Going against handicapping logic and defying the conventional wisdom, trainer Pesi Shroff pulled off a dramatic victory with Mathaiyus whom jockey YS Srinath, carrying overweight of 5.5 kg, steered to win General Obaidullah Khan trophy, the feature event of yesterday's seven-race card at Mahalaxmi racecourse
Going against handicapping logic and defying the conventional wisdom, trainer Pesi Shroff pulled off a dramatic victory with Mathaiyus whom jockey YS Srinath, carrying overweight of 5.5 kg, steered to win General Obaidullah Khan trophy, the feature event of yesterday's seven-race card at Mahalaxmi racecourse.
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The four-year-old gelding was put through the acid test because Shroff and owner Mehernosh Deboo wanted to check if Mathaiyus, who was asked to carry bottom weight of only 49 kg on his back by the official handicapper, could be pitched at the deep end in the forthcoming Classics where he would be asked to carry 57 kg, if entered. The audacious gamble paid off handsomely, and the confidence the racing public has in the champion trainer was on display when truckloads of money chased him to go out as a public choice on the tote, though he was easily available at 2/1 in the bookmakers' ring.
Shocks galore
The other two trophy races on the card were won by rank outsiders. Juggernaut, trained by Narendra Lagad and ridden by Dashrath Singh, posted a gritty performance when winning the Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy at the odds of 15-to-1; while trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha's Bounty Queen (DS Daman up) remained friendless in the bookmakers' ring where she was offered at 11-to-1, before coming up from the rear with a dazzling run to post a stylish victory in the Rajpipla Trophy.
The biggest upset of the day, however, was caused by the Zadmal Singh-trained Sudarshan Chakra, a 40-to-1 shot, who floored his rivals in the Isn't She Special plate reserved for 5y & older horses in the bottom class.
Brace for Trevor
Jockey Trevor Patel was the only professional to score a double on the Thursday card. He won both the divisions of the Riyasat Plate for different trainers. In the lower division he drove trainer Dallas Todywalla's Grey Flannel to a handsome victory as bookmakers' favourite Snowy Peaks (Yash Narredu up) faltered badly after striding out in front; and in the upper division of the same race he displayed exemplary patience on the Imtiaz Sait-trained Dhishoom who lay second from last in a 11-horse field until negotiating the turn.
Trevor then angled him out and rode vigorously, and Dhishoom accelerated well to sweep past the field so well, the jockey finally dropped his hands even before passing the winning post.
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