The Hindu : Strengthtostrength claims Sprinters' Cup

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 03, 2002

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

Strengthtostrength claims Sprinters' Cup
By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 2. Odds were stacked heavily against the Seven-year old StrengthtoStrength. But the son of Farajullah-Powerglide has never been scared of the odds. In the capable hands of young Frenchman Chris Lemaire, Strengthtostrength raised the last chuckle when he got up in the shadow of the winning post to nail overwhelming public choice Palazzio in the Sprinters' Cup even as Soviet Song and Alylady got into a blanket finish of four.

Trainer Rehanullah Khan proved a vital point that age is only a matter of numbers with a horse that has lived up to every letter of his name and he now wants to retire him to a `good home' once he lines up for possibly one last time in the Maj P. K. Mehra Super Mile Cup.

The step up in distance could be a big ask but Strength to Strength has already earned a chunk of space in Indian racing history. Maj B. P. Singh whose colours Strengthtostrength carried may rue his decision to miss the crowing moment of a glorious career of a horse who has remained Mr Consistent for much longer than any could remember.

The record timing at this centre was never in threat but the early rush saw Ally Mcbeal steal a march till Palazzio was driven to the front by McCullagh with a furlong and a half to go. Strengthtostrength had been craftily kept well up with the pace this time by Lemaire. When the race came to a boil, Palazzio had got off to a two length break when the `old man' began to unwind a terrific final kick that saw him get his nose ahead of the favourite in the last possible stride. From a difficult passage, Soviet Song was motoring home to come within half a length of this Mumbai pair, barely a snout in front of local challenger Alylady. Vivid Dreams apparently ran into some traffic hazard even as the other Local hope Symphony of Fire just could not cope with the tempo of the race.

The Sprinters classic was a real cracker. In contrast, The Stayers Cup looked pedestrian though the climactic moments of this energy-sapping 3,000 metres packed enough thrills. Rounding the turn, last year's winner Alameda slipped into the lead. The next moment, Alchemy had looked a possible winner when Aslam started his work from the back of the field on the public fancy Appeaser and got his mount going with a couple of right handed cracks to collar Alchemy close to home. This was the fourth Stayers classic victory for Aslam Kader who had driven to victory Astana, Allied Forces and Alameda in the last three editions.

Trainer Rashid Byramji who had pinned enormous faith in Appeaser getting back to his winning form after that disappointing run in Mumbai led in his first Stayers Classic winner since he himself had reeled off four in a row through Mossy Banks, Aztec (Twice) and Calibre between 1983 and '86. Appeaser's last to first was also marked by a moment of anguish when Altenburg apparently clipped the heels of a runner in front and hit the turf close to the favourite. But well before the riderless Altenburg was up on his feet, Aslam had sized up the situation and got on to Appeaser's skin. As Darius Byramji had rightly predicted before the race, the Stayers Classic was dominated by the Mr Deepak Khaitan colours, a highly satisfying one-two-three.

Chris Lemaire, who has made a huge impression on the Indian racing public with his exploits in Mumbai, grabbed his share of Bangalore popularity with a four-timer, his other winners being Slanka, Claudius and Go Honey Go. First leg of the Aslam Kader double saw him at his best on Ashleen.

The results:

1. DELHI TROPHY (1,800m) - rated 10 to 25, 5 & 6 y-o: London Bells (Twist and Turn-Cut Fine) 55 Appu 1, Royal Contender 56.5 Dwyer 2, Odeon 60.5 R. Marshall 3 and Rusticana 57.5 Mrs Silva 4. All ran, 3/4, 3/4 and 1, 1m 55.68s, Rs.103 (w), 29, 33 and 26 (p), FP: Rs.1,285, Q: Rs.446, SHP: Rs.104, Trinalla: Rs.3,532 and Rs.1,514, Favourite: Southern Host.

Owners: Mr N. Prem Kumar & Mrs Sangeetha. Trainer. Lokanath.

2. MYSORE TROPHY (Div II) - (1,400m) - rated 10 to 25: Enterprisor (Casteddu-Gallarus) 57 B. Prakash 1, Southern Treasure 59 McCullagh 2, Trap A Spy 58.5 Warren 3 and Bourbon Girl 55.5 Gallagher 4. All ran, 1/2, 4 and 8 1/2, 1m 28.28s, Rs.21 (w), 12, 14 and 30 (p), FP: Rs.28, Q: Rs.17, SHP: Rs.35, Trinalla: Rs.153 and Rs.102, Favourite: Enterprisor.

Owner: Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy. Trainer: Ganapathy.

3. INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE OWNERS' ASSOCIATION TROPHY (1,200m), Maiden 3-y-o (Terms): Slanka (Procida-Acer) 55 Lemaire 1, Southern Goddess 53.5 P. Eddery 2, Fast Trick 53.5 Aslam Kader 3 and Red Mamma 53.5 Mrs Silva 4. All ran, 3/4, shd and 2, 1m 14.47s, Rs.90 (w), 21, 83 and 14 (p), FP: Rs.701, Q: Rs.631, SHP: Rs.285, Trinalla: Rs.3,107 and Rs.542, Favourite: Fast Trick.

