She was everyone's darling: Pesi Shroff

In happier days: Trainer Pesi Shroff receiving the Kingfisher Derby trophy from Mrs Rekha Mallya after Set Alight's most impressive performance at Bangalore

I managed to reach trainer Pesi Shroff on his cell phone. He was at his stables in Pune. The heartbroken trainer at once confirmed my worst fears that racing career was indeed over for the queen filly.

Here are the Q & A's:

Prakash Gosavi: Pesi, is it true?

Pesi Shroff: Yes, it is.

PG: How did this happen?

PS: It's a ligament tear. It happened some time ago. She was being treated and we hoped it would stay contained. It was a very small lesion, but has increased in size. That's when we took the decision not to run.

PG: How is she (Set Alight) now?

PS: She's fine--she is right here in front of me as I am talking to you. She is fine otherwise--looking fine, eating well. But we can't risk her. Not after she has had such a fine career behind her. We sure were looking forward to the Invitation Cup, but we cannot sacrifice her for our own egos or to prove a point. She's had a hard racing career, she never shied away from challenge when she was fit--and she deserves to be treated with respect. She is going to stud.

PG: Has Dr Vijay Mallya been informed?

PS: Yes.

PG: What was his reaction?

PS: He is a seasoned horse owner. She has been a very special filly for all of us, and it's a unanimous decision.

PG: Today's the first day of the new year Pesi, and I am sure every race lover's heart is going to bleed for her after hearing this sad news...

PS: You are right, Prakash. Rarely a horse gets such love and adulation from almost every racing fan. And I must also say rarely a horse deserves it all. She was really everybody's darling--and I feel there is going to be that small corner in everybody's heart which she's always going to occupy.

Narredu slaps legal notice on Bob Sawhney & Cole

Veteran jockey Malesh Narredu has slapped a legal notice through his Pune-based advocate Girish Kulkarni on the bible of western India racing – the Cole racing book. The notice is dated May 2.

He has objected to the contents of a piece about his ride on Set Alight in the Indian Derby run at Mahalaxmi on April 12. Set Alight, the piping hot favourite owned by Dr Vijay Mallya, lost the race, after which Malesh had faced considerable flak. Over 25,000 racing fans had witnessed the Derby at the Mahalaxmi racetrack this year, and Set Alight's loss turned into the biggest controversy of the truncated Mumbai season that ended on Sunday, May 3. 

Cole is one of the oldest racing record books that has been in existence since 1920. It has always been the highest selling race book in western India for the last 89 years. 

The allegedly defamatory article had appeared in Cole's edition dated April 19 and was written by its racing correspondent Bob Sawhney. The headline of the article was in all capital letters and read: "UNBELIEVABLY SINFUL & HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS RIDE CAUSES SET ALIGHT TO LOSE DERBY". 

Excerpts from Bob Sawhney’s article state that: ‘Mallesh Narredu shockingly rode the filly (the writer means Set Alight)  like an absolute crazy novice’. In the next para Sawhney goes on to say: ‘Then, worst of all, as a nervous wreck, Narredu sent Set Alight zooming into the lead, too unbelievably soon, near the 600m, which as per his crazy version, was done because he did not want to take a chance in getting hampered. Concerning the fact that Narredu was speaking and giving explanations, like a lunatic with totally fanatic views, the earlier, the powers that be of The RWTIC – in the interests of the racing public, admit Narredu, to a good lunatic asylum, for sometime, the better it would be for himself and racing in India’. 

The notice by Advocate Girish Kulkarni sates: “My client (Malesh Narredu) is one of the best Professional Jockeys in India. He has won about 1635 horse races all over India and abroad with a commendable winner to rides percentage. He has also won 108 Graded Stakes races including 41 Grade I races. He has also won 53 Classic Races, the Indian Triple Crown and 17 Derbies all over India. He has been Champion Jockey for 13 times. My client has represented India in various races in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland and South Africa. My client has won the Kingfisher Banglore Derby held on 13/07/2008. He was the Champion for 2008 Poona Races and awarded Racing Award, which has been introduced for the first time. My client has won the Best Jockey Award for 2008 and was a member of International Jockey Team representing India for South Africa Races. My client has earned good reputation due to his sincerity, hard work and professional skills in Racing Field." 

The notice further warns the publication: “You have committed the offence of Defamation under the Indian Penal Code and you are liable for a criminal and/civil prosecution for the same. However, my client (Narredu) wishes to give you an opportunity to rectify your misdeeds/illegal acts before taking any stringent action." 

