The Chief Minister’s Trophy, a terms race over a mile and a quarter, featured an eight event card at Bangalore. In a rare gesture, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, agreed to come to The Bangalore Turf Club to present this trophy. Nine runners, including a few that turned “four” only a couple of day’s ago, had accepted to face the starter. Amongst the older horses, Wind Stream and Panamera had done well over longer trips. Both of them were appearing on a race track after a fairly long time. While Wind Stream had been tested in a mock race recently, Panamera had done little to advertise her chances. As far as the younger brigade was concerned, Turf Striker, Czar Of Romance and Agostini were considered by the punters. His victory in the Bangalore 2000 Guineas ensured Turf Striker a place at the top of the betting boards. If one considered his close second to Alaindair in The Kingfisher Derby, then the grey definitely looked like the one to beat in this race. Czar of Romance had good monsoon form, but his recent run in the 2000 Guineas at Hyderabad was quite poor. Agostini started as a “fancied” runner in the same race, but was unfortunate to part company with his rider after an accident midway through that event. Both were known to be top class horses and their respective camps were optimistic about their wards finishing ahead of Turf Striker in the day’s feature. 

A roar greeted the start of this race. Turf Striker, Czar Of Romance and Apollo King had lost a fair bit of ground after a lethargic beginning. Panamera rushed to the front and set a strong pace ahead of Perfect Soul, Agostini and Wind Stream. The other five were clustered together, and the one’s that had got left at the gates, were seen trying to make their moves on the wide outside. The order remained the same as they took the rising ground near the three furlong marker. With Panamera getting tired thereabouts, it was Agostini who took over the running. With Beuzelin urging him forward, Agostini enjoyed a slender advantage over Wind Stream. Turf Striker and Czar Of Romance were seen being urged towards the centre of the track, but the pair was still many lengths behind the leaders. Wind Stream was asked for an effort in the final furlong. The five year old did well to join Agostini and engage him in a duel. They matched strides for the next hundred metres or so, before Beuzelin and Agostini got the better of the Suraj Narredu ridden Wind Stream. An eight kilo difference in weights had made all the difference. Czar Of Romance displayed some grit by moving nicely at the end and claiming the third spot. A tired Panamera crawled along to finish fourth ahead of an exhausted Turf Striker. On this run, Turf Striker may find it extremely difficult to make a mark in the Bangalore Derby.  

The rest of the day’s action was dominated by a couple of favourites from leading trainer Padmanabhan’s yard. The arrival of retained jockey David Allan a few weeks ago has definitely given  an edge to him over his colleagues, as the two of them make a strong combination. The talented jockey proved his worth with a strong effort astride short-priced favourite Artorius. This horse had made his seasonal debut in a race won by Agostini, where his own fancied stable-mate Regal Boast had ended a close second. On that day, Artorius looked “gross” in the parade ring and definitely in need of a run. After some good preparation, he was entered in today’s event. The one that was backed to beat him was Lokanath’s Wings Of Fortune. He too had impressed while winning a race in the same category earlier in the season. David allowed Artorius to settle down in mid division behind the early leaders Kafka and Better Than Best, and stayed there for the first half of their journey. All this while, Wings Of Fortune traveled wide and was seen being urged to stay in contention. Artorius surged ahead at the bend, but his dominance was short-lived as he was soon joined by rank outsider Abba’s Dreams in the final furlong. The pair fought out a tough battle for the rest of the way. To the relief of a majority of the punters, on-money favourite Artorius received strong assistance from the saddle and managed to beat Abbas Dreams on the post. A tired Kafka retained his third place ahead of a strongly whipped Wings Of Fortune. On the basis of today’s performance, the last named may take a while to win his next race. 

The victory of Spanish Cannon, in a mile handicap for horses in class IV, was truly impressive.  This rangy horse had run only twice as a three year old, and had failed to figure on the result boards. Padmanabhan gave him time to mature and ran Spanish Cannon after a gap of almost five months. He figured close to the bottom of the scale and was seen receiving chunks of weight from most of his opponents. According to track reporters, he had been working well in recent times and was running over a trip suited to his style of preparation. David Allan held him on a tight leash for most of the way, and allowed him to settle in mid-group behind Zagato, Artic Attraction, Rebuttal’s Hope, Peter Parker and Czar Rule. David was totally unconcerned with what was happening in front, and was widest of all at the final bend. It was hereabouts that he moved astride Spanish Cannon. His mount responded gallantly to his call, overtook those in front of him and sailed away to win by a huge margin in a top class timing from Artic Attraction and Peter Parker. This victory showed that Spanish Cannon is headed for a much higher category,  and will be tough to beat over longer trips in his next couple of starts. 

