Great Investment scores in testing conditions

BANGALORE

FROM HIS humble Delhi moorings, Great Investment has steadily risen to the ranks of those horses who have done exceptionally well for themselves outside of classics like, say, Beaureguard or Diablo.

When Great Investment took Western India by storm after migrating from Delhi few could visualise the great success this Libor- Charging Tigress gelding would be. Though his career graph dipped here and there, now and then, the five year old has lived up to every letter of his name. On the final day of the Bangalore Summer Season, Great Investment downed overwhelming favourite Alameda in a thrilling duel that enlivened the Governor's Cup run in testing underfoot conditions.

This two-time Eclipse Stakes winner was at the height of his prowess at about the same time last year when he was being touted as a possible Governor's Cup material. The race itself fell foul to dramatic developments linked with the abduction of a top Kannada film star. The season prematurely ended and with it the opportunity for Great Investment to make a mark down south. The five-year old shifted to trainer Padmanabhan's care this season, went through a preparatory mock race and had a rather rough deal in the Maharaja's Cup. That's one of the reasons why he was not among the favoured couple in betting preferences. The Market hugely favoured this year's Stayers Cup winner Alameda who had run such a grand race behind surpriser Endorsement in the Maharaja's. If some one was rather desperate for a swing in tide it was Padmanabhan for whom Royal Gladiator was the last victory post this season.

In a short spell of his association with Great Investment, ``Paddy'' had obviously nursed the gelding to his strengths and Mallesh Narredu drawing immensely from that Maharaja's Cup experience ensured that Great Investment was given a trouble free ride. A spur of sort for the winner perhaps came from the rival camp in that Aslam Kader to the amazement of many decided to hit the front far sooner than any could have imagined in a going as tough as the one that prevailed. But then the rider himself could have profitably argued that Alameda had won his share of accolades by sticking to such a pattern of running. The most notable move from Mallesh was that instinctive push for a gap between the front running Alameda and the fast closing Aerobee that came his way a furlong and a half out. The top finishers were flat to the boards. The going more than anything exacted every ounce of energy from them. The fittest among them survived. Aerobee's showing is commendable. Mr. Belevedere had to make a bow to a superior lot. From the look of things it was evident that the state of the going would be of crucial importance. The clerk of the course had hit upon a novel idea of preserving the inner portion of the track by using false rails to cover a wider area in the first half of the meeting and doing away with it in the next. The ploy worked to a nicety since a track that had been given steady pounding of no less than 13 races in weather conditions less than hospitable the previous day held good enough to see through a card of the same size without any hitch. It is apparent that the length of the card had to do a lot with trainers rushing some of their wards with an eye on subsidy. The compulsions were too strong on the Club for it to say no.

The gymkhana schedule, the ensuing Mysore Season and the Pune Calendar perhaps left the BTC little room to slot an extra day. Yet framing a card as long as 13 on the last two days was wholly unwise as it was unweildy. In trying to please the Professional section of the industry, the Club put needless strain on the punting community. Adding to the misery was the fitful weather, the odd sprinkles, a track rendered heavy and the usual suspicions that govern the minds of punters over form fluctuations in going like that. The penetrometer delved so deep into the turf that for the first time since its use here, it came up with a reading of 7 cm on the scale. Thursday's soft going was thus upgraded to Heavy the next day. The Club is happy that the Totes did good business. Punters generally are a brave and tolerant lot. They are also the most neglected. Sadly they continue to be. Imposition of such a burden on a punter without making provisions to give him some little comfort by way of food and beverages to last the ordeal out only serves to highlight the violent prejudice Authority has towards the so called ``lifeline'' of the industry. Shrewd minds had another bone to pick. Its over a claim made by none other than the Chairman at a pre-season Press Conference that the number of races at any given day would be restricted to not more than nine.! So Be it.

The talk of the day was around Appleby's amazing improvement. That the Razeen-Consonance gelding showed great relish for staying trips was evident from the fact that he had won his last race over the distance he was tackling on Friday with ease. So much of attention was given to Star of Gaiety that the Serious Spender gelding was taken as a strong force. He never would be. Star of Gaiety had to do the near impossible task of making up too much of ground on the trio of Appleby, Ma Baker and the front running Argolis.

The Razeen progenies apparently revelled in the kind of ground conditions that existed. Earl Grey turned form chart around a full circle when making his own pace to win at a lucrative price. The well backed Dee Emm did not possibly know what hit him. Belief's late dash was one moment of anxiety for Appu but he managed to cling dearly to that good lead he had taken on the field. Another Razeen flagbearer to strike it rich was Aerobatic, who slammed them all.