The notice demands “a written apology” to Narredu, and asks to “publish the same in Cole Race Card and all leading newspapers within 7 days of the receipt of this notice by you failing which my client (Narredu) shall be constrained to initiate criminal and/civil proceedings against you in appropriate courts of law which shall be entirely at your risks as to costs and consequences." 

When I contacted Malesh Narredu to ask what prompted him to take legal action, he said, "The article makes comments and claims which are blatantly false, malicious and defamatory. No jockey of my standing can just ignore such personal accusations." 

Advocate Girish Kulkarni, the jockey's lawyer, confirmed to MiD DAY that the notice has been sent on May 2. However, the editor, printer & publisher of Cole, Vijay Adwalia, told MiD DAY he has not received the notice yet. 

(Source: MiD DAY, May 5, 2009)

"She's the best I have owned": Vijay Mallya

Dr Vijay Mallya leading in Set Alight (C Hayes up) after her victory in the grade 1, Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas at the Mahalaxmi racetrack on Sunday, March 1, 2009

"I think she's the best filly I have owned," said Dr Vijay Mallya, who owns Set Alight, winner of the Gitanjali 1000 Guineas run at the Mahalaxmi racetrack yesterday. He was responding to a question put to him by race caller Mahendra Mallya during the trophy presentation ceremony. Minutes earlier, queen filly Set Alight, one of the shortest-priced winners in the history of the Indian 1000 Guineas, had demolished a decent set of challengers that included the Bangalore Derby winner Icebreaker and seven other rivals. In the hands of foreigner CD Hayes, the Pesi Shroff trainee raced in mid-bunch for most of the mile trip, moved up on tight reins to draw alongside Icebreaker (David Allan up) at the 200-meter marker, and then skipped away to a lengthening two-and-a-half-length victory in the smart time of 1 minute 35.59 seconds.

Vijay Mallya went on to explain how special Set Alight is for him. "When I say she's the best, that's saying a lot, because I have been particularly lucky with fillies as four of my five Indian Derby winners have been fillies," he elaborated, "this one (Set Alight) is special because I had also owned her mother (Set Aside)."  

Mallya obviously has reason to be thrilled by Set Alight's Derby prospects. Set Alight will be the first serious contender from the Mallya camp after a virtual drought of eight long years. His last Derby victory was gained by Storm Again in 2001, after which none of the Mallya horses figured even as contenders for the the biggest race that is sponsored by none other than Mallya's own UB Group. Set Alight has not only ended that long drought, but she is now also a strong ante post favourite for the McDowell Indian Derby to be run on April 12.

All round praise

Everyone from the Gitanjali chief honcho Mehul Choksey to special guest and former film actress Poonam Dhillon was all praise for the queen filly. "I enjoyed watching Dr Mallya's horse winning in a such great fashion," said Choksey, while Poonam Dhillon said she was totally absorbed by such a thrilling contest, adding, "now I know why people get addicted to this wonderful sport."

Set Alight was bred at the Usha stud farm, perceived as arch rival of the Poonawalla stud farm since the two breeding establishments have traditionally fought for the top spot in this sport in India. However, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman of RWITC and chief of the Poonawalla stud, was magnanimous in praising his arch rival's superstar: "She (Set Alight) is a champion," he said, "and to know whether she's one of the all-time-greats, we will have to wait for her to run the Derby."

Ameeta Mehra, owner of Usha stud where Set Alight was bred in 2005, said she was amazed by Set Alight's progress and thrilled by her performance. Ameeta also has another reason to smile as Autonomy, who won the MiD DAY trophy recently and will be a front-line contender for the Johnny Walker Indian 2000 Guineas to be run next Sunday, is also bred by her. 

Phenomenale in the 2000 Guineas fray

By the way, Pesi Shroff, who has given ample joy to breeder Ameeta Mehra by training Set Alight so wonderfully, is all set to thwart the march of her other hope, Autonomy, trained by none other than Bezan Chenoy. Interestingly, Shroff, as a jockey, had parted company with trainer Bezan Chenoy in not-so-amiable atmosphere 20 years ago, after winning two back-to-back Derbies with his horses Enterprising (1984) & Revelation (1985). And the galloping talent that Shroff is planning to unleash against Autonomy in the 2000 Guineas is none other than the number two filly in his yard, Phenomenale, reportedly the costliest got-abroad import who won the Nanoli Pune Derby in only the third start of her career. Phenomenale is owned jointly by the Poonawallas and Rattonseys. 

When I asked Pesi Shroff, he confirmed, "Yes, Phenomenale will run in the 2000 Guineas."