Just A Thought About The Oaks
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Ace jockey caught in Derby blame game
Tactical error by Malesh Narredu riding all-time favourite Set Alight, sets tongues wagging at the race course, and leaves racegoers poorer by lakhs
By Usman Rangeela
Posted On Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 02:46:51 AM
In happier times: Mallyas wife Rekha, race manager Zeyn Mirza and trainer Pesi Shroff posing with Set Alight and jockey Malesh Narredu in this file photo
The stunning upset at Sunday's McDowell Signature Indian Derby has put a question mark over the career of one of India's top jockey, Malesh Narredu.
The Vijay Mallya-owned filly Set Alight that Malesh was riding, was the favourite to win the Rs 1.13 crore jackpot by a long shot at the price of 10 to 5 on. Since she started racing Set Alight has won every single of the ten races that she has run, and this Derby was to be no exception. In fact, so confident was Mallya about the win that he ensured his entire family was there to witness the historic race. His wife Rekha flew in from the US, son Siddhartha from the UK, as did his mother Lalitha from New Delhi. In the UB lounge from where the entourage was watching the race, champagne was put on ice, and as Set Alight strained ahead of the pack, Mallya jubilantly leapt up, shrieking with joy, and swilling champagne.
Then the unthinkable happened. Two hundred meters from the winning post Set Alight started to tire and dark horse Antonios ridden by Brazilian jockey Sylvester de Souza raced ahead creating the biggest upset in recent Derby history.
Pin-drop silence descended in the UB lounge, and as a visibly-upset Mallya strode out of the race course Rekha Mallya asked the question on top of everyone's mind: "Who put the monkey on that horse?" Seconds later trainer Pesi Shroff was striding toward the paddock: "Why did you have to do this? Why? Why?" he confronted the jockey who walked away wordlessly.
The Why was Malesh's shock tactic to hustle the filly too early into the lead which led the horse to tire before she reached the finish line. Later Mallya's racing manager Zeyn Mirza openly blamed Malesh.
Set Alight is an exceptional horse and can accelerate well, all Malesh had to do was to wait a while longer and switch gears closer to the finish line, leaving the horse to do the rest, says club member and avid race-goer Manoj Gandhi. This will definitely impact Maleshs career as a top-flight jockey, he added.
Malesh who was the second choice to race Set Alight on Sunday, after Irish jockey Chris Hayes backed out due to prior engagement, however defended whats being termed as the costliest mistake of his career. Hitting the front when I did was the best decision I could have taken at that moment. The leaders in the race were falling back and since Set Alight is a big-striding filly I didnt want to get blocked on the rails. I am in the worst position as the jockey, its easy for everyone to blame me.
For many of the race-goers who lost heavily after betting on Set Alight that is poor comfort.
Comment (2 Comments Received)
People, take it with a pinch of salt.
You like to win all the time, but that
is not the case. The experts can talk all they want as to who is the favourite, but the fact is at this level anyone can beat anyone. Just because one particular horse is owned by some rich guy is not a guarantee to win. Move on to the next one and prepare better next time!
Sammy Labana, apxfire@yahoo.com Dated : Tuesday, April 14, 200909:41 PMAgain these things can be looked at both the ways.It could be a genuine jockey fault with Malesh messing it up with the timing of his run.On the other hand with the stakes being so high it can make one cast aspersions on his integrity as well.All said and done it makes for a very interesting reading and people in future would think twice before putting all their money on the favourite.
Zak, zakir_kazi2002@yahoo.com Dated : Tuesday, April 14, 200912:40 PMRecommend/Review this Article
,yet
Tactical error by Malesh Narredu riding all-time favourite Set Alight, sets tongues wagging at the race course, and leaves racegoers poorer by lakhs
By Usman Rangeela
Posted On Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 02:46:51 AM
In happier times: Mallyas wife Rekha, race manager Zeyn Mirza and trainer Pesi Shroff posing with Set Alight and jockey Malesh Narredu in this file photo
The stunning upset at Sunday's McDowell Signature Indian Derby has put a question mark over the career of one of India's top jockey, Malesh Narredu.
The Vijay Mallya-owned filly Set Alight that Malesh was riding, was the favourite to win the Rs 1.13 crore jackpot by a long shot at the price of 10 to 5 on. Since she started racing Set Alight has won every single of the ten races that she has run, and this Derby was to be no exception. In fact, so confident was Mallya about the win that he ensured his entire family was there to witness the historic race. His wife Rekha flew in from the US, son Siddhartha from the UK, as did his mother Lalitha from New Delhi. In the UB lounge from where the entourage was watching the race, champagne was put on ice, and as Set Alight strained ahead of the pack, Mallya jubilantly leapt up, shrieking with joy, and swilling champagne.
Then the unthinkable happened. Two hundred meters from the winning post Set Alight started to tire and dark horse Antonios ridden by Brazilian jockey Sylvester de Souza raced ahead creating the biggest upset in recent Derby history.
Pin-drop silence descended in the UB lounge, and as a visibly-upset Mallya strode out of the race course Rekha Mallya asked the question on top of everyone's mind: "Who put the monkey on that horse?" Seconds later trainer Pesi Shroff was striding toward the paddock: "Why did you have to do this? Why? Why?" he confronted the jockey who walked away wordlessly.
The Why was Malesh's shock tactic to hustle the filly too early into the lead which led the horse to tire before she reached the finish line. Later Mallya's racing manager Zeyn Mirza openly blamed Malesh.
Set Alight is an exceptional horse and can accelerate well, all Malesh had to do was to wait a while longer and switch gears closer to the finish line, leaving the horse to do the rest, says club member and avid race-goer Manoj Gandhi. This will definitely impact Maleshs career as a top-flight jockey, he added.
Malesh who was the second choice to race Set Alight on Sunday, after Irish jockey Chris Hayes backed out due to prior engagement, however defended whats being termed as the costliest mistake of his career. Hitting the front when I did was the best decision I could have taken at that moment. The leaders in the race were falling back and since Set Alight is a big-striding filly I didnt want to get blocked on the rails. I am in the worst position as the jockey, its easy for everyone to blame me.
For many of the race-goers who lost heavily after betting on Set Alight that is poor comfort.
Comment (2 Comments Received)
People, take it with a pinch of salt.
You like to win all the time, but that
is not the case. The experts can talk all they want as to who is the favourite, but the fact is at this level anyone can beat anyone. Just because one particular horse is owned by some rich guy is not a guarantee to win. Move on to the next one and prepare better next time!
Sammy Labana, apxfire@yahoo.com Dated : Tuesday, April 14, 200909:41 PMAgain these things can be looked at both the ways.It could be a genuine jockey fault with Malesh messing it up with the timing of his run.On the other hand with the stakes being so high it can make one cast aspersions on his integrity as well.All said and done it makes for a very interesting reading and people in future would think twice before putting all their money on the favourite.
Zak, zakir_kazi2002@yahoo.com Dated : Tuesday, April 14, 200912:40 PMRecommend/Review this Article
,yet
Comments