Padmanabhan trained Royal Gladiator was bang on target in the Kingfisher Colts Trial Stakes (Grade I) but the victory was achieved with a degree of difficulty. The Honour And Glory-Goodnight Moon three-year old colt Royal Gladiator had the first run on his main rival Royal Liberator and established a crucial lead at the critical phase of the race. That stood the favourite in good stead when Royal Liberator came with a thundering run. The finishing burst of Royal Liberator only helped to bridge the deficit to a fast diminishing half a length at the finish.

Royal Gladiator looked a picture in the paddock and considering the fact that he had given weight and lost in a photo-finish in the Knock Out Million to Snow Dew who had swamped the Fillies Stakes field only the previous day, the victory of Padmanabhan ward was taken for granted. Though Royal Liberator was expected to pose a stiff fight, there were many who were inclined to believe that the Green Forest progeny was little short on class. But the gutsy manner in which he fought and the fact that he was devouring ground at the finish augurs well for Royal Liberator who was only running the fourth race of his career. He has scope for big improvement. 

With the Kingfisher Derby slated for next month, it all boils down to a fight between Snow Dew, Royal Liberator and Royal Gladiator, not necessarily in that order. It depends on how the trainers keep their wards going in the days leading to the Derby. Snow Dew has shown improvement over her Knock Out Million run while Royal Liberator should be better off for his Colts Stakes run. Royal Gladiator’s win has always been workmanlike and as such, it would be unwise to say that his win was fortuitous and that he could be overrun by his improving rivals. Royal Gladiator’s first outing win over Snow Dew in winter was so unimpressive that barring a few which included its trainer Padmanabhan, not many were inclined to consider him as a horse of classic potential. Malesh Narredu put it aptly when he said: ``Royal Gladiator will never be a flashy winner. He is a fighter and he does enough to win. I have always said that I would be happy riding him over a mile and a quarter trip rather than over shorter trips. I am quite confident that he would prove me right in the Derby.’’

Royal Gladiator showed out in the paddock parade with his glistening coat while Royal Liberator and Ansbach looked well. The field consisted of quite a lot of useless horses and what worked on the minds of the jockeys of the fancied runners was the nuisance value of these horses in a crowded field. It is quite possible that this made Malesh Narredu to race upfront and then hit the front on turning for home. This in the end, turned out to be critical for the outcome of the race as Srinath took a while when extricating his mount out of the rails and put him in top gear.

Malesh has to thank his elder brother Satish for making things easy for home. But the fact that Auditor who is yet to win a race, could set pace till the final bend also pointed to the fact that the pace of

the race was anything but hot. While Royal Gladiator raced in a handy third or fourth position, Ansbach was in close attendance. Royal Liberator was settled in about the sixth position along the rails. Star Chieftan and Star of Gaiety was in the rear bunch.  Antequera did not have a fixed position as he moved up and down before fading out. With Satish on Auditor shifting out from the rails, Malesh got a dream opening and his pushed the Honour And Glory along the rails to establish what turned to be critical to the outcome of the race. Ansbach fought for a while but lost steam inside the final 100 metres to finish third. Royal Liberator, who was moved out from the rails, took a while to find foot and was finishing the fastest at the finish. Star of Gaiety was fourth ahead of stablemate Star Chieftan.

Had Srinath on Royal Liberator who was tracking Royal Gladiator not taken by a surprise when Malesh got a dream opening along the rails, the outcome could well have been touch and go. The race was won and lost at that point.

Ansbach reproduced his run of the Nanoli Million where he had finished a length behind Royal Gladiator but Antequera ran below his potential considering the fact that he had given a sound thrashing to Star of Gaiety when conceding weight to his adversary in a handicap race. Imperial Legend had been withdrawn from the fray on veterinary grounds. Incidentally, the first two places belonged to horses not owned by the trio of Dr Mallya, Dr Ramaswamy and Deepak Khaitan, a rare happening indeed.

If any race was lost due to poor jockeyship, it was Arikana in the 1600 metres Bhopal Stud Plate. The talented Twist And Turn filly Arikana’s progress had been halted by a tendon problem but she was turned out

in good condition by trainer Darius Byramji who had the services of Calcutta champion C Alford. Refresher who had finished a notable second to Hope And Faith in his last outing and Arikana enjoyed public support in almost equal measure. Arikana raced in the third position ahead of Refresher but jockey Appu stole the race away from the former when he swiftly moved up approaching the final bend and opened up a useful lead. By the time Arikana could cover up the leeway, the winning post had come to the rescue of the front-runner who held on by a whisker. Easily, jockey Appu is the most improved rider in Bangalore and he has been quite aggressive at the finish, which he was lacking, in the earlier seasons. Delhi Juvenile Million winner Oath who was expected to figure at the finish, was out of depth in this competitive field.  Donna Mia was third ahead of Weapon Alpha.

Ponnappa trained Mr Belvedere was unlucky to lose narrowly last time out. Now assigned to Irish jockey Mark Gallagher who has made India his home, the Classsic Tale progeny took control of the situation inside the final 250 metres and won with a measure of comfort from Argyle Gold. The Byramji ward who lost considerable ground at the start, finished on strongly to take the second spot ahead of Torres. Sendawar who had run third to The Proletarian in his last outing, had the handicap in his favour but ran like a dud.

Trainer Padmanabhan celebrated his success in the Colts classic with a win through Strides of Fire in the last race of the day. The Green Forest progeny Strides of Fire who had run in good company, made

mincemeat of the opposition, with Soviet Dance taking the second spot with a late dash. Saujas was third with M P Mahaesh trained Butter Sponge, coming back after a setback, running a good fourth.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Star of the Crop made an impressive debut, winning the His Majesty Plate (Div II) in taking style despite a slow getaway. Altosax ws a notable third ahead of Ooty import Crowned. The upper division of the race went to Lokanth Gowda trained Genuine Article. Pettalumma who enjoyed favouritism, ran like a dud, packing up inside the final 350 metres. Strongly fancied Startrix shaped like a winner but Genuine Article, despite practically no assistance from jockey J Shukla, dragged herself to victory. The Stewards have opened an enquiring into the running of the winner.

Jockey Prakash had his quota of winners through Ganapathy trained Crown Witness and Lady Gibraltor, both of whom won their respective assignments, with a measure of comfort. Eight of the nine races went the way of public fancies.