Mumbai: Psychic Flame’s juggernaut rolls on. The Darius Byramji-trained filly won the McDowell Indian Derby here on Sunday. The Razeen-Eminence daughter, however, had to win another battle in the stewards’ room after the rider of the second-placed horse, Estonia, lodged an objection on grounds of interference passing the distance-post. Pesi Shroff, who partnered the 8-1 shot to victory, also bettered his Indian Derby record of seven wins.
The objection raised by Mallesh Narredu was more of a technical nature, though the jockey and connections of the 4-1 joint-favourite — with Simply Supreme and Artois — felt that Estonia was knocked out of her strides when she was beginning to make her move. In the live proceedings of the review process and the repeated replays of the tapes from various angles, Mallesh failed to justify his objection and got over-ruled by the stewards.
Shroff was quite flexible about following the riding instructions of Darius. A warm-up gallop last Thursday and the Calcutta Derby tapes being his only ‘knowledge’ of the filly, the jockey refused to wait till the final turn to exploit Psychic Flame’s sharp turn of foot. More so because the likes of Estonias, Artois, Lancasters and few others were known to be equally brilliant with late run.
Trailing the field of 17 runners till the halfway mark, Pesi improved on the wide out of the field to be eighth. He was sixth into the straight while leads changed in front. But 250m from home, it became quite apparent that it was going to be a two-horse race when Psychic Flame and Estonia shot out of the pack simultaneously. However, the Flame was always travelling better until the infringement took place.
It was the Flame who had come close to Estonia and also brushed her while the heat was on. But in his effort to avoid a collision, Pesi had Psychic Flame shifting away. With the winning post less than a furlong away, he was also quick to collect the Flame and put her on even keel. Thanks to his cool temperament the jockey did not get rattled but continued to ride out the Flame with hands and heels, matching Estonia’s challenge in the next 75 metres.
However, taking no chance in the final 100m, Pesi whipped the filly on her shoulder who accelerated to a length victory.
Estonia was also a spent force close to home as she was nearly edged out from the second slot by trainer Zadmal Singh’s Sprungli. This factor may have also influenced the stewards when they over-ruled the objection.
RESULTS
(With inter-state dividends)
1. Our Select Trophy 2,400m: (3-7-4) Fiddle Faddle (Fargeat) 1; Swinging Rhythm 2; Roman Eagle 3. Won by: 7-1/2; 1-1/2; (2-38.1). Tote: Win Rs 37; Place: 13; 31; 15; Quinella: 227; Shp: 91; Tanala: 1,625. Fav: Roman Eagle (4).
2. K. T. Sampat Trophy 1,000m: (6-1-7) War Zone (Rajendra) 1; Bud Royale 2; Rahil 3. Won by: 3-1/4; Nk; (1-0.2). Tote: Win Rs 15; Place: 11; 61;17; Place: 190; Shp: 199; Tanala: 532. Fav: War Zone (6).
3. Rose Royal Trophy 1,600m: (14-8-7) Edelweiss (Rawal) 1; Super Model 2; Ixora 3. Won by: 3-1/4; 1-3/4; (1-42.4). Not run: Shadowfax (10). Tote: Win Rs 122; Place: 33; 14; 46; Quinella: 143; Shp: 46; Tanala: 9,340. Fav: Super Model (8).
4. Red Rufus Trophy 1,000m: (2-5-9) Dare To Dream (Bajrang) 1; Netstar 2; Elusive Charm 3. Not run: Battle Launch (4). Won by: SH; Hd; (1-2). Tote: Win Rs 180; Place: 53; 19; 115; Quinella: 179; Shp: 61; Tanala: 28,434. Fav: Heart Of Danger (6).
5. Breeders’ Produce Stakes 1,400m: (4-1-2) Secret Warrior (Prakash) 1; Lilac Queen 2; Forcing Bid 3. Won by: 1/2; 4-1/4; (1-26.2). Tote: Win Rs 16; Place: 13; 16; 26; Quinella: 24; Shp: 25; Tanala: 137. Fav: Secret Warrior (4).
6. Kejriwal Trophy 1,200m: (14-2-4) Early Bird (Chauhan) 1; Money Star 2; Donegal Bay 3. Won by: 1-3/4; 1-1/4; (1-13.5). Tote: Win Rs 100; Place: 34; 38; 15; Quinella: 917; Shp: 88; Tanala: 7,929. Fav: Donegal Bay (4).
7. R. N. Kanga Gold Trophy 1,400m: (9-3-12) Frantic (Ruzaan) 1; Aerospace 2; Divineintervention 3. Won by: SH; 3-1/2; (1-25.2). Tote: Win Rs 117; Place: 32; 26; 20; Quinella: 628; Shp: 58; Tanala: 4,517. Fav: Tide Of Fortune (2).
8. McDowell Indian Derby 2,400m: (15-13-17-12) Psychic Flame (Shroff) 1; Estonia 2; Sprungli 3; Allies Serenade 3. Won by: 1; SH; 3/4; (2-33.6). Tote: Win Rs 62; Place: 26; 19; 66; Quinella: 178; Shp: 57; Tanala: 7,930. Fav: Simply Supreme (10). (Note: The winner survived an objection lodged by the rider of second place horse).
9. Indictment Trophy 1,200m: (14-10-1) Venus Arising (M. Narredu) 1; Ocean Of Fantasy 2; Diffidence 3. Won by: Hd; 3; (1-13.4). Tote: Win Rs 59; Place: 25; 35; 21; Quinella: 364; Shp: 144; Tanala: 3,367. Fav: Statuesque (12).
10. Rose De Bahama Trophy 1,000m: (8-6-10) Charging Rhino (Belose) 1; Blue Devil 2; Montana 3. Won by: 1-1/4; 3-3/4; (1-1.4). Tote: Win Rs 83; Place: 24; 14; 19; Quinella: 85; Shp: 39; Tanala: 699. Fav: Blue Devil (6).
Jackpot: Rs 10,58,248 (Carried over); (C) Rs 27,212.
Treble: (i) Rs 546; (ii) Rs 1,218; (iii) Rs 3,098.