What was expected to be a close duel between three year olds Red Red Rose and Pippin, turned out to be a one-sided affair and ended in a “procession”. The first maidens race of 2014 attracted a modest set of nine runners. The above-mentioned horses had already run once in their short careers and figured on the result boards. Both Pippin and Red Red Rose had looked a bit “soft” on those occasions. The betting charts indicated the confidence of the Puttanna camp. After being installed as a joint favourite alongside Pippin, Red Red Rose was supported at every price to start as an even-money favourite in this race. TS Jodha took a good jump astride this filly and goaded her to the front. She was chased all the time by Pippin and Temujin, as the strung out field entered the straight. The only thing that changed thereafter was the margins between the three of them. Red Red Rose darted clear in the straight, and despite being eased up, won by an widening margin from Pippin. He in turn was many lengths clear of Temujin and the others. The timing clocked by Red Red Rose indicated that she is a good sort, that can be expected to do well later in her career. 

A sprint for horses five years old and over in class II was split into two divisions. The upper version appeared to be a tough contest. Even though there was sporadic betting on Frenemee, Will Star and Valahak, it was evident that this was an “open” affair. Not many gave a chance to Neil Darashah’s Mr Carpe, as this bandaged horse had ended a poor ninth in a similar event exactly two weeks ago.  Mr Carpe did his usual front-running and showed the way to Will Star and Frenemee. The rest of the runners were seen being niggled at the back to stay in touch with the leaders. Those who were waiting to see Mr Carpe slowing down in the straight were in for a surprise. The 20/1 outsider relished Roushan’s handling and continued to march resolutely towards the winning post. Will Star managed to hold onto second ahead of a fast finishing Catamaran and Thoughts N Actions. Frenemee ran out of gas in the final furlong and ended in the ruck. 

To the relief of those who had backed him, Prasanna Kumar’s Amazing Redd got up in the nick of time to claim the lower division of this event.  A number of factors helped his cause, but then that is what makes this sport so unpredictable. In the last race of the afternoon, Amazing Redd was a marginal favourite ahead of Smithsonite. Despite a few lacklustre efforts in recent times, the former had done some great work on the training track. Suraj took Smithsonite to the front and led comfortably from Amazing Redd. Third favourite Abnoba got stuck behind some slow horses towards the inner rails and took time to extricate herself from that position.  The scene remained more or less the same as they raced into the final furlong. Smithsonite was still ahead of Amazing Redd, while Abnoba was a further three lengths behind the two of them. It was hereabouts that Smithsonite burst his blood vessel and came under pressure. At almost the same juncture Amazing Redd’s jockey Arshad Alam dropped his whip, while Abnoba started to move dangerously close to the leaders. In a scramble towards the final post, Amazing Redd managed to figure marginally ahead of Smithsonite and a fast finishing Abnoba. Only half a length and a “neck” separated the three of them at the wire. 

The day had begun with a seven furlong race for those rated in the lowest category. A number of horses in this race were backed confidently by their respective connections.  With Imran Chisty in the saddle, Rashid Byramji’s Cheddar Face was the first choice of the punters. However, with money flowing in the direction of Burden Of Lady, Big Copper Penny and Extra Spark, the odds against Cheddar Face expanded at race time. In an effort to run away with this race, Big Copper Penny utilized her turn-of-foot and sped away from Magical Filly and Burden Of Lady. Cheddar Face traveled comfortably in fourth position, while Extra Spark received a couple of cracks from Jagadeesh to improve his position. Big Copper Penny was totally exhausted by the time they straightened for home. She relinquished her lead to Burden Of Lady and an ever-improving Cheddar Face.  The latter did well to move ahead of the pack and score a fairly easy victory. With Imran Chisty waving his whip at her, Cheddar Face got stronger at the finish. Extra Spark came with a late bid on the very wide outside, but was unable to dislodge Burden Of Lady from her runner-up berth. Now that Cheddar Face has discovered her winning form, it is likely that she will improve from her present mark.