In The Spotlight hogs limelight

Martin Dwyer-ridden filly blasts past competitive field to emerge triumphant

The 2012 McDowell Signature Premier Indian Derby (Grade I) was supposed to be one of the most open races in recent years. Nobody told that to In The Spotlight, though!

The wonderful filly, trained by S Padmanabhan and flawlessly ridden by Martin Dwyer, obliterated a highly competitive field on her way to victory in the biggest race in the Indian calendar.

The Jamshed J Appoo-owned horse took home a cash prize of Rs 1,56,96,000 and with it completed victory at a fifth different racing centre. In The Spotlight, who almost died of colic as a two-year old, had previously won in Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

The Vijay Mallya-owned Smashing ran well to take second and would have probably won the race on any other day. However, on Derby Day Sunday, the Pesi Shroff-trained filly, who picked up Rs 49,70,400, finished a massive seven lengths behind the winner. Field Marshal held off the challenge of a late-finishing favourite Pronto Pronto for third, with the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby winner settling for fourth. Second favourite Hills And Stars, the Pune Derby winner, disappointed with a seventh-place finish.

“This horse hardly needs to be trained,” Padmanabhan, who picked up his first ever Indian Derby victory, said after race. “In fact, I think she has succeeded despite my training!” the elated Bangalore-based trainer joked.

The race began with Pronto Star taking up the pacemaking duties with Field Marshal in second and In The Spotlight nicely tucked in at third with Smashing right behind along the rails. Hills And Stars and Pronto Pronto were in the back bunch, finding it hard to keep up with the pace of the frontrunners.

At the straight, as all the horses made their move, a whiff of a strike from Dwyer’s whip was enough for the classy horse to kick on. Once she got into her stride, there was no catching her with the filly increasing the lead with every powerful gallop and in the process justifying Dwyer’s claims about her being good enought to win a Group III race in England.

1. Antiquity Blue ‘Fusion Of The Finest’ Cup (Div II) -- 1200M: Laurus Pride (TS Jodha) 1; Celsius (C Rajendra) 2; Athos (Ruzaan) 3; Rising Asset (Vivek) 4; WB: 1-3/4, 2, 3/4L; T: 1:13.03; TB: Subhag S; Fav: Celsius.

2. McDowell’s No 1 Platinum Trophy -- 2400M: Clinton (B Prakash) 1; Sheriff (A Agarwal) 2; Apache Indian (Kavraj S) 3; Tara (CS Jodha) 4; WB: 1-3/4, 1, 2L; T: 2:35.74; TB: Shroff; Fav: Clinton.

3. Vladivar Cup -- 1400M: Silk Cut (I Chisty) 1; Batista (CS Jodha) 2; Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony C) 3; Incognito (S Pasquier) 4; WB: 1/2, 1/2L, Sh; T: 1:24.61; TB: B Chenoy; Fav: Scarlet Pimpernel.

4. Dalmore Cup -- 1600M: Red Baron (CD Hayes) 1; Sun Salutation (Srinath) 2; Capital Attraction (R Hughes) 3; Hot Pepper (PS Chouhan) 4; WB: Sh, 2-3/4, 2L; T: 1:38.25; TB: Karthik G; Fav: Sun Salutation.

5. KN Kanga Gold Trophy -- 1600M: Dear Henry (S de Sousa) 1; Onassis (B Prakash) 2; Harlamoff (S Pasquier) 3; Portrush (R Hughes) 4; WB: 1/2, Hd, 4-1/2L; T: 1:35.92; TB: SS Shah; Fav: Onassis.

6. BK Rattonesey Memorial Maiden Multi-Million -- 1200M: Victorious March (A Sandesh) 1; Blue Ace (C Rajendra) 2; Naserian (David Allan) 3; Su O Moto (R Hughes) 4; WB: 3, 2-3/4L, Sh; T: 1:12.01; TB: Rehanullah K; Fav: Naserian.

7. McDowell Signature Pemier Indian Derby (Grade I) -- 2400M: In The Spotlight (M Dwyer) 1; Smashing (Anthony C) 2; Field Marshal (David Allan) 3; Pronto Pronto (Srinath) 4; WB: 7, 2-1/4L, Sh; T: 2:30.69; TB: Padmanabhan; Fav: Pronto Pronto.

8. Royal Challenge ‘Game For Life’ Challenge -- 1200M: Coccinella (S Zervan) 1; Hidden Goodness (PS Chouhan) 2; Rein In Spain (A Sandesh) 3; Sugar Loaf (I Chisty) 4; WB: 3-1/4, Nk, 1-1/2L; T: 1:11.50; TB: Shroff; Fav: Palazzo Grazioli.

9. Antiquity Blue ‘Fusion Of The Finest’ Cup (Div I) -- 1200M: Apocalypse (David Allan) 1; Helen (PS Chouhan) 2; Belle Rise (Khalander) 3; Staffan (S Pasquier) 4; WB: 2, 4-1/2, 2L; T: 1:12.48; TB: M Shah; Fav: Apocalypse.

Bangalore dividends

I race: Rs 25w; Rs 75, Rs 25, Rs 41p; Fc: Rs 696; Q: Rs 364; SHP: Rs 66; Tri: Rs 9,733 and Rs 4,171.

II race: Rs 16w; Rs 12, Rs 31, Rs 118p; Fc: Rs 136; Q: Rs 82; SHP: Rs 83; Tri: Rs 1,414 and Rs 800.

III race: Rs 44w; Rs 19, Rs 194, Rs 15p; Fc: Rs 1,717; Q: Rs 581; SHP: Rs 606; Tri: Rs 5,160 and Rs 1,041.

IV race: Rs 38w; Rs 13, Rs 13, Rs 23p; Fc: Rs 51; Q: Rs 27; SHP: Rs 40; Tri: Rs 176 and Rs 111.

V race: Rs 66w; Rs 24, Rs 12p; Fc: Rs 91; Q: Rs 28; SHP: Rs 47; Tri: Rs 168 and Rs 128.

VI race: Rs 363; Q: Rs 58, Rs 22, Rs 13p; Fc: Rs 1,714; Q: Rs 369; SHP: Rs 56; Tri: Rs 3,518 and Rs 852.

VII race: Rs 50w; Rs 22, Rs 24, Rs 58p; Fc: Rs 129; Q: Rs 42; SHP: Rs 69; Tri: Rs 2,160 and Rs 2,104; Exp: Rs 14,783 and Rs 3,548.

VIII race: Rs 48w; Rs 21, Rs 55, Rs 264p; Fc: Rs 377; Q: Rs 317; SHP: Rs 149; Tri: Rs 26,279 and Rs 11,262.

IX race: Rs 37w; Rs 15, Rs 31, Rs 54p; Fc: Rs 249; Q: Rs 74; SHP: Rs 99; Tri: Rs 7,906 and Rs 1,694; Exp: Rs 20,957 and Rs 5,613.

I jackpot: Rs 166,537 (3). Runners: Rs 12,595 (17).

II jackpot: Rs 117,021 (26). Runners: Rs 13,040 (100). Mini-jackpot: Rs 48,096 (1). I treble: Rs 175 (173). II treble: Rs 9,362 (3). III treble: Rs 434 (140).