Classic four-timer: India's star filly Jacqueline and Richard Hughes
PICTURE: Indiarace.comClassic four-timer on Jacqueline for Hughes
Report: India, Sunday
Mumbai: McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Grade 1) 1m4f, turf, 4yo
RICHARD HUGHES and the Indian wonderfilly Jacqueline made history together when they completed an amazing Classic four-timer on Sunday,winning the Indian Derby in record time.
The 1m4f event, worth about £290,000, is the nation's senior Classic, and Jacqueline's odds-on victory means she has now won all four of India's national Classics after successes in both Guineas before the Oaks two weeks ago.
Trained by former champion jockey Pesi Shroff, Jacqueline scored by three-quarters of a length over Bangalore Derby winner Becket.
The runner-up was ridden by Martin Dwyer in a race where jockeys based in Britain or Ireland partnered the first six home.
Jacqueline, who became the first filly to win the first four Indian Classics, raced from off the pace as usual and briefly looked to be in trouble when Becket kicked for home in the straight.
Hughes asked her to quicken and she responded for pressure, driven up on the inner of Becket to claim the race with a daring run up the rail, much to the delight of a 25,000 crowd at India's senior racecourse.
Her time of 2m28.54 was a record.
"Jacqueline is a true champion," said Hughes, speaking to Indiarace.com.
"She proved she is the best in the business today. She was in sync at all times and did what I wanted her to do as if she was expecting my commands.
"She knew pretty well what was required - that's a rare quality in her."
Jacqueline is a daughter of the stallion King Charlemagne, who won the Prix Maurice de Gheest for Aidan O'Brien in 2001. He stands at stud in Italy.
A lucrative supporting card at Mahalaxmi racecourse on Sunday also featured several familiar names among the winning jockeys.
Hughes and Dwyer both landed other races, while those to hit the mark also included Niall McCullough, Micky Fenton, David Allan and Silvestre de Sousa.
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