Rain has
been an integral part of racing during the Summer Season and in the
past, racing would have gone on under the conditions which were
obtaining on Saturday. The induction of the penetrometer has only made
people worry too much. In the last two years, the Summer Season has been
relatively free of rain and as such, rains had not been an issue. But
the way things are going, it would be difficult to run Summer racing in
future, especially in the month of July when the monsoon is very active.
We have had Ministrella winning the Bangalore Derby in far worse
conditions. If one were to compare to the conditions on Saturday to that
which prevailed on the day the Derby was run, one would be tempted to
say that Ministrella swam her way to victory!
The authorities have not worked ways to prevent the track from getting
bad with one spell of rain. They need to ensure that the drainage system
is effective because rains are expected during the season and the
authorities need to be prepared to face it. One hates to repeat that in
the last two decades of racing, there hasn’t been a single racing
incident caused due to bad underfoot conditions. The problem then is in
the mind and how to get over it. In this aspect, our jockeys too are
also found wanting.
Be that as it may, Strong Minded who had been a victim of a poor ride
last time out, readily obliged in the Ministrella Plate (Div II), with
Bliss running on to be second. Conquering Love proved too good for the
opposition in the next race, putting daylight between himself and the
rest. Dock of Bay who had run an eye-catching second, was surprisingly
entrusted to five kg claimer when he could not claim any allowance and
whipless to boot! In the event, Dock of Bay ran poorly and did not
finish in the frame. Such inconsistencies, however, have been a feature
of the stable that Dock of Bay belongs to. Tactical was second ahead of
Enforcer who for once, had to relinquish his right over the runner up
spot.
There was inspired support for Masurathi and Commandperformance in the
third and final race of the day. It was raining hard when the 11 runners
were dispatched for the five and half furlong trip. The second named
failed to get a good jump and was never in the picture while the son of
Burden of Proof, Masurathi who relished the conditions, bolted to the
front and then checked in a distance ahead of Action Hero and Tactical
who fought for the second spot.
