One was amazed at the striking improvement in the performance of Secret Memory. No doubt, the favourite had lost to Running Bull when conceding 4.5 kgs and now he was running on better terms which enhanced his credentials. But one had not bargained for the drubbing that he gave his opponents, Running Bull included. Secret Memory, who showed out in good
condition in the paddock parade, was a transformed horse as jockey Prakash had no hesitation in taking the Ganapathy ward to the front. After dictating a good pace and waiting to stretch away from the field, Secret Memory hit top speed on turning for home and thereafter, there was only one horse in the race and the rest struggling to beat the others for minor slots. Jockey P S Chauhan who kept Running Bull about five to six lengths adrift of the front runner had to
cover lot of leeway but the son of Alnsr Alwasheek was not up to it and lost even the second spot to Mysore Derby winner Super Speed who battled on in front. Jet Fire, who had made a quantum jump into this class after two wins in handicap races, ran well enough to finish fourth and should be a cinch in a handicap race.
The new stallion China Visit from the Usha Stud Farm had his first winner in Bangalore when Swift Fire fought on resolutely to get the better of the front-running Loughborough close home. Loughborough (Flitch) showed plenty of speed to dictate the proceedings from the start but slackened in the end, allowing Swift Fire to assert himself. Favourite
Fantasy Ridge did not find foot and was a last cause well before the runners took the final bend. Lord of Illusion, who is by Brave Act, covered good ground to be a noteworthy third. The other division of the race meant for juveniles went the way of the progeny of another new stallion, the Kunigal Stud Farm’s Brave Act. Though Storming Brown found the trip sharp and initially had to struggle to keep pace, once she found foot, there was no stopping the favourite.
Incidentally, it was another Flitch progeny Pied Harrier, who was at the helm though he failed to sustain the challenge till the end.
Predominant defied the steep penalty when he made his presence felt in the highest class, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup. The late maturing son of Placerville, Predominant thus recorded a hat-trick of wins. Though Predominant dropped back at the bend, losing pace, he finished on strongly to get the better of Amazing One in the shadow of the post and then held on to win from Talk of the Devil. Seasoned campaigners Exclusive Gesture, Arturo and Full Speed seem to have left their best behind them.
Kunigal Stud Farm bred Condrieu came with a sustained run in the final furlong to record a narrow win over Secret Fury and Born free in the 1400 metres Belgaum Plate. Condrieu was thus recording an encore. Born Free who did all the front-running before ending up third, should be in the thick of things before long. Feel Free had an easy outing.
Epic finally came good, recording her maiden win as a four-year old, getting the better of favourite Cartouche. Turf Magic who had been a trifle unlucky in his last effort over seven furlongs, appreciated the step up in distance to win the mile long race with great deal of ease. South Parade was another who readily justified the strong support in the ring, to win at the expense of Superdash who ran a good forward race. In the day’s concluding race, Black Splendour
barely managed to survive by the skin of his teeth over Mystic Force.
