Astrologica outclassed the opposition in the Gr 3 Governor’s Cup that featured the concluding day’s Bangalore Summer Races held on Friday. The son of Tejano who is in tremendous nick this season, made the prestigious race a one-horse affair by leaving his rivals flat-footed with more than a furlong to go. L’Avenir, who was expected to be a stiff contestant, failed to quicken after taking charge approaching the final bend and plodded on to be second ahead of Pure Cream. L’Avenir who has won his share of stake money, proved to be hopelessly one-paced so much so that the task of Astrologica was made easier.

Astrologica had surprised in the Golconda Derby but thereafter, ran below expectations and there was a question mark whether that performance was a flash in the pan. However, Astrologica seemed to have reserved his best for the summer season where the cut in the ground proved to be his liking. The Ponnappa ward won the Chief Justice Cup and ran a creditable fourth to Classical Act in the Gr 2 Maharaja’s Cup where the terms of the race were against him. Now pitched into the Governor’s Cup, Astrologica was expected to have a bold show but surprisingly L’Avenir despite having solitary success in his entire career, ended up as the firm favourite. L’Avenir had won the Golconda Juvenile Million and thereafter finished second or third best on innumerable occasions. An injury during the Bangalore Derby in January had kept him out of action for well over six months. The son of Razeen had always flattered to deceive. He appeared to have shown greater speed and keenness when he sported blinkers.

Arterial who gave anxious moments to handlers by running lose from the starting gates, led the field, with L’Avenir in close attendance. Pesi Shroff on Astrologica was unperturbed and sat comfortably in the third position, delaying his challenge till the time the front-runners had run themselves to the ground. It was clear well before the runners took the final bend that Astrologica was going to have a decisive say by the ease with which he was traveling, relishing the underfoot conditions. L’Avenir was pushed into the front rounding the bend but the lead was short lived as Astrologica came smoothly on the outside and went away for an effortless win. L’Avenir plodded on to be second ahead of Pure Cream who moved up from behind to overhaul the other runners.

Jockey Prakash, who ended the season, retaining his hold on the jockeys’ championship, guided Matchless Princess to a fine victory in the Leading Owner Cup (Div I). After seven listless runs in winter and the seasonal drop of three kgs, Sunny Spice was ready for the fray. At least the connections thought so as he was backed spiritedly, to the exclusion of his rivals so much so that Matchless Princess who had all the credentials, having been given light rides earlier in the season, drifted out in the ring. Such methods are always fraught with danger. The wide outside draw too affected the chances of Sunny Spice considerably as jockey Shobhan Babu had to use up the horse to take a favorable position. To compound his problems, he lost the whip even as Sunny Spice hit the front at the top of the straight, which put paid to the hopes of the favourite. In the meanwhile Matchless Princes, who had moved up smoothly to range alongside Sunny Spice, picked up momentum and went away for a comfortable win. Common Wealth was a surprise second ahead of Saladin, with Sunny Spice slipping to fifth position.

The son of Young Senor should make amends next time out. The lower division of the race went the way of It’s So Wonderful who had all the credentials, having lost by a whisker in his previous essay to Speed Mistress but had finished well ahead of eventual winner Brush With Fame. Cool Jaaz once again let down. There was misplaced support for Kolkata challenger Amicable who ran no sort of a race. Aracaju was the impressive winner of the lower division. Most Convincing was withdrawn from the fray as jockey Suraj Narredu had a fall the previous day at Mysore and the authorities did not give a suitable replacement. Suraj who shares the second position in the jockeys tally, is put in the `C' category where he has exalted company of jockeys who are fortunate if they get a ride or two in a month while winless wonders are classified in `A' category. The Stipes categorize the jockeys at the beginning of the season, take a holiday in the intervening period and wake up to revise the list at the end of the season! While the ratings of 100 horses are revised week after week, the Stipes do not find any merit in such an exercise. How can a jockey of the caliber of Suraj be placed in `C' Category defies explanation. Though Suraj could have fulfilled his commitments for the day, the rule stipulates that even if the jockey is temporarily incapacitated by a fall during a race, he cannot ride for 48 hours. What is sacrosanct about the number of hours that a jockey needs to stay out when he can be fit enough to ride after a couple of hours? The law can be an ass if applied mechanically.

Crown Ambassador was blazing the track and had stripped fit after an educative run but the market favoured failed favourite Revendell. Often, one tends to find reasons for the failure of a fashionably bred favourite but in racing, such methods are bound to fail. Crown Ambassador, who ran prominently in front, surged ahead of the rest on turning for home and won with a measure of comfort. Radical Velocity, sporting blinkers for the first time, did not show early speed, and jockey Malesh Narredu had to work on the daughter of Placerville right through the trip. Radical Velocity found foot when the race was in the safe keeping of Crown Ambassador, but did well to push Revendell to the third spot. Revendell is surely nothing special. Indian Tech, who ran fourth, should be earmarked for early success for he is going to run into comparatively poor company at Mysore.

In pouring rain, apprentice Chandrashekar did a tidy job of steering favourite Galaxie Dust to an easy win over Advertorial in the Champion Jockey Trophy (Div I). Inner Light who had let down a few times as a fancied runner, came good in the lower division, winning without much fuss. Sound Reasoning won the day’s opener quite competently while Magic Music had to be fully extended to snuff out the challenge of Diamond Caves who found foot late and finished with a rattle to miss the berth by a whisker. Alybaby finally obliged albeit in a tight finish over Star View who showed some improvement in form andBrave Persian. Darashah’s He’s So Fine obliged as a favourite, staving off the challenge of Springtide who found one better for the second time in succession.