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Intriguing improvements baffle race-goers

By Sharan Kumar | 16 Mar 2001 | BANGALORE


Star Chieftan (C Ruzaan up), Winning the Hemavathi Cup

The Stewards and the officials of the Bangalore Turf Club do not command the kind of authority that their position should. While the powerfully connected get away with their dubious acts, the others do so by different tactics, by crying hoarse about their innocence till such time that everyone concerned end up taking pity or by their ability to create confusion and doubt by their fierce defense of seeming indefensible acts. One such case was pertaining to the inconsistent running of Soviet Bay who after innumerable in and out runs, finally struck when the public had forgotten about it, more in the manner of insulting one's intelligence. Soviet Bay had finished a short head behind Alylady in the Bangalore Turf Club and the latter had figured at the finish in the Sprinter's Cup but Soviet Bay had continued to run miserably in less exalted company until the connections decided that the time had come ripe and everything was in their favour to bring off a coup.

Trainer Irfan Ghatala protests that he doesn't know what betting is all about it and he never indulges in it. But how his horses invariably fail when in public eye and storm into the picture at nourishing odds. The fact that Soviet Bay would win, he was well aware of and he did well to prepare the justification well in advance by giving a letter to the Stewards by stating that the last time, his ward was drawn on the wide outside and it saw daylight early and bolted to the front and hence finished in the rut. And this time out, the horse would be ridden in restraint and accordingly the horse settled beautifully and won readily, showing an improvement of over seven lengths over her previous conquerors at similar terms! Such cleverness not been displayed by any trainer thus far. There is a lesson in this for other trainers to learn. When you are up to something, prepare your defense well in advance rather than be caught off guard! The Stewards no doubt fined the trainer Rs. 10,000 for the inconsistent running of his ward but did they probe into the runs of the horse when the horse was not drawn on the outside and how it was ridden on those occasions. The last win of Soviet Bay was achieved with a start to finish mission. King's Star who was well placed to win finished second notwithstanding the free use of the whip by jockey Prithviraj which has landed him in trouble with the Stewards.


Be that as it may, the day's feature event was bagged by favourite Star Chieftan in an exciting finish, with Blue Hare, Spark of Life, Tempt Me Not and Arrakis finishing almost in a line. Spark of Life led the field from the word `go' and fought resolutely with Star Chieftan only to surrender close home. In the meanwhile, Blue Hare who warmed up late, finished with a flourish along with Tempt Me Not and Arrakis. The winning post came to the rescue of the favourite because in the manner in which the other runners in the race finished, had their been another 10 metres to cover, it would have been difficult to predict which one among Blue Hare, Tempt Me Not and Arrakis would have been the winner.

Mohan Valavi's Trajan who had been racing after an operation to the throat, readily won the BARI Plate (Div II). But as is the habit with Shakti Singh, the jockey picked up a fine of Rs 3,000 for excessive use of the whip. Cool Jaaz with a measure of comfort won the upper division of the race.

Cool Camp edged out Special Request to land the spoils in the Saddle Up plate. Veteran jockey Shafiq was suspended for his unsatisfactory riding on Stormsky. Stormsky has ensured the suspension of more than one jockey thus far. The run of success enjoyed by trainer Sydney Moses came to an abrupt halt as Fugleman failed to deliver the goods. Leser-fancied Tassha effectively kept the challenge of Fugleman at bay. There seemed to be more support for Save The Day in the last race of the day but it was stablemate Auric who won at nourishing odds.