Date:02/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030253041900.htm

Sport - Racing : Horse

A day which saw contrasting wins

Anil Mukhi

HYDERABAD: The four-year-olds Oasis Star (Senure-Gumbaru Etsu) and Arabian Knight (Brave Act-Arabian Rose) became the two stars of an interesting day’s racing here on Saturday. Their victories came in completely contrasting styles — Oasis Star set off the pace but made up substantial leeway in the straight in the Grade I Sprinters’ Cup (1,200m) to reel in the runaway Lady One, who was being hailed as the winner by the track commentator.

Evatina completed the placings to make it a clean sweep for the distaff set. Y.S. Srinath steered Cooji Katrak’s charge with supreme aplomb for owners Mr. & Mrs. Shapoor Mistry and Mr. Cyrus Mistry (representing Manjri Stud Farm Pvt. Ltd.) and Mr. Tariq Vaidya in track record time of 1:09.72. There was a mishap when the veteran Onnu Onnu Onnu, winner of an astounding 34 races, broke down after having been in a prominent position.

On the other hand, Arabian Knight (Brave Act-Arabian Rose) made every metre of the running under Samuel Fargeat in the Grade I Stayers’ Cup (3,000m). Despite a fierce challenge from Maximise (D. Grant up), he pulled clear for a hard-earned victory on the Jaggi Dhariwal-schooled runner, with another filly belonging to the same owner, Angelique, completing the placings.

Fargeat rode an excellent race on the winner, keeping a little up his sleeve on the Kunigal-bred, who runs for Mr. & Mrs. Vijay Mallya and Mr. Arjun Sajnani. Once again the time was a new record – 3:10.57. Incidentally, Secret Memory was withdrawn after dropping his rider at the start and bolting the wrong way up the track.