Astrid won the opener in a manner that suggests this filly is bound to be heard of during winter. Massive Attack's dislike for the going was evident. Star Blitz, at last, shed her maiden status even as another filly, knocking every time at victory doors, had her prayer answered. A shrewd Shroff on Furia Rossa stole the race in that he had enough fuel to last out a strong challenge from Ivory Wings close home. The well turned out Starjo won in common canter, indicating that the grey's form is on the up.

Market trends definitely held out a clue to a massive touch on Jai Bharath. The presence of an apprentice may have been a dampner but S.Ramesh showed no signs of either nerves or indecision. He was quite sure of where he was and what he wanted to do. Once into the straight, he sent Shiva-trained Jai Bharath ahead of his only challenger Spectacular Style, who many presumed was a logical second leg of an intended double for the connections of Starjo. To have struck twice in quick succession is a job well done by the trainer.

Appu on Airtel outrode Md. Shafiq on Indigenous in a finish monopolised by the two. In another rousing finish, Crystal Delight got upto Adelante in the last possible stride. War Trumpet was slammed in the ring but the direction of the money would never be right. A victim of a mix up last time, Shoorveer came with telling strides to land a coup of sorts for trainer Mansoor Hasan. Top weighted Count My Stride couldn't come round with the burden on his back and state of the track. Peace Desire ran an encouraging second.

If trainer Ganapathy and B.Prakash were looking for a worthy celebration for grabbing the professional honours, there was no better way than signing the season off on a victory note. The pair pulled off a resounding win through Crown Witness whose two earlier runs added upto nothing. The filly obviously showed great relish for the setting and the favourable scale brought additional comfort.

Given the nature of the track some margin had to be left for ``in and out'' in form. Some brainy ones may have used the occasion to pull wool over the eyes of form watchers. Helplessness on the part of the officials on this count is understandable. They presumably ``stiped'' in the notion that let a dozen guilty get away than one innocent be nailed. Thus quite a few made hay when the sun chose not to shine!

It is with a sense of wonderment that Arrakis's latest win was viewed with. Not long ago, the four year old gelding was being dubbed far from genuine by the very people who were showering praise in torrents on him! Arrakis' grand revival saw him to another resolute win, this time over Resist The Force who was being hailed as a winner. Aslam had to be at his best, though not in elegance at least in power to get his mount home. Valparaiso was a pleasing third.

Iflookscouldkill made another killing. From a totally unexpected quarter came a stout challenge for the Byramji trainee but Mallesh rode out a tactically better finish to get the measure of Ruzzan and Ampersand. Arristo looked a live threat to both before slackening out. Winelight quite literally flashed first. Recovering in time a slender lead he lost out to Flash First, Surjeet Singh had to run the gauntlet of an objection which in any case lacked conviction since by the time the alleged interference took place, B.Prakash had already rung the bell. Butter Sponge didn't get the kind of encouragement from the saddle he deserved.

Together Street Smart and Blue Gardenia left followers of money high and dry. It opened a lucrative avenue for Misty Charms to make a killing. In sheets of rain Purple Princess struck purple and the winning combination ticked another winner through Southern Host.

Arzillo by right was a worthy favourite and equally merited winner in the opener. Goebbels pushed his form to a logical end even as Rusticana performed well above his known form levels. Vertigo was again a let down.

If Spark of Life has something cryptic about him it is to do with his weird pattern of running, alternating between a total miss and a perfect hit. If things had been normal, Spark of Life would have set an inferno over this peculiar style of his. Surprisingly not a murmur on the day. In fact the Surjeet Singh ridden winner brought a sense of quiet to the stands. Of symbolic significance a while later was this bomb scare outside one of the tote outlets. Rumours were flying thick that a bomb was ticking inside a bag left unattended near the counter. A squad and a few sniffer dogs came in to declare that the piece of baggage was harmless. Of greater intensity though were the serial blasts on the track set off by Spark of Life, the totally formless Beverly Babe and friendless Winelight, who like his stable companion has bizarre form changes to his credit. The trainer-jockey combination of Mohan Valvi-Surjeet Singh thus blasted a huge crater in the first leg of both the jackpot pools!

If at all there was a finish worth going miles to watch, it was the one involving Aslam Kader and Mallesh Narredu. What heightened excitement was the fact that the race itself being a gruelling one, the pair had been fighting every inch of the last two furlongs. Dream Sequence was about to author a fruitful end to one such with a start to finish mission when Aveyron joined issue. Both riders were in no mood to give in, nor their mounts. Both deserved to win. Sadly one of them had to lose. It was Aslam's day afterall besides Aveyron had long last been given the trip of her relish. Four winners may not exactly make him leap in the air but he has found four more reasons to reassure himself that he is among the best in the business after all. A lean trot can be quite unnerving for any rider.

H. S. MANJUNATH

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : India takes on Uruguay in opener
Next     : Mega Top lands the spoils