IN TOP FORM – BUSHTOPS WINS THE IDAR GOLD TROPHY, GR.3

It almost seemed a forgone conclusion that Bushtops (Archipenko-Etroubles) would find it difficult to beat the star filly Adjudicate this time round after having got the better of her in the Eve Champion Trophy when receiving 8.5kgs from her. But the confidence of his trainer M K Jadhav, jockey N S Parmar and his fans saw him pull out a stunning victory in the Idar Gold Trophy, Gr.3 run over 2400m. The belief that the favourite never wins this race lives on. Full credit to this winning team who have already scored a hat-trick this season and are just a blink away from adding an Indian Classic to their tally. It is clearly within their scope and reach.

With the withdrawal of Caprisca the field was reduced to only three horses for a race of this prestige, which is rather alarming. As expected Vulcan went into the lead with the star filly Adjudicate in second and Bushtops as always, happy in the rear. Allowing the leader to take over a six length lead, Jockey Sandesh appeared well settled, content and in control on Adjudicate, while Bushtops was bouncing around in the rear. As they closed in on the 5f marker Adjudicate decided it was time to bridge the gap from Vulcan with Bushtops so full of himself straining to keep in the rear. As they took the turn for home Adjudicate had maneuvered into the lead and looked set to make a strong run for it, but found herself in trouble, for in a matter of strides Bushtops had ranged up alongside her and went on to gain ground with ease, reaching the post 3 lengths ahead of her. Vulcan was a further 2½legths away in third. The Kolkata challenger Adjudicate looked well and capable of emerging victorious but disappointed with a lackluster performance. Has she gone sour or is it that she has once again indicated that Western India is not her happy place. She has raced in Mumbai and Pune on six occasions and never won, having won six of her 14 starts in Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

For the Shirke and Dhunjibhoy families this win takes them a step closer to an unexpected opportunity to win an Indian Classic with Bushtops.