THE HYDERABAD MONSOON SEASON HORSES TO FOLLOW

CORFE CASTLE (Excellent Art-Miss Danehill) b c rated 73
The winner of the Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million was then sent off to Bangalore to contest the Classics. Unfortunately he had a setback which forced him to miss the Colts Championship, though he made and appearance in a 7f Terms race. As a hot favourite in the race he was outridden by Desparado who took the race a good 2½ lengths of the favourite. Perhaps he needed the outing in Bangalore for when he was brought back to home turf, Hyderabad he went on to score by 5 lengths from Catalonia in the first Group race of the season the K Mahipathi Rao Memorial Golconda Juvenile Million, Gr.3 covering the 7f in 1:26.46secs. He will be the frontline contender for the colts Classic.

CATALONIA (Air Support-Cessandri) dk b f rated 63
The summer wasn’t exciting for the winner of the Forbes Breeders Juvenile Fillies Championship who came up against the giant Sir Cecil and Punjabi Girl in both her outings. Back to home base she was outclassed by Corfe Castle in the Juvenile Sprinters Million but will be nurtured to bring out her best in the fillies Classic where she could be one of the frontline contenders.

ATHENAEUS (KingdaKa-Snow Cannon) b c rated 58
He won his first two starts in Hyderabad and was then well beaten by Corfe Castle in the Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million. His Bangalore sojourn was disappointing finishing 6½ lengths in third to Star Superior in the Colts Championship, and one wonders what went wrong in the Juvenile Sprinters Million. He is now back to home base but one will have to await his return to form.

REAL CHAMP (Varenar-Queen Victoria) b c rated 50
He has won two of his three starts over 1100m and looks a tough match over his winning distance.

MISS LILY (Phoenix Tower-May) dk b f rated 50
She won on debut over 5f, then fourth in the Byerly Turk Million over 6f to Realmsoffantasy finishing ahead of Punjabi Girl by 2 lengths. She won again over 6f. Punjabi Girl turned the tables on her beating her into third by 5 lengths in the Alcock Arabian Million. She then won her third race from five starts over 6f. With success eluding her when tried over the 6f trip she will keep up her efforts over this trip.

ISABELLA (Excellent Art-Messalina) b f rated 48
She won her debut over 1100m very comfortably by 7½ lengths and will surely try to show her class in a Group outing though she may be short on experience.

SOUTHERN LEGACY (Tazahum-Gacious-Melange) b c rated 47
Beginning his career in the Bangalore summer season he finished a distance behind Sea Quest in the Juvenile Sprinters Million over 6f. Brought back to Hyderabad he was successful over the 7f trip winning by 4½ lengths in an eleven horse field. He will definitely set his sights on the colts Classic but will have a tough opponent there.

BLUE EMPRESS (Multidimensional-Blue Sky) b f rated 43
She won her debut over 6f impressively by 6½ lengths from Tiger Of The Sea and London Bridge and will now venture out for Group glory. She is a sister to Classic winner Mahateji who stayed well over the distance, winning the Golconda Derby.

BRADFIELD COLLEGE (Teofilo-Luminous) b c rated 43
He has played bridesmaid on three occasions over the mile trip, first to Vashishta in Hyderabad, then to Indian Pharoah in the Mystical Million in Bangalore, losing by 1¼ length. Back to home base he lost out to Mark My Word by a length, so his preparation for the colts Classic hasn’t quite gone according to plan.