With a dozen top-class four-year-olds from all over the country lining up for the McDowell Signature Indian Derby, queen filly Jacqueline, winner of all the three Classics run so far (the Indian 1000 & 2000 Guineas & the Oaks) will be the cynosure of all eyes.
With a dozen top-class four-year-olds from all over the country lining up for the McDowell Signature Indian Derby, queen filly Jacqueline, winner of all the three Classics run so far (the Indian 1000 & 2000 Guineas & the Oaks) will be the cynosure of all eyes.
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Jacqueline, owned by Mr & Mrs Vijay Shirke, KN Dhunjibhoy and Berjis Minoo Desai, is trained by Pesi Shroff, who also has four other runners in the fray.
They are Onassis and Bruckner carrying the same silks as the favourite, and Star Alliance and Astral Flash, owned by Vijay Mallya.
The main challenge to the Shroff contingent will come from trainer S Padmanabhan's Becket, an extremely talented horse who has been unsound all his life except perhaps on the days he raced. With four victories from as many starts, including the Poonawallau00a0 Bangalore Derby less than two weeks ago, the Haresh Mehta-owned Becket is sure to run a big race.
The dark horse is Native Knight who, for the first time, is getting a decent jockey in Brazilian SA DeSousa, the man who posted shock victory astride Antonios in the same race last year. Native Knight is trained by Narendra Lagad.
Top billing
While Jacqueline surely deserves the top billing, one is reminded of the famous words of Damon Runyan when he said that the race is not always to the best, nor the battle to the strong.
Who may possibly emerge the winner if Jacqueline falters? I think it will be Onassis, carrying the same silks, who has shown incredible improvement with each of his last three victories this season, and who will be ridden by English jockey Kieren Fallon.
First race at 12.30 pm.
Selections:
Isle Of Jura Cup (Class V; 1600m)
Deep Purple 1, Sol 2, Kalinga Star 3.
Antiquity Blue Cup (For 3y, maiden; 1600m)
Rigel 1, Ocean Touch 2, Moon Star 3.
Royal Challenge 'Game For Life' Challenge
Churchill 1, Scholar 2, Harmonica 3.
Antiquity Blue Cup - Div II (For 3y, maiden; 1600m)
Glorious Miss 1, Fish Pilot 2, Hunter Bay 3.
Dalmore Cup (Class IV; 2400m)
Vincero 1, Krug 2, Francis Of Assisi 3.
R N Kanga Gold Trophy (For 4y&o; 1600m)
Dancing Dynamite 1, Diego Rivera 2, Red Romeo 3.
McDowell Signature 'Bold Is Beautiful' Trophy (Class III; 1200m)
Semper Eadem 1, Rajasthan Royals 2, Sea Queen 3.
B K Rattonsey Memorial Maiden Multi-Million (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
Eloise 1, Light My Way 2, Roesti 3.
The 9th race: Scheduled time: 5.15 pm.
McDowell Signature Indian Derby - Grade 1 (For 4y; 2400m)
1. Aston Martin 57 M Kharadi (8)
2. Becket 57 Martin Dwyer (6)
3. Bruckner 57 Paul Mulrennan (12)
4. Classerville 57 David Allan (11)
5. Lone Monarch 57 Suraj Narredu (1)
6. Mighty Crusader 57 NG McCullagh (10)
7. Native Knight 57 SA DeSousa (2)
8. Onassis 57 K Fallon (4)
9. Star Alliance 57 CD Hayes (5)
10. Amazing Ray 55.5 B Prakash (9)
11. Astral Flash 55.5 Neeraj Rawal (7)
12. Jacqueline 55.5 R Hughes (3)
Selections:Onassis 1, Jacqueline 2, Becket 3, Native Knight 4.
Antiquity Rare Cup - Div I (Class IV; 1000m)
Il Tabarro 1, Silver Sands 2, Feona 3.
Recommendations
Best bet: Semper Eadem (7-3)
Good bet: Dancing Dynamite (6-1)
Chance bet: Eloise (8-14)
Upset: Irish Queen (3-5)
Today's pools:
Super jackpot pool: 5,6,7,8,9,10
Jackpot pool: I - 3,4,5,6,7; II - 6,7,8,9,10
Treble pool: I - 2,3,4; II - 4,5,6; III - 8,9,10
Tanala pool: All races.
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