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Well Connected takes a quantum leap
Review: By: Sharan Kumar
June 23 , 2019
   
   

Padmanabhan trained Well Connected made a quantum improvement while annexing the Gr 1 Fillies Championship Stakes in splendid fashion on the rain-soaked track at Bangalore on Sunday. Jockey Zervan who is riding this season with supreme confidence made the best of the chance ride that he got by raising to the occasion and richly contributed to the success of the talented daughter of Arazan. Incidentally, this was the second classic success for the jockey in Bangalore.

Well Connected had recorded a spectacular win over the six-furlong trip. She had displayed all the attributes of a champion and her turn of foot was breath-taking. The only question mark about her success in the classic was the fact that she was quickly migrating to the toughest company over an extended trip. Well Connected proved her credentials by handling the experienced opposition with disdain. The trainer who is adept at churning classic winners with amazing regularity deserves kudos for the success of Well Connected who now comes into the Derby reckoning. Credit is also due to Zervan who showed good temperament and managed to get the filly to traverse the mile-long trip under soft underfoot conditions without getting into any trouble and driving out the horse with all the resources at his command. Though Well Connected was pushed out at the final bend, that did not cause any hiccup.

 
   



Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Anjeze who had recorded two impressive wins was widely expected to win the race as the two challengers from Mumbai who had finished 1-2 in the Poonawalla Multi-Million hadn’t shown progress since arriving in Bangalore. Many were hesitant to plump for Well Connected despite the filly displaying class only because of her lack of racing experience. Anjeze was the firm favourite. The presence of David Allan on Hunt For Gold ensured that the latter got significant support from punters hoping for a turnaround in the fortunes of the Leitir Mor.

Anjeze had shown a distinct liking for running all by herself in front and then leaving the others stranded in the stretch. To train a horse to win start to finish in classics is always demanding. Trevor Patel had Anjeze take charge at the jump out and the filly who is bred as a full sister to the dual Derby winner Angel Dust led by lengths in trying conditions. The character of the track under undergone a change because of the drenching it received as rains during the running of the previous two races. The Bangalore racetrack is not conducive for racing when it rains because beneath the green cover, the surface has nothing to bind it and the going becomes slippery as a result. Approaching the final turn, Well Connected had to go slightly wide as Princess Annabel shifted out but Zervan showed quick reflexes to steer himself out of the trouble. The moment he got down to drive out the favourite Well Connected to accelerate; the response was tremendous. As the field approached the final furlong it was clear that Well Connected would record a comprehensive win as she had the front-runner covered and the others from behind didn’t look menacing. Well Connected stretched away for a brilliant win. Thailand showed late flourish to displace the long-time leader and favourite from the runner-up berth. The three Mumbai challengers shared the last three places.

Trainer Padmanabhan said: ''The filly had shown promise and her performance has vindicated my faith in her.’’ There are exciting abilities he added when queried about the prospects of Well Connected in the Derby. Though the trainer has been winning classics consistently, he hadn’t won this race after winning with Wandering Star in 1997.

Darius Byramji trained Secretive Force looked outstanding in the 2000 metres A M C Gowda Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 45 to 65 after the progeny of Multidimensional had run a brilliant second behind Ambrosio in his last start. The bookmakers were not prepared to offer decent odds on Secretive Force who went to the post as the shortest priced horse of the day. Play Safe did the pacesetting with Salvador Dalli and Secretive Force racing behind. Approaching the final turn, Zervan on Secretive Force made his move and without much fuss, Secretive Force assumed command inside the final 300 metres. Salvador Dalli gave a chase, but it was clear that the favourite would prove too good. Royal Crystal showed late flourish to be a suggestive third.

David Allan was in the familiar role of guiding a Padmanabhan trainee to victory, Ice Floe, to victory in the 1200 metres Sports Authority of India Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Harbour Sunrise had the first run on her opponents in the stretch but David Allan who brought Ice Floe with a flourishing run on the wide outside had the race in control all the way to the winning post. Mumbai challenger Hokkaido who was loitering in the rear till turning for home came home with a big effort to come close to catching up with the eventual winner. Hokkaido will be too good to miss next time out. Harbour Sunrise was ineffective when confronted with the challenge. Bharath Singh trained Kolkata challenger Rosina who was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the lower division of the race overcame a sluggish start and showed tremendous grit in the stretch to win the race from Sasakwa who made a strong rally from way behind along the rails to be a notable second ahead of Queen Regnant whose run too was impressive.

Prasanna Kumar trained Roma Victory was driven out for a facile win by jockey Akshay Kumar in the 1200 metres Nanoli Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Roma Victor who came in for spirited support was brought into the picture with a well-timed run by Akshay Kumar. The progeny of Gusto produced a striking acceleration to swamp the front-running Animal Kingdom to record a comfortable win. Mega Ikon failed to build on his last effort and plodded home to be third.

Irfan Ghatala trained Varcasva who was subjected to a veterinary check before being loaded for the 1100 metres Sweet Memories Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35 showed good resolution when easily staving off the challenge of Touch Your Destiny to record a comfortable win. Favourite Emidio disappointed finishing a tame third. Kishan Thomas trained Capstone brought off a big upset in the lower division of the race in the hands of jockey Prabhakaran. Capstone came wide into the straight and produce a strong effort which saw the long shot nail the favourite Nawabzaadi in the closing stride of the race. Bold Runner held off Grecian Light to take the third position.


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Rosina (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Sports Authority Of India Cup (Div-II)




Capstone (M Prabhakaran up) winner of the Sweet Memories Plate (Div-II)




Ice Floe (David Allan up) winner of the Sports Authority Of India Cup (Div-I)




Secretive Force (S Zervan up) winner of the A. M. C. Gowda Memorial Trophy




Well Connected (S Zervan up) winner of the Fillies Championship Stakes (Gr.1)




Roma Victor (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Nanoli Stud Plate




Varcasva (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Sweet Memories Plate (Div-I)




 
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