Storm Again blows the Invitation field away

CHENNAI

NOT MANY believed Jaggy Dhariwal when he said Storm Again would win the Indian Derby. That was on the day Storm Again finished third to Piccolina and his shoes had come off. Those prophetic remarks in October came right in February. On Sunday, a tornado, the Met office would have been tempted to call Storm Again, hit the Chennai coast. Casualties were all those who tried to make a race of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. Storm Again goes into the record books as the first Indian thoroughbred to break the 2:30 barrier for mile and a half. The most astonishing part of Storm Again is that his hooves were brittle and joints troubled at about the time he was breaking in. The Alnasar Alwasheek- Perchance to Dream colt is still not completely out of those niggles at least when it comes to his joints. The greatness of a thoroughbred lies in how well it stomps over them. That is one reason why Jaggy Dhariwal lost no time in passing on to Storm Again all the tributes that were showered on him.

It was Guindy's turn to host the country's most prestigious race and other added attractions packed into a flaming week-end which the racing community by and large would hate to miss. The Madras Race Club made a grand job of it. Against odds so to speak. With the title sponsors of the last several editions, the ITC, bowing out of the scene, the most demanding part of putting the show in place was to find the right money. MRC's huge membership strength considerably shored up the finances through generous contributions and the club found 15 other individual sponsors to make good the huge financial burden. At the end of it all the MRC was heaving a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the biggest ever crowd in recent memory was in attendance on Sunday and the event itself had a smooth passage.

One topical issue which had the potential to flare up was pushed to the background. The Jockeys Association of India chose to pre- empt an edict which would have made the use of aircush whips mandatory during the week-end. In a move that caught the racing administration by surprise besides putting it in some kind of a ``spot'', the Jockeys sought and got an interim injunction from a Mumbai Civil Court on the mandatory use of the aircush whips. Thus normal whips were in use.

Storm Again's status as an overwhelming favourite was never in question. Not after that Mahalaxmi devastation. Travel is always a source of worry but having made the trip to Chennai by train, Storm Again had come out of it quite well. Shroff was more than confident on all fronts but he had one nagging fear whether the heat was getting on to Storm Again. On the eve of the race, Shroff said he was sure it had but was quick to console himself ``it would be the same for others as well''.

``Some of these things you get to know only after they run''. That slight apprehension in Pesi's mind was driven out the moment he took Storm Again to the front before turning for home. Whether the rider was unwilling to get ``boxed in'' or not he had stormed clear as he chose piece of turf away from the rails, the area he had considered decidedly hard. Two furlongs out it was evident that whoever wanted to catch Storm Again will have to have gale force wind behind them. Pesi Shroff stretched his Invitation Cup success to an amazing tally of seven. The sheer numbers should be proof enough that he is a class by himself when it comes to big races.

At best of times Altenburg had been a slave of his moods. With his ears pricked, the feeling Altenburg gave Aslam was that of a shy guy who was hesitant to make a stronger effort than he is capable of. That almost dashed Aslam's hope of getting any closer to Storm Again but he did succeed in goading Altenburg to edge past Hello Brother, who after that disappointing run in the Indian Derby, probably dropped a hint of revival. McCullagh on board Hello Brother has reportedly held out assurances to the connections that ``he would catch him (Storm Again) in the Leger''!

Rashid Byramji had been categorical the day before when he said he saw no real threat to Storm Again but expected Altenburg to run a good race if at all his ward would get it right in its head. But for being patchy and up against a decidedly superior rival Altenburg's visit should be deemed highly profitable and satisfying. Appeaser came well off the pace to get into the frame. Apart from catching the eye with that finishing effort, Appeaser also made a bit of sensational news when he barged into Hello Brother who was pulling up after the race. That minor skirmish left both the horses bare-back but caused no damage.

Perceived Value was taken as Storm Again's most serious challenger, given the traffic snarl she faced while running third to Storm Again in the Indian Derby. But the filly was unable to get into a groove and was never a force. She had arrived at Guindy a full two weeks ahead of the rest and was thought to have perked up a great deal. Another disappointing sight was that of Il Diablo. The connections were rather puzzled at the way Il Diablo disappeared from the scene after holding a prominent berth in the early part. Gallagher said Il Diablo was just not himself on the day, quickly adding probably he is a ``home bird''.

