ANJEZE ON A ROLL – ALL SET FOR THE BANGALORE DERBY

The S S Attaollahi-trained Anjeze (Win Legend-Angelique) would like to brush away the memory of the summer Classics where she was unable to carry her unbeaten status of three-in-a-row forward. Losing on both occasions to Well Connected she was rested and preserved for a crack at the winter Classics. The strategy paid off. Four months later she came out and beat both Gift of Grace and Well Connected in the 1000 Guineas and then justified favouritism in the Bangalore Oaks, Gr.2 winning by a length from Speedster. With her nemesis Well Connected invading Mumbai for the Indian Oaks, Anjeze, the highest rated filly in the field, was set to dominate proceedings in the Bangalore Classic.

And she did exactly that. Jockey David Egan steadied his filly mid field while Speedster, Mumbai challenger Rhapsody and Queen Regnant settled into the early lead. Uncomfortable to be held in check she settled well by the time the horses passed the winning post for the first time, with just two horses Crack Of Dawn and Seventh Mile behind her at this stage. The front three runners were soon joined by Star And Garter with Anjeze in close touch. Before heads turned for home Egan had Anjeze in motion, slowly gaining ground on the front runners. Coming wide into the home stretch she was in full flight as she went past Star And Garter and Queen Regnant. Rhapsody was tiring too, so she got little resistance from her. She laboured to get alongside Speedster who was reluctant to give up without a fight. Y S Srinath tried to get more out of Speedster but Egan had Anjeze in full flow as she went past the post to win by a length. The fight to the finish saw the front two separate themselves by seven lengths from Rhapsody and Queen Regnant. Anjeze won Rs 11,36,768 for her effort in a race that clocked 2:31.59s.    

The property of the Brar family’s, Sarainaga Racing Pvt Ltd, has won five of her seven starts and is now set to take on the challenge of the Bangalore Derby, over a distance that she has just been successful. But winning this Derby will be a real stern test as she will have to contend with colts that have powerful reputations.