Fortune favours super storm

There was nothing special about this edition of the McDowell Signature Premier Indian Derby. Foreign jockeys, once again, made it to the top three. Rank outsider Super Storm, ridden by English jockey Jimmy Fortune, won the country’s richest race at the Mahalaxmi Race Course on Sunday. He was followed by Martin Dwyer (Wind Stream) and Richard Hughes (Hemisphere).

As the 17 contenders took off, it was Super Storm who hit the front. The colt did fall back a bit as Montezuma raced ahead, passing the 200-metre marker.

However, Jockey S Zervan, astride Montezuma, could not control the colt and was seen just guiding him.

Montezuma held his own till the home stretch, often staying in the lead, but that was that. Song Dynasty then took control of the race, but led the bunch for just 100 metres before Machiavellianism emerged as the leader. But even this gelding could not hang on to pole position and with 200 metres to go for the finish, Super Storm made inroads from the middle and went on to win the race, edging Wind Stream by over a length. Hemisphere was third.