Owners: M/s Sp. Thrunavakkarsu & Marthand Singh Mahindra and Mrs B. Vatsala. Trainer: Darius.

4. MYSORE TROPHY (Div I) - (1,400m) - rated 10 to 25: Claudius (Broto-Sportin' Love) 60.5 Lemaire 1, Rio 57 Dwyer 2, Dancing Phantom 57 B. Prakash 3 and Diamond Rock 61.5 P. Krishna 4. Not run: Genuine Article. 2, 1/2 and 6, 1m 27.66s, Rs.22 (w), 15 and 17 (p), FP: Rs.27, Q: Rs.19, SHP: Rs.36, Trinalla: Rs.58 and Rs.21, Favourite: Claudius.

Owner: Mr S. M. Ruia. Trainer: Byramji.

5. VICTORIA RACING CLUB TROPHY (Div I) - (1,600m) - rated 20 to 35: Ashleen (Green Forest- Chaitanya Ratham) 56 Aslam Kader 1, Ampersand 56.5 A. Imran Khan 2, Arduous 53 Dwyer 3 and Misty Charms 54.5 Warren 4. Not run: South Cove, 1, 1-1/4 and 1-3/4, 1m 41.39s, Rs.43 (w), 18, 14 and 25 (p), FP: Rs.121, Q: Rs.52, SHP: Rs.43, Trinalla: Rs.325 and Rs.243, Favourite: Ampersand.

Owners: Mr D. Khaitan, rep Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd & Mr A. K. S. Brar, rep Dashmesh & Hargobind Racing Pvt Ltd. Trainer: Darius.

6. SPRINTERS' CUP (1,200m), 4 & 5-y-o (Terms):

STRENGTHTOSTRENGTH (Farajullah-Powerglide) 59 Lemaire 1.

PALAZZIO (Placerville-Stately Home) 57.5 McCullagh 2.

SOVIET SONG (Bold Russian-Palace Music) 57.5 Shroff 3.

ALYLADY (Adler-Tempt Me) 57.5 Faisal 4.

All ran, Shd, 1/2, shd, 1m 13.32s, Rs.144 (w), 32, 14 and 43 (p), FP: Rs.150, Q: Rs.91, SHP: Rs.59, Trinalla: Rs.1,502 and Rs.1,348, Favourite: Palazzio.

Owner: Maj B. P. Singh. Trainer: Rehanullah Khan.

7. STAYERS' CUP (3,000m) - 4 & 5-y-o (Terms):

APPEASER (Twist and Turn-Anelita) 59 Aslam Kader 1.

ALCHEMY (Rare Brick-Stormy Beauty) 59 Shroff 2.

ALAMEDA (Steinbeck-Parafit Amour) 59 C. Alford 3.

ARTERIAL (Green Forest-Fiddlin Fanny) 54 Norton 4.

Not run: Classic Rock. 1-1/2, 3 and 6, 3m 17.47s, Rs.20 (w), 13, 14 and 39 (p), FP: Rs.31, Q: Rs.21, SHP: Rs.38, Trinalla: Rs.234 and Rs.123, Favourite: Appeaser.

Owner: Mr D. Khaitan, rep Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd. Trainer: Byramji.

8. TURF AUTHORITIES OF INDIA TROPHY (1,200m) - rated 30 to 45: Go Honey Go (Excalibur's Lake-Coral Mist) 51.5 Lemaire 1, King's Star 53 R. Marshall 2, Fantasy Bay 48.5 S. Narredu 3 and Star of Heaven 49 A. Imran Khan 4. All ran, Nk, 3/4 and nk, 1m 14.37s, Rs.33 (w), 16, 35 and 37 (p), FP: Rs.229, Q: Rs.219, SHP: Rs.135, Trinalla: Rs.1,357 and Rs.492, Favourite: Go Honey Go.

Owners: Miss Asha Bhat, Mrs Marlene Bhat & Mr M. N. Prasad. Trainer: Komandur.

9. VICTORIA RACING CLUB TROPHY (Div II) - (1,600m) - rated 20 to 35: Regal Society (Razeen- Regal Grace) 58.5 B. Prakash 1, Baroness Orczy 55.5 Norton 2, National Tiger 59 A. Imran Khan 3 and Firecrest 59 Appu 4. All ran, 4, nk and 3/4, 1m 41.35s, Rs.19 (w), 13, 26 and 41 (p), FP: Rs.87, Q: Rs.76, SHP: Rs.64, Trinalla: Rs.748 and Rs.536, Favourite: Regal Society.

Owner: Dr M. A. M. Ramaswamy. Trainer: Ganapathy.

Jackpot: Rs.7,010 (157 tkts).

Runner-up: Rs.1,593 (296 tkts).

Mini jackpot: (i) Rs.1,714 (23 tkts); (ii) Rs.1,454 (23 tkts).

Treble: (i) Rs.886 (57 tkts); (ii) Rs.128 (1,011 tkts)

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport