Name And Fame pulls through
By Sharan Kumar

Trainer Ganapathy has done a commendable job in keeping Name And Fame in fine trim on every occasion he has been raced since winter. The son of Steinbeck, Name And Fame continued to be invincible, accounting for the opposition in a gutsy manner in the Gr 3 Karnataka Cup, which highlighted Sunday's races. The only realistic challenger under the circumstances, Kia Ora was done in by a questionable ride by jockey Kamlesh who rode disregarding the instructions. The Stipes said they are still scrutinizing Kamlesh's riding.

Name And Fame was the market rage despite the four-year old gelding having to concede chunks of weight to his adversaries. Kia Ora, who was running for the third week in succession after winning twice in splendid fashion, was strongly fancied to stretch the favourite. A welcome shower preceded the race and under the circumstances, the onus was on Kamlesh exploit the pull in weights and make Name And Fame carry his burdensome weight. However, for strange reason, contrary to the instruction to race upfront, Kamlesh chose to settle Kia Ora in the third position behind Name And Fame as Nationalistic set the pace. And it was evident that Kia Ora was a lost cause even before the runners took the final bend because the filly had no realistic chance against the sprinting ability of Name And Fame as the latter was going to get the first run on his adversary.

Name And Fame (B Prakash up)  winning the Karnataka Cup (Grade III) from Adolfito (Suraj Narredu up). 

Trainer S Ganapthy receiving the Karnataka Cup from Vijayendra Velu, Steawrd of the BTC. 

In the event, Name And Fame had gone away when Kamlesh got busy and the daughter of Miswaki finished on well but was left with a hopeless task. Name And Fame took a while to pass the front-running Adolifto who had no worthwhile form to go by and got clear only in the final 50 metres. A setback had kept Adolfito out of action for well over seven months and he had a run benefit in the first week of the season. Suraj Narredu bolted with him and led all the way till passed by the eventual winner. Rose Garden who had finished a creditworthy third to Zurbaran in the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup pipped Kia Ora to the third spot. Prakash rode a confident race on Name And Fame. The favourite who had stripped after winning in the inaugural week, was straightaway in the second position, behind the pace-making stablemate.  

Chant Royal proved too superior for the opposition in the 1400 metres Baraloy Plate. The three-year old filly had accounted for Smart Supreme in winter and the latter had won in splendid fashion earlier in the season. Though the jockey had expressed the fear that the distance may be short for him, Chant Royal proved speedy enough to be in box seat right from the word `go' and then donkey-licked the opposition. The five-year old Barroness Orczy was a faraway second. Chant Royal who would relish longer trips, should move up swiftly in the scale though she may be found wanting in the classics.

Chant Royal (P Shroff up) winner of the Baraloy Plate being led in by trainer N A Ponnappa

Falconet lapsed into his old ways and lost considerable ground at the start. Stablemate Bernstein shaped like a winner at the top of the straight but the hitherto lackluster Red Mamma suddenly put her best foot forward and threatened to cause an upset. However, Geunine Article came through on the wide outside and collared the front-runners with a measure of comfort. French jockey Poirier failed to keep Bernstein on a straight course and hampered the progress of Red Mamma who has attempting to slip through the middle. Now that Red Mamma has shown some semblance of a form, she should strike before long provided things are favorable for such an eventuality. Red Zeppelin had no problems as encountered by Red Mamma. The son of Classic Sport, who had the benefit of a good race run, easily accounted for the opposition in the lower division of the same race. Anchor who was strongly fancied to win, found foot when the cause was lost while favourite Limitations lived up to his name. 

Arjun Mangalorkar has a decent type of a three-year old in Tashann who had the measure of favourite Wishbone without much fuss. Despite jumping awkwardly from the outside draw, jockey Chisty was able to quickly to gather the filly and had her in front. The daughter of Pennine Ridge showed plenty of speed to have the race well in control from the word `go'. Wishbone let down his supporters for the second time running and barely managed to get the runner-up spot ahead of Aretino. The big made Star Again will need time and distance to make his presence felt.

Genuine Article (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Sir M.Visvesvaraya Memorial Cup Div I being led in by trainer Loknath.

Tashann (I Chisty up) winner of the Fire Haven Plate being led in by trainer Arjun Mangalorkar and owners.

The opening race of the day went the way of Inquisitive. Silver Cat drifted out of a straight course but that made no difference to the outcome. The ante-post favourite Northern Premier was clearly not in the race as the final odds indicated. Northern Premier, like several of her stablemates, was stranded at the gates. As is the custom in Bangalore, Northern Premier will have to go through the grind of satisfying the Stipes about her gate manners before being allowed to run next. How easy it is to satisfy the Stipes in Bangalore!