Sure enough, the gallant six-year-old made his patented dash towards victory, towards which he was assisted by Fergill Lynch. Rehanullah Khan has done a good job in getting his ward to retain his enthusiasm.

Victory for Laktara in the concluding event looked an impossibility a couple of hundred metres out. Under Mark Gallagher, the courageous son of Tecorno pulled out all stops and refused to be denied. He somehow managed to pull a neck clear of Adam's Legend, whose rider, Satish Nayak, was claiming 5 kg., but lacked that crucial support of the whip in the closing stages. Narendra Lagad thus completed a double.

Those who had seen Ciel Fleuri making her debut had found her to be a fine type, strong and well-muscled. On that occasion, the daughter of Alnasr Alwasheek was a decent second and went one better here when annexing the Lt.Col. Govind Singh, Vr.C., Trophy over 1400 m. on Sunday. The odds-on choice scored a somewhat cheeky victory under Pesi Shroff, just about fending off the late challenge of newcomer Battle Star. The last-named is a readymade winner in a maiden.

Yet another event for three-year-olds, the 1000 m. Pratap Stud Million, had eleven in opposition. Rajendra made a poor effort on the unbeaten Terrestrial, getting off slowly, then biding his time when he ought to have been recovering lost ground. By the time he had his mount into her fluent extended strides, it was too late, as Abbeydoran had stolen a march. The Ramaswamy-owned homebred became the first graded stakes winner for her sire, Always A Rainbow, in Western India. Dallas Todywalla sent her out to deliver the goods with Richard Hughes up.

Punters suffered one more blow when Feel The Force displayed complete lack of energy. The 6 to 4 shot was tardy at the gate and never in the hunt. His discomfiture allowed Soviet Ride, partnered by Ruzzan, an easy passage to victory. The Mallya-owned homebred has scope for more triumphs under the tutelage of Jaggi Dhariwal. With B. Prakash having cried off his mounts, Rupesh assisted Safarando into second he could soon be back amongst the winners.

If the excitement of Allaire's win in the Kingfisher Indian Oaks had not thrilled the fairly large crowd, the finish of the Class III event would certainly have sent pulses racing. Aslam brought Altazano along a trouble-free passage, several paths off the rail, and went clear. Suddenly, Tap On Power found renewed vigour and challenged. Although it appeared that his momentum would take him clear of the leader, the Cruachan gelding shifted out marginally under pressure, a lapse that cost him the verdict by a nostril. Imtiaz Sait handles Altazano. Fabulous Fortune made all over the 2000 m. trip before flagging into third and can be placed to win.

Nagging problems have kept Gironde off the track since August. Although a shade burly, she was well backed, suggesting she was ready enough to tackle Class IV company. Once Mallesh Narredu asked the question, the answer was readily forthcoming as Gironde slammed her rivals by seven long lengths. Cooji Katrak handles her preparation. In her present condition, she can repeat. More than once, Asprilla has been unexpectedly supported and failed. The daughter of an utter failure at stud in Mystiko, she failed to land a blow in the concluding event, even though the late withdrawal of Shooting Mercury at the gate must have made her task easier. A real crowd-silencer in the shape of Lion Of Judah stunned all and sundry. This bandaged got-abroad had been away from action for a year, during which he was relocated from the yard of Sidney Moses in Bangalore to that of Katrak here. S.M. Johnson, with only 3 wins since 1997, improved his average fractionally by guiding his mount to a 12 to 1 victory.

When Running Royal had obliged by a street at Pune, he had raised faint hopes of stardom. His subsequent performances had dashed these, but at his present mark he looked a fine prospect in handicap company. With Shroff in the saddle and plenty of backing, the good-looking son of Treasure Leaf bred at the Harsal Stud in Meerut carried the famous colours of Mr. Ranjit Bhat to a meritorious success in Tuesday's opener. Flamebird was second yet again and might need a longer trip to shed his maiden status.

Back in October, Pleasures had failed in Pune as she burst a blood vessel. After a period on the shelf, she returned to action early this month in a terms event where she found the company and her own lack of fitness beyond her capabilities. Reverting to handicap company, Pleasures made all in the day's feature, the Rajpipla Trophy over the metric mile, and retired a facile winner. Placid threw down a determined challenge but could not land a blow. Pleasures will be a worthy addition to the broodmare band when she retires to the Poonawalla Farms, where she was bred.

Having already displayed her wares in a mock race, Fleurissimo was sent out at 40/100 in the maiden scurry. She was immediately in front and had no difficulty in beating Fluency. As her dam is a half-sister to no less a customer than Danzig, the winner has limitless scope. The Manjri- bred daughter of Don't Forget Me who is having a dream run with his juveniles is an inmate of the barn of Shiraz Sunderji and had Rajendra in the saddle.

It requires a lot of courage to retain a less-than-sound five- year-old in training. Making a belated introduction to the sport, Dios Mio gave his owners their due reward by coming up from dead last at the top of the straight to score running away. The got- abroad from Rehanullah Khan's yard was ridden by Ikram Khan, who does not appear to have notched up a win since October 1999.

Silverita set a strong pace in the 2000 m. Maharashtra and Gujarat Area Trophy, and was still in the lead when turning for home. Essesspemess found the conditions to her liking and accelerated to pass the leader and score her maiden victory. Runner-up Silverita will do likewise in another run or two. Magansingh Jodha trains and part-owns the winner with his wife.

Surprise packet Josh King led the Class III race and was still going well in the straight. He was challenged by Winnington, who in turn faced the fury of San Vitale's effort on the outside. In an extremely close-run affair, the last-named triggered the photo-finish camera, a whisker ahead of the former. McCullagh lodged an objection on behalf of the second-placed horse and when the slow-motion replay showed the runner-up receiving two or three bumps on his posterior, San Vitale's demotion seemed inevitable. And so it proved, much to the joy of Winnington's supporters. Veteran Uttam Singh trains the lightly-raced Portroe gelding.

DARK LEGEND

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