The Broto
progeny went into the 1400 metres Summer Trial Stakes as a firm
favourite though there were many who were inclined to believe
that Flying Scotsman who had run a brilliant second behind Hope
And Faith at Chennai despite the luck of the race going against
him, would turn the tables on his adversary. Flying Scotsman
flattered to deceive as after strongly challenging Hope And
faith, he failed to sustain the effort and had to reconcile to
the runner-up spot. The fact that Flying Scotsman was running
for the first time on this demanding track, might have gone
against the Conquering Hero progeny. Great Occasion was out of
depth in this set and finished third.
Sydney Moses
who saddled Flying Scotsman, perhaps erred in pitching
three-year old The Archer against a seasoned opposition in the
1600 metres Manjri Stud Plate. The Archer had run a brilliant
third to Blue Hare but then he was taking on well-performed
horses like Torres and others. Though The Archer was not
disgraced in defeat, money nevertheless went down the drain, as
he was the favourite to win the race. Imtiaz Sait trained Torres
who was taken on a start to finish by Delhi champion Rajinder
who rode a clever race by dictating a pace, which suited his
mount, the best, and then skipped away from the rest to win
comfortably from The Archer. Soviet Ace and Daggers Drawn ran a
poor race.
Rashid Byramji
trained Pettalumma who had let down her supporters innumerable
times, finally won, albeit by the skin of her teeth. Jockey
Harish did well to have a good lead over the opposition which
stood the filly in good stead as Tal devoured lot of ground at
the finish to be shy by a mere head. There was considerable
support for Hyderabad’s Marvel Shire but the outstation horses
from that center have found it hard to make a mark here. Little
Genny continued to earn her upkeep by picking up the third spot.
The lower division of the same race, the Sir Brce Plate, was
claimed by another Byramji ward Air Strike. The price offered at
the betting ring was ridiculous considering the fact that the
well-bred gelding was tackling a sprint, which was bound to
prove too sharp. In the event, Air Strike managed to win thanks
to vigorous efforts on the part of jockey Pesi Shroff. Jockey S
S Bhati got pocketed along the rails and had he shifted Steroid
earlier than he did, the outcome of the race could well have
been different. Bhati tried to reverse the verdict in the
Stewards room by lodging a loose objection for bumping at around
the 500 metres marker, which was thrown out as quickly as it was
lodged.
M P Mahesh’s
Butter Sponge had been a victim of poor riding by apprentice
jockey Rajesh Singh. The same jockey made amends with a much
better display while guiding Butter Sponge to a facile win in a
fairly competitive field in the 1400 metres R M Puttanna
Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 35. Silvanus came
with a late dash to finish second. The winner clocked a smart
time of one minute 28.19 seconds, which was slower by a second
than that clocked by Hope And Faith who was ridden out to win.
The supporters
of Count My Stride had only to count the margin of victory once
the Ganapathy ward was put in top gear by jockey B Prakash in
the Confucious Plate. The filly stretched away to win from Tina’s
Tune and Royal Caribbean. Mohan Valavi’s Ace of Space had it
easy against a mediocre opposition in the Skyline Plate, a race
for the lowest rated horses.