After a gap of almost ten months, Irfan Ghatala’s Zultanite re-discovered his winning form and won The Kempegowda Cup on Friday at Bangalore. Running over his favourite trip of 1400 metres, he put it across his seven top class rivals. He actually came from the last position at the final bend to score a thrilling victory. The betting boards in this race confirmed that it was an “open affair”. Cirque Du Soleil, Chase The Sun and Jersey Shore were fancied ahead of Zultanite. The last named had been partnered on a number of occasions in the past by Suraj Narredu. Since Irfan had chosen to entrust him to Anjar Alam, it was felt that perhaps the horse was not “hundred percent” today. Apprentice Anjar Alam had graduated to become a full jockey a few months ago, not because he had won his share of forty races, but only because he had crossed the age of twenty five. It was generally accepted that the boy possessed average abilities. Cirque Du Soleil had impressed by ending a close fifth behind Toroloco and Immense in a graded event at Mysore. He was therefore a marginal favourite ahead of Chase The Sun. This filly had seemingly lost form after her brilliant performances last winter. After winning the 1000 Guineas and The Oaks at Kolkata, she had gone on to score in a class I handicap at that centre. However, her form during Bangalore Summer was disappointing. She had taken down a lot of money by performing poorly during those months. Since she was re-appearing after a good rest, it was felt that this Padmanabhan trainee may score in the day’s feature. Puttanna’s Jersey Shore was expected to perform better than what he had done on the opening day of the season.  

The race got off to a brisk start with Thoughts N Actions and Aristos getting straight down to business. They went at a fast clip and showed the way to Jersey Shore, Cirque Du Soleil and Chase The Sun. Zultanite was a bit flat-footed at this stage, and he was last of all as they took the rising ground and turned for home. With those in front getting tired at the bend, it looked as though the finish in this race would be confined to owner-mates Cirque Du Soleil and Chase The Sun. Even though Trevor was yet to make a move astride Cieque Du Soleil, the four year old was cruising ahead of the others. Chase The Sun was popped the question by John in the final furlong, and she too was making a purposeful move in the final furlong. In the midst of all this, there was one horse that was weaving his way from behind. Zultanite moved through the pack and joined the fray. The moment he extricated himself from the pack and saw “daylight”, he grew stronger. Within the next couple of seconds he managed to come alongside Cirque Du Soleil, and wear him down near the winning post. It was abundantly clear that this was a splendid performance. The amount of ground he covered in the final stages of this race was creditable. The young rider showed maturity by bringing him the shortest way home. He waited for an opening, and was lucky to get it at the right time.  Chase The Sun and Aristos took the minor placings on the result boards. 

The second race for two year olds this season was held during the afternoon. With Saltoro Ridge and Vivid Impression cornering most of the betting, Samar Singh trained Apollo Star started as the longest priced runner in this event. There was none amongst this group of nine that attracted attention purely on the basis of paddock looks. According to most track reporters, Inayathulla trained Vivid Impression was the only one that had impressed during the morning trials. Taking off smartly from a widish draw, Apollo Star wrested the initiative and led from Vivid Impression. The rest of them travelled about four to five lengths behind the leading pair. Round the turn and into the straight, it was still Apollo Star who was calling the shots. Those around him were unable to make much of an impression. Black Areca was making up some ground towards the inner rails, while Saltoro Ridge was trying his best to overtake Vivid Impression. Most of them were running “green” at the end. Finally, it was the 60/1 outsider Apollo Star who maintained his  momentum in front , and managed to score ahead of Black Areca, Vivid Impression and Saltoro Ridge. The last three finished in a heap and were within whispering distance of each other. Apprentice Arshad Alam rode a neat race astride this first-timer. 

The only professional to score a double on Friday was jockey Imran Chisty. On a normal race day at Bangalore, one has gotten used to seeing quite a few trainers and jockeys scoring more than once in a nine event card. However, the honours were fairly spread out today. This talented rider was seen at his best while guiding Rashid Byramji’s See You Later to a very narrow victory. After winning in similar fashion over a mile at Mysore and getting a smallish penalty, the connections decided to run her at a low weight against those rated 40-65. Prithviraj trained Igah Igah Igah was a strong choice of the punters. This filly had done some good work on the training track, and based on old form, had the best credentials to win this race. It was Volans and Mountain Splendour who showed early intent and went charging to the front. The backers of Igah Igah Igah were quite disappointed to see their choice losing ground at the start. In the midst of all this action, Imran Chisty was able to settle See You Later in third place. The field began to bunch up at the bend. Once Volans sent distress signals in the straight, it was Mountain Splendour who moved forward. With Saddam Hussain pushing him vigorously, Mountain Splendour seemed to have a firm hold on this event. However, he too began to tire in the final fifty metres of this race. This allowed See You Later and Igah Igah Igah to join the fray. There was a lot of confusion in the stands as the three of them flashed past the finishing line. Unless one was sitting in line with the final post, it was difficult to separate the three of them. A digital print confirmed that See You later had won this race from Igah Igah Igah and Mountain Splendour. One could easily empathize with the distraught backers of Igah Igah igah. There was no doubt in anybody’s mind, that but for a sluggish start  and the extra yardage that she was forced to cover by traveling wide at the bend, this filly would have retired as an easy victor in this race. 

