Bangalore |  Mysore |  Mumbai |  Pune |  Hyderabad |  Kolkata |  Delhi  
Indian Classics |  Profiles  |  Fixtures |  Video |  Archives |  Public Pulse |  In & Around |  Specials |  International |  Home  
Loading....
in   
 
Review    Send comment   Send E-mail   Print the page

La Rondine steamrolls the opposition in Guineas

By: Frankel   December 9 , 2018
   

Vishal Gaikwad trained La Rondine steamrolled the opposition in the Gr 1 Indian 1000 Guineas, the first classic of the season on Sunday. The progeny of Kingda Ka out of wonder mare Rahy`s Serenade graduated into the classic company after a solitary success earlier in the season. Despite this being the second run of her career, La Rondine showed a lot of class and won from Arabia and stablemate Oomph. Favourite Isn`t She Lovely ran below expectations and that made La Rondine`s dominance that much easier.

Isn`t She Special was the highest rated horse in the fray and was also the most experienced runner. Her imposing credentials made her the firm favourite to win the race against a host of emerging horses. The dam of La Rondine, Rahy`s Serenade has been an outstanding broodmare in India and almost all her produce has been top notch performers. It was no surprise La Rondine who cut fast fractions in her debut win should go to the post as the second favourite.
  
  


Anatevka who was sluggish at the start was quickly brushed up to set the pace after traversing the first two furlongs followed by Tic Tac Ipsy Tipsy, Merlot, Arabia, Strong Storm, La Rondine, Princess Eliza, Isn`t She Lovely, Eyes For You. Oomph who lost some ground at the start was last. Inside the final 300 metres, Arabia got the better of Merlot but could not breathe easy as Irish jockey Leigh Roche had La Rondine essaying a strong challenge. Soon La Rondine stormed ahead and stretched away for an emphatic win to provide the visiting jockey a big success in India. Arabia took the second position ahead of Oomph who made her way through the middle to save place money ahead of Eyes of You who was the widest of all. Isn`t She Lovely came a little wide into the straight but the patented burst of speed was not there as she looked a lost cause well before the final furlong and eventually finished fifth about six lengths adrift of the winner. Perhaps Isn`t She Lovely was beaten for speed.

Dallas Todywalla trained Ruffina once against proved that she is an exceptional sprinter and that none in the country can match her in a sprint event when conceding chunks of weight while winning the Gr 3 Sir Homi Mehta Sprint Challenge, a terms race for three-year-olds and over. Many may have reckoned that the weight and the sharpness of trip this time could pose a problem or two for Ruffina but the champion dispelled such notions with an authoritative performance. David Allan settled Ruffina in the rear even as Wild Fire and Lincoln was heading the bunch. Lincoln took over the running on turning for home, but it was clear well before the final furlong that Ruffina had everyone covered when she devoured ground on the wide outside with the jockey hardly having to use the whip to get a response from her. Ruffina sped past Lincoln and won by a margin of over two lengths in a record time of 57.3 seconds. Clymene pushed Lincoln to the third place.

Lesrel`s two runaway wins ensured that the got-abroad gelding from the stables of Vishal Gaikwad would go to the post in the 12000 metres M N Nazir Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, as a favourite. Queen Credible who has this habit of getting a slow start but finishing on board invariably was the second favourite. Jockey Leigh Roche took Lesrel on a start to finish mission with Bounty Queen in proximity, with the long shot Beshiktash in the third position. Approaching the final furlong, Lesrel appeared vulnerable to the challenge of Bounty Queen. The complexion of the race changed in the final 100 metres as Beshiktash changed gears as it were and closed with a rush and overhauled the favourite with ease to record a win at long odds. Bounty Queen was third another ¾ of a length behind the runner-up. Queen Credible could not rally after the lethargic beginning.

The last win of Gloriosus was so impressive that a repeat win was very much on the cards. Accordingly, the Imtiaz Sait trainee was the odds-on favourite to win the 2000 metres Nawabzada Rashiduzzafar Khan Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Zanara did the pace-setting till well into the straight before Gold Bond showed up in front briefly. Jockey Robert Downey brought Gloriosus with a well-timed run and after a brief duel with the stablemate, the favourite asserted his supremacy. Zanara stayed on to take the third position.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Between The Waters who had let down as a strongly fancied runner, made amends in the 1200 metres Kejriwal Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Stormy Atlantic and Between The Waters were both backed with conviction by their respective supporters. After Dance Emperor held sway till turning for home, Stormy Atlantic went ahead with Between The Waters in hot pursuit. Much to the chagrin of the supporters of Stormy Atlantic, the progeny of Strong Suit packed up without a fight and finished dismally. Between The Waters stormed ahead and had enough cushion to scrape through. Shivalik Queen essayed a late challenge but fell short in the end. Mount Olympus took the third position. Aberlour who lost some ground at the finish ran on to take the fourth position.

Golden Hind who expended his energy by running too freely in front and lost a possible winning chance on the last occasion, made amends in the 1600 metres Uttam Singh Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Trevor who came in for Leigh Roche had Golden Hind in about the third or fourth position as I Am The Way did the front-running. Trevor had Golden Steadily gain ascendancy in the stretch and the favourite broke clear in the final furlong. Golden Hind had enough leeway when Kimberella came with a late rally to occupy the second place. First timer Kennedy took the third position.

Longshot Sweeping Move from the stables of trainer Karthik Ganapathy produced a strong gallop in the final furlong to clinch the 1400 metres Lady In Lace Trophy (Div II), a race for horses in the lowest category in a tight finish from Dragonmoss. Favourite Cupido who was backed to the exclusion of the rest was lethargic at the beginning and thereafter it was a lost cause though the favourite stayed in touch with the field from the final bend. Another long shot Romantic Eyes raised hopes in the final furlong by shooting ahead but in the closing stages of the race was overhauled by Sweeping Move and Dragonmoss, with a neck each separating the first three placed horses. Dragonmoss covered a lot of ground in the straight but fell short in the end. The upper division of the race also saw a big upset in the form of It`s A Deal winning the race at long odds. It`s A Deal who hadn`t won for 441 days found the opposition easy to tackle as he shot ahead in the final furlong and held off the late challenge of Arrecife and Eiger`s Tiger.


*******************



Sweeping Move (Bhawani Singh up) winner of the LADY IN LACE TROPHY (DIV-II)




Gloriosus (Robbie Downey up) winner of the NAWABZADA RASHIDUZZAFAR KHAN TROPHY




Between The Waters (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the KEJRIWAL TROPHY (DIV-I)




Golden Hind (Trevor Patel up) winner of the UTTAM SINGH TROPHY




Beshiktash (R Ajinkya up) winner of the M N NAZIR TROPHY




Ruffina (David Allan up) winner of the SIR HOMI MEHTA SPRINT CHALLENGE (GR.3)




Flying Visit (Robbie Downey up) winner of the KEJRIWAL TROPHY (DIV-II)




Its A Deal (Amyn Merchant up) winner of the LADY IN LACE TROPHY (DIV-I)




 
 
  Post your comments   E-mail   Print
Total Comments : 0       Be first to add comments to this article !!
Top
   
'


Live Results - Delhi, March 28 2024
 
Disclaimer: The views expressed in Reviews and Analysis depict the personal perspective of the authors only. The website does not subscribe to or endorse any of the same and is not responsible for adverse consequences. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, we are not responsible for any discrepancies that are beyond our control.
© 2008 Racing Pulse. All Rights Reserved. A Racingpulse Holdings Venture