Manifold with Neeraj Rawal up The Fillies Championship Stakes Gr 1 2017

Manifold trained by Pesi Shroff with Neeraj Rawal up wins The Fillies Championship Stakes Gr 1 2017 at the Bangalore Turf Club Pesi Shroff trained Manifold waged a resolute battle with Romantic Star and emerged victorious in the Gr 1 Fillies Championship Stakes, the first classic of the season, on Sunday. Pesi Shroff who has been winning this race with amazing regularity was successful for the fifth time in his career as a trainer. It was a one-two for Usha Stud Farm whose resident stallion Multidimensional once again proving his mettle as a sire of classic horses. In a race run at a good clip, Kolkata challenger Sana set the pace with Angel Touch racing up with the pacesetter while Romantic Star and Manifold were settled in about the fifth and sixth position. Rounding the final turn, Sana was beginning to fade out and Romantic Star emerged on the horizon with a strong run. Manifold who chased Romantic Star produced a strong effort and managed to overhaul the favourite in the closing strides of the race. Romantic Star hung in badly and her lack of experience saw her being intimidated by the presence of the horse on the outside. Trevor Patel could not ride out the horse to the full in the last 100 metres as he had to work hard to keep the horse on a straight course. Romantic Star rolled in and with Manifold closing on her, Windsor Forest who was attempting to take a narrow gap had to be checked and pulled out to get a clear run. Windsor Forest finished third ahead of Kangra. Jockey Suraj Narredu who rode Windsor Forest put an objection against Trevor Patel who was astride the runner-up stating that his horse could not get a clear run in the last 300 metres and was completely blocked in the final 100 metres due to which he lost a certain second place. The Stewards were not impressed with Suraj’s contention and overruled the objection. The luck of the race did not go in favour of Windsor Forest but in the fitness of things, it was hard to believe that the result could have been any different even if the horse had not run into rough weather. The Derby would be the obvious target for both the first two placed horses. Pesi Shroff said that Manifold was maturing nicely and justified his belief in the potential of the horse. Trainer Padmanabhan felt that lack of experience hurt the chances of his ward.