Gutsy win for Tide of Fortune
By Sharan Kumar

Tide of Fortune has been a brilliant sprinter right through her career. Her unbeaten run in Bangalore over sprints started last Summer season and the daughter of Diffident has proved invincible on her home track. Tide of Fortune's only defeat came at Hyderabad in the Sprinters Cup at Hyderabad where she finished third; the winner though was Bangalore challenger Bryce Canyon. She was given a light race when finishing behind stablemate Name And Fame over seven furlongs earlier in the season. It is quite possible if the stable's fancy had been Tide of Fortune she could have upset the more accomplished stablemate as she was favoured by the terms of the race even though she had not been tried over seven furlongs before.

The Stewards Cup was like a match race between Cape Martin and Tide of Fortune though the former appeared to be slightly better off on weights vis-à-vis their last run in winter but then the small made but lion-hearted Tide of Fortune is a fighter who raises to the occasion when faced with stiff challenges. Saturday's win over Cape Martin was achieved with a measure of comfort, the filly showing her fighting qualities even as the former came threateningly close. 

Jockey Pesi Shroff, who extracted the best out of Cape Martin, was in his elements when driving out Alphonso to a resolute win in the 1400 metres Tippu Sultan Cap, a race for maiden three-year olds. Alphonso who had served notice of an imminent success when finishing behind Luffness in his last outing despite being far from fit, relished the underfoot conditions as well. 

Tide Of Fortune (B.Prakash up) winning the Stewards Cup from Cape Martin (P.Shroff up)





Mr.Marilingaiah, Chairman of Bangalore Turf Club presenting the Steawrds Cup to S.Ganapathy, trainer of Tide Of Fortune.

The progeny of Tejano have shown a distinct liking for cut in the ground to show their mettle, their performance dipping when running on dry, hard tracks. Padmanabhan trained Spark of Glory who has had a series of problems, appeared to have overcome all of them as the son of Razeen had the first run on his opponents. Though he looked soft in the paddock, Spark of Glory seemed to have enough ammunition to floor the opposition but the superior fitness of Alphonso put paid to the hopes of the former. Spark of Glory had a break of over three lengths at the top of the straight but Alphonso got stronger close home and won in the persevering hands of Shroff. It was good to see Shroff riding with his old gusto. Spark of Glory should make amends soon. The course favourite Daddy's Darling had all the credentials but his performance was certainly below par. What prevented Daddy's Darling from living up to expectations can be better ascertained from the connections. Merango barely managed to finish third as Imtiaz Sait's Capture The Moment came from nowhere to be an eye-catching fourth, missing the third sport by a whisker. Capture The Moment will capture the top spot before long.

Heavy downpour ensured that the 2000 metres Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Plate would be run in adverse conditions. The conditions were most suitable for favourite Assumer, as the progeny of Twist And Turn have always reveled in soft underfoot conditions. Assumer should have had it easy but jockey Faisal made things difficult for himself but the favourite got up just in time to win by a whisker. Jockey Appu who took no-hopper The Soothsayer on a start to finish mission very nearly accomplished the mission and the jockey, surprised by the turn of events, appeared to be celebrating a wee-bit early because Assumer was getting stronger close home. Appu was fined Rs 3,000 by the Stipes for raising his hand even before he crossed the winning post. Mystic Heights had all the chances but the going as well as lack of a run benefit, undid his chances.

Assumer (Faisal up) winning The Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Plate The Soothsayer (Appu up)

Trainer Pradeep Annaiah successfully brought off a coup on Flower Dew in the 1200 metres Ramkirpal Plate. Flower Dew had run a close fourth in her last outing and with a drop of five kgs as a result of apprentice Uday Kiran being assigned to ride her; she had every chance to win. Hyderabaded-based apprentice Uday Kiran rode a neat race on the well-backed Flower Dew who took charge on turning for home and won with a great deal of comfort. I'M Beautiful did not carry out the promise of a good show suggested by her previous run. 

Trainer Imtiaz Sait led in his second winner of the season through the well-bred Snow Fire. Though unfancied to win over a trip reckoned to be too sharp for her comfort, Snow Fire gained momentum in the final furlong and easily sailed past the front-running Wishbone. Both the jockey and the horse have made a habit of finishing second best. Arthi who had run listlessly last time out, showed improvement in form when finishing third. But then Arthi has never been a model of consistency albeit bringing in stake money periodically.

Real Power won as a well-backed horse though he had no worthwhile form to go by. Backed spiritedly in the betting ring, Real Power was seen in true colours, having the race well sewn up long way from home. Jockey Warren Singh repeatedly looked back to see if there was any threat but there was none. Final Fantasy edged out favourite Beauty Mission for the runner-up berth. Agnivarsh won at the expense of favourite Barroness Orczy in the day's other action. Had Win Ameen picked up momentum a wee bit earlier, the outcome of the race could well have been different.