Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

Scintillating Skill edges Flareon

By Sharan Kumar | 03 Jun 2006 | BANGALORE


Scintilating Skill (B.Prakash up) winner of the K.N.Guruswamy Memorial Cup being led in by trainer Mr.Ganapathy

Profiting immensely by the benefit of a run, Ganapathy trained Scintillating Skill edged out Flareon in the 1800 metres K N Guruswamy Memorial Cup which highlighted Saturday’s races. Flareon, who was running for the first time on the Bangalore track, was expected to overcome the lack of a preparatory run on the basis of the fact that he had performed well against better rated horses. But in the end, Flareon proved inadequate, the lack of a run as well as his inability to change gears at the crucial part of the race being his undoing. Flareon appears more like a one-paced horse. Friendly Fire hit the front at the start of the nine furlong race, with Flareon racing a handy second, while Scintillating Skill took time to settle behind these runners. Flareon took charge approaching the final bend, with Scintillating Skill ranging alongside. The two fought out briefly in the homestretch but it was clear that the latter would prevail in the end Flareon fought on without perceptibly accelerating. Friendly Fire ran on to finish third ahead of Crown Court who ran poorly. Ganapathy, who saddled Scintillating Skill, had two other winners during the day. Evatina towered over the rest in the 1200 metres Nanoli Stud Plate and it came as no surprise that she spared a widening margin of over eight lengths to Fort Knox who found foot when the race was well sewn up by the favourite. Hawaiian Sunrise was third while Royal Assault ran below par. Evatina should maintain her winning ways and can be a force to reckon with even in the terms race. Bold Blaze who had run behind some good horses over shorter trips, appreciated the step up in distance as he bolted in well clear of second favourite Prince of Byerly in the seven furlong race. The daughter of Burden of Proof left the field stranded at the top of the straight to win by a distance. Hyderabad based Donald Netto had a rewarding day, saddling two winners in the first two races of the day. Dream Counsel had it easy against Hurricane Rose in the Buck Passer Plate (Div I) where the well bred Mesmerising despite looking far from fit, ran on to be third. Premier Thrill proved too good for the opposition in the day’s opener where favourite The Force was flat-footed. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Wafadar had showed out in his last run when he finished third to Flaming Glory, finishing ahead of the well performed Sarabande. Wafadar had no problem checking in well clear of the opposition in the Brig V P Naib Memorial Plate (Div.I) where India Shining was a faraway second ahead of Tina’s Triumph. The lower division of the race saw Cascabel, despite running over a sprint, showing enough class to last out to win from Missident and Faction Leader.