In a commanding performance, G. Vivek guided King Ke to a decisive victory in the Teena Katrak Memorial Independence Million on the third day of the Pune meeting at the Pune racecourse on Friday.
Patiently positioned in third place until the field approached the final bend, King Ke unleashed a strong gallop in the straight to surge past the front-runners and beat Black Thunder by over a length in this gruelling 2000-meter contest. Vivek had four winner at the same venue in the last meeting.
Jockey Vivek has been enjoying a purple patch in recent months, consistently grabbing headlines at racecourses across the country. The talented rider has now recorded 285 wins from 1333 career mounts — a remarkable strike rate that underlines his growing stature in Indian racing. Riding horses from the yard of Pesi Shroff, he has excelled with 33 winners from 124 rides — impressive numbers that showcase his skill and consistency.
The early pace in Friday’s 13-horse field was set by Endurance, who took them along at a brisk clip. However, the frontrunner failed to sustain the tempo and faded in the straight. King Ke, who had sat patiently just behind the leaders after a clean break from the gates, took full advantage of the tiring front-runners. Displaying superb rhythm and turn of foot, he powered ahead inside the final furlong to seal a convincing win and have the last laugh.
The victory not only added another feather to G. Vivek’s cap but also confirmed King Ke’s potential to emerge as a strong contender in longer distance events during the Pune season.