Mr. Vijay Mallya's first Invitation Cup success came at the same venue when Lester Piggot steered Delage to a memorable triumph nearly a decade ago. Since then Mr. Mallya's winning progression in the event has been good. Storm Again sported the Poonawalla colours who part-own the colt with Mr. Mallya. Now that Indian horses are making their mark in Malaysia and Singapore, it would be no surprise if Storm Again has an international agenda in store for him. A piece of cheery news quite literally travelled on Mr. Zavary Poonawalla's mobile phone on Saturday. Unmindful of the din around him, Mr. Zavary heard Polar Falcon win a big race at Kranji and little later he was sharing this happy event with Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy for whom the Singapore result may have helped to get over the Simply Noble disappointment earlier in the afternoon. Polar Falcon had won the Sprinters Classic for Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy but in TheHindusponsored event this year his Simply Noble just could not come up with the right answers.

The Bangalore component evidently had a strong say but Simply Noble's last start win had served to push the claims of others into the back-stage. While the world at large seemed to think Simply Noble was near unbeatable on his Mumbai form and workline on arrival in Guindy, Zareer Darashah for one steadfastly maintained that the terms were very friendly to Symphony Of Fire. So it turned out to be. Rehanullah Khan's assertion that youngster's had greater scope for improvement than his six year old ward Strengthtostrength suggested that the trainer saw a tough task ahead for his charge. Strengthtostrength who had lost a close call to Simply Noble found the younger lot too hot to touch.

It required some brushing up on the part of Richard Hughes to get Simply Noble in front soon after the start. But once into the straight, Simply Noble had Symphony Of Fire breathing down his neck. A furlong out, Appu had the Bold Russian-Something Fabulous filly in front and so that was that. Adamile was full of steam while finishing a short head behind Simply Noble but was that bit ahead of Bold Chieftan who was forced to make his final run wide. Aslam Kader was in no doubt that Adamile would have gone much closer had he not been badly hampered by Moonlight Stroll at a crucial stage of the race. How well would Adamile take run on run. Majority thought she wouldn't. But Aslam would only click his tongue and come up with a mischievous smile before coming up with ``watch tomorrow''.

The failure of monsoon was a big worry. But the track itself had been kept in ideal shape though it tended to stay truly fast over the week-end resulting in real fast timings.

The shallowness of the field is what made the Usha and Mehra Stud Stayers Cup a wide open affair. Two bookmakers who opened the odds for the Stayers Cup at a newsconference on Thursday told the story better. Across the hall the odds posted by the two were so varied and confusing that then and there a debate had been set off whether this year's field represented the toughest on the mind for years. Form clerks were in doubt whether to go by class or form chart. In the end, class told though Alameda's immediate form made a poor reading. It was evident by the turn that the race would be strictly between Alameda and Largeandincharge. So it was in the end though Top Socialite added lustre by inching closer to the pair in the final stages. Aslam had the running rail to help him along. It was of vital importance. More so when Gallagher began to throw the reins at Largeandincharge to get his mount dig deeper into his reserves. Heat and the fast track obviously took a toll on the older lot.

Looking at the logistical demands of running a sprint one day and a mile the next in classy company, it could be argued that this route is not for ordinary mortals. Very few try this mission out and only one in history has ever succeeded in both. Adamile accepted this risky mission. She couldn't do a Bergamo but at least she emulated Goodfellas and Burning Fire.

Aslam Kader's biggest worry as he trotted the Darius Byramji trainee to the A.V.Thomas Super Mile start was that the filly was looking rather light. As he confessed after the race, he thought at the time that Adamile may not make it after all only to find her in high spirits once she got down to race. Midway up the straight it was plain that Adamile was hard to get. Averoff got the clear rather late but it is open to question whether a freer access would have made any difference. Royal Court added spice to the finish. Adjure Syndic came here with guns blazing and an imposing Hyderabad record. When he left the venue the connections were not disheartened after all. Getting into the frame in a select field like this is no mean achievement and mind you Adjure Syndic was not far away from the placed ones.

Hope And Faith completed a well deserved hat-trick with a gutsy show in the SRM Japan Trophy. The Darashah-trainee was sent out well-backed and Appu was spot on in driving Hope And Faith to resolute win. Flying Scotsman lent a touch of drama with a late dash but Appu seemingly had all threats well covered.

Appu was in his elements. He rode seven winners in all. Of particular relish was his two wins for young local trainer Fahad Khan.

The week-end also marked the retirement from the saddle of Sinclair Marshall. He preferred to end his 35 year stint at the very track he had begun his career on. Sinclair said his duties as Young Stock manager at the Kunigal Stud farm and the day to day running of the Jockeys Association of India he is heading have been two compelling factors. He says he is not getting any younger at 53 and has been finding it difficult to cope with racing fitness with old injuries playing up. In a rare gesture the 500 odd members of the Jockeys Association of India have unanimously decided to let Sinclair continue as the JAI president by amending its by- laws. Pesi Shroff said ``We don't really miss Sinclair because he will always be with us''.

Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy presented a memento to Sinclair Marshall and called him the best product of the Madras Jockey School.

H. S. MANJUNATH

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