S.S.Attaollahi trained Camorra (Brave Act-Camarioca), sporting the colours of Dr.& Mrs. Vijay Mallya, won the Krishnaraja Trophy, a one mile trip for horses rated 80 and above, which was the main event of Friday’s races at Bangalore. Eight horses faced the starter for the race and the major betting revolved around three of them, One Time Magic, Camorra and Midtown Magic. All the three ended up almost as joint favourites, with One Time Magic getting the lion share of the wager.

Rezoom, whose last run was in the Chief Minister’s Trophy almost eleven months ago, took the initiative at start and set out in front. On finding an obliging Rezoom in front, Camorra decided to settle behind in second. As the race got to a boil on the final stretch, Camorra was alighted to the task and the 5 year old inched closer but was finding it difficult to pass the leader. Rezoom was turning out to be a though customer and jockey Trevor on Camorra had to work hard to tackle the unyielding Rezoom. Camorra finally managed to collar Rezoom in the dying moments of the race, to win by a slender margin. One Time Magic started to warm up late and was moving fast towards the finish but the wire was there before he could get the two in front and had to settle for a third place. Midtown Magic raised some hopes near the distance post but failed to accelerate and ended up fourth.

Trainer Jaggy Dhariwal had a profitable day, saddling three winners, through Cecil, Ultimate Desire and Firelight. Cecil (Burden of Proof-Cesandri) won the supporting race of the day, the Madras Race Club Trophy. Wind of Soul showed a lot of speed at start and went ahead to lead the field over the sprint distance of six furlongs and Cecil tracked the leader two lengths adrift. With about two furlongs left on the straight Cecil emerged alongside Wind of Soul and sailed past with minimal effort. While Cecil went clear by six lengths, the fight for the minor places was heating up between Wind of Soul and Anonymous. The latter got the better to give trainer Dhariwal a one-two in the race.

The second win for Jaggy came in the very next race, Ultimate Desire (Mathematician-Lyrical Queen) wrapping it up, in the lower division of the Sarb Kla Plate. Jockey Fransisco Franco Da Silva rode Ultimate Desire with a measure of confidence to win the race by a little over one length. April Babe set out in front with Magic Money alongside and the two were the first to show up on the straight. Transcendental made rapid progress to take charge 200 metres from home. Da Silva, undeterred by Transcendental’s surge, waited patiently to make his move and when he did that in the last 100 metres, Ultimate Desire responded resolutely, to earn her first corn bill. Potomac was third further behind.

Firelight (Sussex-Gaslight) was another from the stable who earned her maiden win, in the higher division. With leading jockey P.S.Chouhan assigned to ride the filly, Firelight was sent in as the firm favourite against her dozen rivals at ‘even money’. On entering the home stretch, Firelight went past the front runners, Youre Rocking and Next Move and stayed well. Jayem’s Pride was the best of the beaten lot, ahead of Rise to Glory.

Trainer Irfan Ghatala made an impressive come back after serving a suspension. He had one runner from the stable in the entire day and that, Chul Bul Pandy (Ajaad-Taxido), won the Punjab Stud Plate in a stylish manner. Chul Bul Pandy, who had missed the Mysore season after his successful run here in the month of March, was the favourite in the race and the support swelled towards race time. On top of the straight, Affirmative, Brabus Speed and Swift Star were getting into a line and Chul Bul Pandy was pulled out to be given a clear passage on the extreme outside. Brabus Speed had gone ahead by then and ‘Chul Bul’ started to lug in when asked for an effort but the rider Babu Lal Paswan asserted control and the 4 year old scuttled readily to score an encore. Current Ray rallied on to finish third.

Warren Singh trained Brigade’s Passion (Tirol-Mirabelle) just managed to scrape through, much to the relief of the large number of his supporters in the higher division of the Somanathapur Plate. Brigade’s Passion was getting in a line with Alpine Shine and Supreme Regent as they started to round the final bend and went ahead to take charge as they straightened up. Wonder Lash, improving on the inside, was pulled out to be given a clear run and started to challenge strongly in the last 100 metres. The two were heading for a close finish and in the end it was the stronger finish of S.John that enabled the public choice Brigade’s Passion to prevail by a ‘short head’.

Faraz Arshad’s Divine Strike (Mudeer-Chesterford) won the lower division, beating stable companion Smart Edition. Divine Strike took charge near the 400 metres and opened a gap of nearly three lengths over the others. Smart Edition was getting stronger inside the last 100 metres but fell short by three parts of a length at the finish. Pole Position and Turf Fame filled the frame while the favourite Segomo ended up a poor fifth. Cash the Cheque was withdrawn before the race.

Oceanic Wind (Mr.Mellon-Always Certain) from V.Loknath’s yard was the one who paid the highest dividend on a day dominated by favourites. Amar Prem was on a start to finish bid and was joined by Star of Desire. Jayem was also looking to sneak in along the inner rails and Oceanic Wind rallied on the extreme outside to go past all of them and score the biggest upset of the day. Star of Desire, Brave Cat and She’s a Lady filled the frame while the hot favourite Lad Zone was a disappointing last. Sachimore dropped the rider immediately after jumping out while Black Beauty clipped the horse in front and dislodged the rider near the 900 board.