Darius-trained Psychic Force (P.S. Chouhan astride) won the South India Derby Stakes, the prestigious event of the Pongal Day races in Chennai on Tuesday (January 15). The winner is owned Ms. Ameeta Mehra, Mr. Rienzie M.K. Edwards and Mrs. P.P.M. Edwards.
Star Ranking, stablemate of tote favourite My Opinion, set the pace and was leading up to the last 500m. Psychic Force, which jumped out sixth, went on the outside from the initial stages and was racing second. With the finish line in sight, Chouhan goaded the colt to pick up pace and the Darius’ ward obliged to win ahead of Indian Pharaoh by 3/4 length.
P. Krishna, trainer of Rutbedaar, receiving the K. Srinivasan Memorial Trophy from Ramesh Rangarajan, Steward, Madras Race Club as fellow Steward K. Balamukunda Das looks on.
In the Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Memorial Cup, Cavallo Veloce, ridden by A. Imran Khan, took the honours with a course record time of 1m, 23.25s.
The festive day races, which saw the introduction of new starting gates, attracted a colourful crowd of more than 6000 people.
Arun Alagappan, the owner of Cavallo Veloce, receiving the Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Memorial Cup from Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Steward, Madras Race Club in the presence of the Club chairman R. Ramakrishnan.
1. DR. M.A. CHIDAMBARAM CUP (1,200m), maiden 3-y-o only (Terms): KING T’CHALA (Yash) 1, Brothers In Arms (Arshad Alam) 2, Oberon (Donoghue) 3 and Comanche Brave (A. Imran) 4. 2-1/2, 7-1/2 and 4-1/2. 1m, 11.79s. ₹24 (w), 5,5,5 (p). SHP: 15. FP: 42. Q: 24. Tla: 117. Favourite: Brothers In Arms. Owners: Mr. V. Sathish Kumar. Trainer: Fazal Ul Rehman.
2. KUMARARAJAH M.A.M. MUTHIAH CUP (1,200m), 5-y-o over, rated 20 to 45: HADAR (Umesh) 1, Parrys Glory (Arshad Alam) 2, Menander (P. Ajeeth Kumar) 3 and Sprinkler (Ayaz Khan) 4. 1-1/2, 1-1/2 and 3-3/4. 1m, 13.67s. ₹7 (w), 6,7,6 (p). SHP: 41. FP: 109. Q: 41. Tla: 318. Favourite: Hadar. Owners: Mr. Harisharan Devgan, Mr. Vazhaparmbil J. Joseph & Mr. Blesson J. Kallada. Trainer: Sebastian.
Derby Finish: Psychic Force (P.S. Chouhan astride) winning the South India Derby Stakes ahead of Indian Pharaoh, My Opinion and Oomph at the Pongal races held on January 15, 2019.
3. PONGAL CUP (1,600m), rated up to 25: DREAM RUN (K. Sai Kiran) 1, Lovely Dancer (Janardhan P) 2, Rare Rock (A. Imran) 3 and Amazing Knight (Farhan) 4. Not run: A Little Magic. 3/4, 1-1/4 and 5-1/4. 1m, 43.57s. ₹24 (w), 9,7, 12 (p). SHP: 13. FP: 113. Q: 55. Tla: 774. Favourite: Lovely Dancer. Owners: Mr. M.P. Biddappa, Dr. Murali Venkataswamy & Mrs. S. Prema. Trainer: Uthaiah.
4. P.T. SAMPATHKUMARAN CUP (1,600m), rated 60 to 85: SAVING GRACE (Brisson) 1, Optimus Commander (Kiran Rai) 2, Star Cracker (Arshad Alam) 3 and Drei Bruder (K. Sai Kiran) 4. 6-1/4, 1-1/4 and Nose. 1m, 38.99s. ₹22 (w), 6,7,10 (p). SHP: 38. FP: 106. Q:131. Tla: 1,047. Favourite: Cher Amie. Owner: Mr. Aditya P. Thackersey. Trainer: B. Suresh.
Owner Arun Alagappan, right, and trainer B. Suresh leading in Cavallo Veloce (A. Imran Khan up) after the horse claimed the M.A.M. Ramaswamy Memorial Cup with a course record time.
5. DR. M.A.M. RAMASWAMY MEMORIAL CUP (1,400m), 4-y-o & over (Terms) CAVALLO VELOCE (A. Imran) 1, Accolade (Akshay Kumar) 2, Your Royal Majesty (Leigh Roche) 3 and Megasthenes (P. Ajeeth Kumar) 4. 1/2, s. nk. and 1-1/4. 1m, 23.25s (record time). ₹58 (w), 7, 10 and 7 (p). SHP: 57. FP: 2,738. Q: 319. Tla: 2,698. Favourite: Cambridge. Owner: Mr. Arun Alagappan. Trainer: B. Suresh.
6. SOUTH INDIA DERBY STAKES (2,400m), 4-y-o only (Terms): PSYCHIC FORCE (Multidimensional-Psychic Light) P.S. Chouhan 1, INDIAN PHARAOH (Excellent Art-Running Flame) David Allan 2, MY OPINION (Dialed In-Love Me Good) A. Imran 3 and OOMPH (Midnight Interlude-Jahanara) Leigh Roche 4. 3/4, sh. hd. and 1/2. 2m, 33.11s. ₹58 (w), 8, 8 and 6 (p). SHP: 26. FP: 856. Q: 111. Tla: 1,155. Favourite: My Opinion. Owners: Ms. Ameeta Mehra, Mr. Rienzie M.K. Edwards & Mrs. P.P.M. Edwards. Trainer: Darius.
7. K. SRINIVASAN MEMORIAL TROPHY (1,200m), rated 40 to 65: RUTBEDAAR (Trevor) 1, Octavian (Hesnain) 2, Royal Black (Akshay Kumar) 3 and Desert King (Suraj Narredu) 4. 4, lnk and snk. 1m, 12.16. ₹7 (w), 6,19,10 (p), SHP: 79. FP: 133. Q: 103. Tla: 842. Favourite: Rutbedaar. Owner: Mrs. Harsha N. Desai. Trainer: P. Krishna.
Darius Byramji leading in Psychic Force (P.S. Chouhan astride) following his ward's win in the South India Derby Stakes on Monday.
8. TURF AUTHORITIES CUP (1,400m), maiden 4-y-o only, rated 20 to 45 : BRILLIANT SCRIPT (Trevor) 1, Chaitanya (A. Imran) 2, Mighty Princess (P. Ajeeth Kumar) 3 and Glorious Wind (Hesnain) 4. 1-1/4, 1-3/4 and 2. 1m, 27.30s. Not run: Kim and Asian Empress. ₹18 (w), 5,5,5 (p). SHP: 15. FP: 26. Q: 19. Tla: 136. Favourite: Romantic Knight. Owner: Miss Yashavi D. Galvankar. Trainer: P. Krishna.
Jackpot: ₹ 58429 (8 tkts.); Runner-up: 6,462 (31 tkts.) Mini jackpot 6,867 (10 tkts.) Treble (i): 321 (540 tkts.) (ii): 9,865 (17 tkts.) and (iii): 1,212 (213 tkts.)
