JULIETTE OVERAN HER ROMEOS IN THE MAHARAJA OF MORVI TROPHY

In a race where it was hard to look beyond the two well performed colts, the unbeaten strapping Sultan Suleiman, the winner of the S A Poonawalla Million and the extremely well-bred Alexei, there was this little Juliette who had not raced since February this year, giving the Pune Monsoon meet a miss, who came out and ran the race of her life not only relegating the colts to the shadows but arriving on the Classic scene with aplomb. How did she do this? All smiles after her stunning success in the Maharaja of Morvi Trophy, trainer Karthik Ganapathy confessed that he had to nurse her and work her sparingly as she is light framed and had to overcome issues. Perseverance pays for he was confident that he stood a very good chance, and that statement came before the race.

With just five horses facing the starter for this lead up to the Classics, there was a notable reluctance by the riders to take the lead and Alexei was left with no option and running alongside him was the favourite Sultan Suleiman with Storm Breaker on the rails. Jockey Colm Donoghue astride Juliette got the start he wanted and followed, with Dreams in the rear. Alexi picked up the pace past the 400m while Juliette came up alongside the rails to match strides with Storm Breaker and Sultan Suleiman. Juliette moved better than Sultan Suleiman as they raced past Storm Breaker in the middle and the three way challenge took on a serious turn. Colm O’Donoghue drove Juliette past Alexei who was pushed to the hilt, while Sultan Suleiman tried but could not catch this Juliette. She finished 1¾ lengths ahead of Sultan Suleiman who managed to stay ahead of Alexei by a long neck. Over six lengths separated the trio from Dreams and Storm Breaker.

With this sensational victory under her belt there is every possibility that the property of Dr A C Muthiah will run out the favourite in the Indian 1000 Guineas, Gr.1 to be run on 21 December. She will have stiff competition in the race but she definitely appears on the right track. Her Romeos will live to fight it out again in the colt’s equivalent.