It was more than a cakewalk–it was a leisurely stroll in the park.
Fynbos, the Kingda Ka-Mahali four-year-old filly trained by Pesi Shroff posted a smashing victory in the Villoo C Poonawalla Indian Oaks (Gr 1) at the Mahalaxmi racetrack on Saturday. Fynbos was given a copybook ride by jockey Vivek G, who settled her in mid-bunch for most of the mile-and-a-half trip, as stablemate Azalea (PS Kaviraj up) hit the front, followed by Namiri (P Trevor up). Rounding the final turn, the property of KN & ZK Dhunjibhoy, Vispi R Patel, Ms Anosha Meyers and Ms Anita J Captain, improved effortlessly, and passing the two-furlong marker, Fynbos quickly opened a four-length gap over the front runners. Thereafter, she sailed away in solitary splendour, crossing the wire about half a dozen lengths ahead of her nearest rival, Kings Gambit (Yash Narredu up), also trained by Shroff.
Super Shroff
This was the sixth straight Oaks victory for trainer Pesi Shroff; who eclipsed his own earlier record of five-Oaks-winners-on-the-trot (between 2015-19). In fact, such is the stranglehold of trainer Shroff over this race that since his first season as trainer (2006-07) he has won the Indian Oaks a record 14 times in 19 seasons! For jockey Vivek G, who opened his Group 1 account with the Pune Derby last year, this was the third success.
In the Ramniwas Ramnarain Ruia Gold Cup, one of the two Gr 3 races on the card, Baychimo (French Navy – Lady Sargeant), trained by Adhirajsingh, set a new course record of 1 minute 59.252 seconds for the trip of 2000m, vindicating his status as the best colt in training. Fynbos and Baychimo, the champion filly and champion colt, are expected to lock horns in the Villoo C Poonawalla Indian Derby (Gr 1) to be run on Sunday, Feb 1, at the same racetrack.
The other Gr 3 race, the Gool S Poonawalla Million, was won by the Behram Cama-trained Nebula (Sanus Per Aquam – Apparition) in a close finish from Lady Scarlet. Nebula was ridden with vigour by jockey TS Jodha, who turned out to be the star professional of Saturday, as he additionally rode a fine double for trainer Ms Nazzak Chenoy (Skandha & Appalachian), ending up with a treble on the card.
