Farouq Rattonsey's Beautiful Stranger, lying 10th or 11th after hitting the homestretch, moved up with gigantic strides in the final furlong and swept past the front runners to emerge a worthy winner of the grade 1, Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million at Mahalaxmi on Sunday
Farouq Rattonsey's Beautiful Stranger, lying 10th or 11th after hitting the homestretch, moved up with gigantic strides in the final furlong and swept past the front runners to emerge a worthy winner of the grade 1, Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million at Mahalaxmi on Sunday.
The Glory Of Dancer progeny (out of Double Wish) was partnered by Brazilian Sylvester DeSousa with great confidence.
"Sylvester is a very good jockey, and I value his judgement. After tracking the horse only once he had told me it would take a very good horse to beat Beautiful Stranger in the big race," Farouq Rattonsey told MiD DAY after the race. "I will be right there," DeSousa promised Rattonsey yet again after looking up the rivals in the paddock minutes before the race, "keep your fingers crossed."
The word about DeSousa's extra-ordinary level of confidence must have got around as Beautiful Stranger attracted inspired betting and was hammered down to 6 to 1 on the tote, lesser fancied than only favourite Ocean And Beyond and the second-in-demand Star Future.
During the race, Star Future petered out in the straight after being prominent early, while Ocean And Beyond grabbed the all-important lead close home. "We had actually targeted him for our family race, the B K Rattonsey Multimillion, that was run on the Derby day," Rattonsey continued, "but a freak accident put him out of training." A horse named Bolero kicked Beautiful Stranger so badly the wound required stitches.
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