A CANCELLED flight may have cost Lester Piggott victory in the Indian Derby yesterday in Bombay, where his intended ride, Summer Dust, finished a neck second in the HK$300,000 Classic. A frustrated Piggott was in his Hongkong hotel as Summer Dust (7-1) went under to 2-1 favourite Astronomic in India's greatest race at the Mahalakshmi racecourse. He said: ''Knowing how close it was doesn't make me feel any better. I went to the airport and only found out there that the flight was cancelled. ''I then had to call India and say that I couldn't make it. They told me the horse had a real chance but there was nothing I could do about it. ''Who knows, maybe I would have won it,'' he said. Piggott was prepared to make the tortuous trek to India via Colombo and Madras, and arrive in the western Indian city at 8 am yesterday. But the flight never left Kai Tak. Legendary Bangalore-based trainer Byramji legged up India's most famous jockey, Vasant Shindi, who has won more Classics than any other rider in the sub-continent. The ageing Shindi, in the twilight of his career, gave Summer Dust, a filly who had won every Bangalore classic, a good ride but went under to the Aslam Kadar-ridden favourite. Kadar is the new superstar of the Indian turf and had favoured Astronomic, winner of the Madras Derby and 2,000 Guineas, over Astounding, the intended ride of Irish champion Mick Kinane before he decided against making the trip. And that would have been awasted journey as Astounding finished well back. Third was Arctic Light (33-1), ridden by Englishman Jimmy Husband.
