Super Speed (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Poonawalla Mysore Derby 2006 (Gr.1) being led in by owners Mr.Anantha Cham Dev Raju,
Mr.Cham Devraju & trainer Mr.S.Narredu

Super Speed lifts Poonawalla Derby
By Sharan Kumar

Mysore
October 22, 2006

The victory of Satish Narredu trained Super Speed in  the Gr.1 Poonawalla Mysore Derby on Sunday came like a breath of fresh air. One had got tired of seeing the gold and brown colours winning the majority of classics with regular monotony. Racing was ceasing to be fun. However, the victory achieved by Super Speed, against the might of an intimidating stable is what gives racing its charm and brings a semblance of hope to all and sundry that the summit can be reached not just by the ones with the might but also by those who will it.

Real Excellence had the credentials to win but Super Speed was not one to be trifled with. Super Speed had run fourth in the Gr.1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby and then third behind Man of the Match and Secret Memory in the Gr.1 Deccan Derby. Secret Memory had gone on to win the Gr.1 Nanoli Pune Derby and as such, the credentials of Super Speed certainly had received a boost because of the subsequent performance of the runner up in the Deccan Derby. On the other hand, Real Excellence had done nothing wrong, winning four races in a row. Her last win in the Mysore 1000 Guineas had come in impressive fashion despite the fact that the daughter of Steinbeck had looked poor in the paddock parade. However, the one-sided support for Real Excellence was a big surprise as Super Speed, one of the most consistent horses on the local circuit, was no mean customer and ran with an excellent chance of toppling the favourite.

That things were messed up for the gold and brown brigade was evident by the fact that the pace of the race set by Real Excellence's stable-mate Fabulous Emperor was too slow for comfort. Real Excellence, who takes time to warm up, would have been happier with a strong pace. The slow pace surely suited Super Speed who stayed in the second position, without having to stretch himself. And when it came to quickening on turning for home, Real Excellence, despite being provided a dream opening along the rails, did not pick up speed instantly and it was left to Super Speed to seize the initiative and go into what turned out to be a decisive lead. Symbol of Speed moved up with a flourish and was all set to clinch the second spot but Real Excellence who came up with a second wind, was full of running and snatched the runner up berth by a nose. The victory of Super Speed (Tirol-Silent Tale) was a dream come true for trainer Satish Narredu who had also won the event as a jockey in the last decade. Incidentally, this was the first Derby triumph for Capricorn Stud Farm that has been enjoying good success all over India albeit in classics. Jockey Suraj Narredu, who guided Super Speed to Derby victory, had last year won the same event on Psychic Strength. 

Our Own Star who had won her last outing over a sprint in a near record timing, was less favoured than Romantic Getaway to win the 1400 metres Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Our Own Star duly obliged in the hands of jockey Imran Chisty, staving off the challenge of Romantic Getaway quite competently. Chisty otherwise was in the eye of the storm, with some questionable rides on Nebraska Tornado and Space Girl. His ride on Space Girl was too blatant for comfort. The odds drifted out on Space Girl from the initial quote of 2 to 1 to 20 to 1 in the ring and the bookmakers perhaps had the inkling of the shape of things to come. As is his wont, Chisty got himself stranded at the gate and prevented the horse from running on merits at every stage of the race despite which, the five-year old mare finished fourth. The Stewards have opened an enquiry into the running and riding of Space Girl but as is the case with those concerning the affairs of gold and brown brigade, this might be yet another 'lame' enquiry. It won’t come as a big surprise if the veterinary report certifies that the horse came back lame, as has been the case in the past. The only question that begs to be answered is how the bookmakers knew about these things well in advance for them to increase the odds so drastically? Like James Bond who had the license to kill, the gold and brown brigade have the liberty do what suits them the best. For the record, Lionheart who came in for spirited support, with odds drifting on all the fancied runners, won quite capably at the expense of Wizzy Noise.

Michael Eshwer trained Einstein was the best-performed horse in the fray for the 1400 metres Daisy Appoo Cup, a terms race for three-year olds. However, Einstein had twice run after being gelded during the Bangalore Summer Season and run poorly. And as such, the lack of a run as also his performance on the racetrack was expected to go against him. Oksana who had won twice during the season was the overwhelming favourite ahead of Secret Fury. In the event, both these horses did not figure at the finish and it was left to the front-running Game Fighter and Einstein to fight for honors. The later managed to get the nod virtually in the dying moments of the race.

Hold That Tiger was the most fancied runner in the 2000 metres Gool and Soli Poonawalla Memorial Gold Trophy, ahead of Nebraska Tornado. The later was tardy at the gates once again and was given a poor ride by the daring Chisty. However, it was Hold that Tiger’s stable-mate Amazing One who ended up winning at nourishing odds, once against emphasizing the need to bracket if more than one horse of a trainer runs in the same race. Amazing One had his share of supporters and the victory of the progeny of Inner City at the expense of stable-mate Hold That Tiger who lost tamely is what gives a bad taste in the mouth.

Dhariwal’s Auchinlech finally obliged, winning the R M Puttanna Memorial Gold Trophy (Div.I) quite easily from favourite Dakota Fanning. The lower division of the race went the way of Arjun Mangalorkar schooled Stark Contrast who won as he pleased despite a slow getaway.

All Natural shaped to justify the favoritism but the finishing burst of Pick Me Up put paid to the hopes of the front-runner virtually in the final stride of the race. In the day’s other action, Time Is Life won at the expense of Dasanandini who found foot late after a poor start from the gates and Silent Witness prevailed close home over Third World.