Imran had an easier time astride Spiritofchartwell in the day’s opener. What was touted as a match race between Darius Byramji’s Spiritofchartwell and Hidayat Khan’s Feet On Fire, turned out to be a procession. Without being really extended, Spiritofchartwell dragged Imran to the front. She travelled well within herself and was a few lengths clear of Feet Of Fire and Noble Princess at the bend. After being pushed in the straight, she extended her lead further and went on to win by a widening margin from Feet On Fire. A similar distance behind was Oceanic Wind. Since the timing of this race was on the slower side, it is difficult to read much into this result. All of them would need to show further improvement before entering the winner’s enclosure. 

The Hemavathi Cup, a sprint for horses rated 20-45, witnessed an expected performance from Amit Caddy’s Pacific Blue. This filly had run a very good second to Rock With U in summer. But for some poor assistance from apprentice Ramu in the saddle, this three year old could have beaten Rock With U that day. The boy was accordingly suspended by the Stewards of the Club. On the other hand, Rock With You won three more races at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mysore and attained a rating of 98. As far as Pacific Blue was concerned, she was rested after that start. She was now participating at a mark of only 30. One look at her in the paddock was enough to agree with the bookmakers, as the price of 70/100 quoted on her by them, seemed to be fairly generous. Allowing Smokey Sid, Kentucky Rose and Cannes to go ahead of the others, Suraj was a picture of confidence on the favourite. Pacific Blue travelled smoothly under him and appeared on the wide outside. He nudged her into the lead and she went on to score comfortably from a heavily whipped Smile Stone and a totally exhausted pair of Cannes and Smokey Sid. Pacific Blue is sure to defy the handicapper by winning her next start. 

A sprint for horses rated 40-65 attracted some very talented acceptors. While Valerian and Wind Surfer were handicapped near the top of the scale, Lokanath’s Wings Of Fortune was assigned a  low weight. Since this colt had won only once in his career, and finished unplaced on quite a few occasions thereafter, he was set to receive a lot of weight from the above-mentioned runners. A part of this advantage was negated by the fact that jockey Sreekanth was unable to make the allotted mark. Even though he carried an overweight, this did not bother his supporters. Wings Of Fortune reached the starting gates as a clear favourite ahead of Valerian and Wind Surfer. Magic Wave did the front-running and led Valerian and Wind Surfer till the bend. Wings Of Fortune was badly placed in the back-stretch and was seen making his way towards the inner rails, as they finally reached the home turn. It was hereabouts that Valerian showed some urgency and strode away from the rest. Wind Surfer failed to respond to Imran Chisty’s whip and called it a day. The blue colours of Wings Of Fortune suddenly appeared on the scene. He moved through a narrow gap and galloped strongly towards Valerian. With Sreekanth making free use of his whip, Wings Of Fortune got stronger with each subsequent stride and sailed past a tired Valerian. Wind Surfer held third ahead of a disinterested five year old named Sunday Cruz. The last named will be too-good-to-miss the day he is pitted against horses in his own age group. The winner as well as Valerian are sure to progress from their present marks and win their share of races during the winter months. 

Prasanna Kumar’s last outing winner Novel Approach put up another pleasing display while cantering away with the last race of the afternoon. Since the six year old was running on promotion to class III, it was felt that he would have to fight really hard against the likes of See Bright and Sandstorm before asserting his superiority. However, it was apparent from the start itself that things were going his way. Once John took him to the front, the race was more or less over. At about the same juncture, the main threats See Bright and Sandstorm were seen gracing the rear. Novel Approach led Firelight into the straight, and the pair drew away from the rest. After taking a proper jump today, I Say was prominent in third place. However, a late charge by See Bright in the last hundred metres or so, enabled the Irfan Ghatala trainee to cover acres of ground and finish a creditable third. With this lung-opener under her belt, See Bright can be earmarked for an early victory. Even I Say’s style of running suggested that she could pick up a race the day she runs at a low weight in the next class.  

The only other race in the day’s card was a sprint handicap for horses in the lowest category. Even though there were a number of three year olds in this group, they all seemed to lack quality. The only one that had run a forward race in his last outing was Sharat Kumar’s Tiger Eyes. However, with an ordinary rider like Mallikarjun aboard, not many gave him a chance to win today. Accordingly, the bookmakers were happy to offer 5/1 against him in morning trade. However, the scene changed rapidly at race time. With money flowing in his direction, Tiger Eyes started as an even money favourite in this race. There was hardly anybody at the race course who had refrained from backing him. While Balance Of Nature, Anmol Heera and Big Copper Penny skipped clear of the chasing group, Tiger Eyes ambled along in fifth place. His rider waited patiently at the back and made his move only in the straight. After receiving a couple of cracks, Tiger Eyes moved marginally ahead of the rest as the twelve of them crossed the furlong marker. Those who had backed him began to get nervous once Fortunate One joined the issue. The pair fought a stirring duel for rest of the way. Under some forceful riding from Prabhakaran, the JS Pillay trained filled managed to beat Tiger Eyes on the post. There was little doubt that with a stronger rider in the saddle, Tiger Eyes would have easily won this race. There are quite a few stables that like to gamble under lesser jockeys. By using such tactics they manage to get better odds against their wards, but more often than not, live to rue their decision once the horses get beaten on the race track.