Bourbon King had won the Gr.1 Poonawalla Breeders` Multi Million while Southern Charge had won
the Gr.2 Bangalore Juvenile Million and these two were the market
fancies as the rest in the field did not have worthwhile credentials.
Bourbon King was the firm favourite and the odds on Southern Charge
drifted out as the race goers did not have confidence in the abilities
of Jackman who was yet to record a win at Bangalore and his riding
hadn’t inspired confidence. As such, the fact that Jackman was declared
to ride a horse of classic potential itself came as a surprise and the
connections could not but rue their decision as the jockey was all at
sea.
Bourbon King was settled nicely in the third position as Ocean Crest set
about the job of dictating the pace. Southern Charge, from draw number
one, dropped back to the rear of the field. Entering the straight,
Prakash alerted Bourbon King to the task and the son of Diffident
bounced away into a comfortable lead which he extended it over eight
lengths by the time he passed the winning post in a timing of one minute
25.1 seconds. In the meanwhile, Southern Charge had to maneuver his way
out and Jackman, instead of sliding his way out, turned his horse out
and the second favourite went with force towards the outer side of the
track. The jockey did not aid the cause of the horse by whipping on the
right instead of correcting the drift by changing the whip hand. In the
final furlong, he did nothing but cling on as the horse ran on the edge
of the grass track but still he clocked one minute 26.8 seconds. Ocean
Crest was a surprise second ahead of Swift Fire. Southern Charge
finished fifth.
Ganapathy had a double for the day as his other ward, Pastiche made a
profitable start to finish mission in a race for maidens’ race. Bred as
full brother to the celebrated Haunting Memories, Pastiche justified the
favoritism which was based on high expectations from the three-year old
gelding. Pastiche quickened in the final furlong to make the all out
effort of Srinath on Passion to Perform a futile one.
The well performed Royal Ambassador came through the middle and covered
places on the front-runners including Wonder Smile and went away for a
decisive win. Cotswold Arms showed out on the wide outside but did not
have the speed to overhaul the eventual winner or the runner up. Upper
Crust who had the public support, was poorly handled by apprentice Sunil
Kumar who did not get a good start and then ran into all problems,
finishing a poor fourth.
Brothers In Arms was one of the favorites to win in splendid fashion.
Brothers in Arms, who had run consistently in his last two runs in
winter, took charge on turning for home and went away for a win by a big
margin. Rocamora chased in vain while Royal Filly came from behind to
take the third spot. It was a double blow for punters when Ciampino made
no show and the lesser fancied Look Alike, Brave Bheem and King of
Queens also played truant. Unfancied Spring Fair proved too good for the
field. Aeropostale, another Faraz Arshad trainee, was backed spiritedly
but failed to sustain as he weakened close home, allowing well backed
Gun Fire to prevail.
Sunnyland was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the Prince
Khartoum Trophy (Div-I) and he obliged though Srinath had to work hard
him to get the desired response. In the lower division of the race,
Flash of Fire who had received similar support pulled up lame and
finished down the field. Second favourite Star Summit had everything
going his way but Queen Rania’s finishing burst ensured that the
front-runner lost by a whisker.
