Mysore based horses have been striking it rich even in tough company in Bangalore, getting the better of fashionably bred horses from the elite stables. The success of Ravi Shankar’s Almond is a case in point. In the recent past, horses like Vivid Dreams and Flying Scotsman proved their mettle in the highest company in Bangalore after having their initiation at a modest centre like Mysore.

Though Bangalore has horses far in excess than those at Hyderabad, the Bangalore Turf Club has been struggling to put in a decent card every week. Often, trainers get together to ``make up’’ a race. This is surely not a healthy sign. Horses, which lack in race preparedness, are thrust into races and race goers are in the dark about these machinations. Lop sided concentration of horses in a few stables has resulted in this sort of a situation. Even if one has to act against market forces, restriction on the optimum number that a trainer can have in his yard, will ensure a more fair distribution of horses that would make for a competitive environment. There is so much on offer but owners are being deprived of precious stake money by the reluctance of the trainers to run them. The turf club should take a hard look at the prevailing state of affairs and take corrective measure before Bangalore goes the way of other centres which have suffered due to monopoly by only a few.

Be that as it may, Friday’s programme was lackluster. The Racing Patrons Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 and above, was the feature event of the day. Darashah trained Joe The Pro and Santosh Rao’s Grisogono were strongly fancied to win. Almond, who had poorly last time out perhaps due to the fact that he had dropped a shoe during the race, was completely ignored in the betting ring. Speedy customer Winelight did the front-running job, with Almond ranging alongside. Joe The Pro was in third position, with the other runners in close proximity of each other.

Winelight did not quicken appreciably on turning for home but favourite Joe The Pro was under immense pressure to accelerate and quickly faded out of contention. Almond quickened nicely to go past the front-running Winelight and won with something to spare. Winelight kicked on to take the second spot ahead of a late-finishing Grisogono. Grisogono has been fancied a few times during the season but the five-year old warms up rather too late in the day to make an impact on the outcome. The day everything falls in place, Grisogono would make his presence felt. Joe The Pro was a big disappointment and failed to do justice to the inspired support he received in the betting ring.

Rashid Byramji’s Secret Halo recorded the second win of his career after a long interval when staving off the challenge of late-finishing Chitty Bang. The got-abroad gelding has been troubled by a wind problem ever since he won the Breeders Produce Stakes at Mumbai in his debut run two years ago. The supporters of Soviet Bay could only despair at the manner in which the Bold Russian progeny was ridden.

Ganapathy trained Superior Force, full brother to the multi-classic winner Allaire, made an impressive debut, winning the Madhavanagar Plate, a sprint race for first season runners, in great style. Since he beat nothing of note, it is too early to jump to any conclusion.

Ganapathy had mixed luck in the rest of the day’s programme. Noble Minstrel just about edged out I Am Beautiful in a close finish while jockey Appu who was on the runner-up got one better on Prakash in the last race of the day when he drove out Rhythm `N’ Blues to hold Scarlet Runner’s strong challenge.

Srinath drove out veteran trainer Mangalorkar’s Golden Estate to a fluent win, with unfancied National Star and River Bed disputing for minor berths. Favourite Pink Squirrel was under pressure from the word `go’ and finally ended up at the rear end of the field.