After a number of efforts in graded company, as well as in Class I handicaps earlier in this season, B Puttanna’s Jersey Shore finally produced a winning gallop at the Bangalore races on Friday. Coming with a sustained run in the final furlong of the day’s feature, he overtook a tired Light Of Success and galloped away to a fairly easy victory.  The connections had been campaigning him over a slightly longer trip, but once he confirmed that he was more effective over a sprint by running a good second behind Inquisition, they chose to give him another opportunity. He proved them right by putting up a commendable performance. Suraj Narredu, who partnered him for the first time in his fairly hectic career, was seen at his best during the afternoon. The victory astride Jersey Shore in The Karnataka Police Trophy, happened to be the third leg of a fourth-linker that he scored during the day. The earlier winning rides astride a pair of three year olds name Nuray and Country’s Pride were equally impressive. The youngsters tore away from their helpless rivals and showed that they are headed for much higher laurels. Jersey Shore was marginal favourite ahead of Light Of Success, Cape Ferrat and Esteban. Since these class I sprints had been producing surprising results over the last few months, the punters were extremely cautious while placing their bets. For a change, the form held good and the race unfurled on expected lines.  

The speedy Light Of Success adopted her usual runaway tactics and carried Franco DaSilva to the front. She opened-up a nice looking lead ahead of Jersey Shore, Cecil, Absolute Majority and Talisker. To the dismay of those who had backed Cape Ferrat, the chestnut took a sluggish jump and lost many lengths at the start. Light Of Success continued her good work in front and was the first into the straight. The only one who seemed to have a chance of catching her was Jersey Shore. Suraj was yet to move on him, and the four year old was galloping well within himself as they approached the furlong marker. It was hereabouts that Suraj got busy. Jersy Shore responded to the jockey’s call, lengthened his strides, picked up momentum and sped away for a a fairly easy victory. Absolute Majority and Talisker were whipped to get close to the second placed Light Of Success, but the pair was unable to do so. They finally settled for the last two places on the result boards. It was a good result for the punters, as the first two favourites had finished one-two in this race. 

Suraj’s winning sequence began with a fairly easy time on Neil Darashah’s Nuray. The first-timer had gone an outstanding gallop on the inner sand, and he was touted as one of the good bets in a long card of nine events. Since most of the acceptors in this race were running for the first time in their careers, one had to have a careful look at them in the paddock. Nuray and Dream Star impressed in the parade ring and seemed to be closely matched in this race. The betting charts indicated a similar scenario. Dream Star had been supported with confidence and was a joint favourite at 5/2 alongside Nuray. But what transpired on the track was quite unbelievable. Nuray used his early speed and went marginally ahead of Dream Star. The pair kicked away from the pack and it was clear that they would finish far ahead of the others. After a semblance of a fight, the contest became unequal. Since it was a race in which whips were not allowed, Nuray responded to Suraj’s urgings and charged away from Dream Star. Within the next couple of seconds, she had opened-up a yawning gap ahead of her pursuer. The jockey looked around for possible threats before easing Nuray in the final stages of this race. Rustic Sunrise emerged from the chasing pack and took the third spot ahead of Simply Clever. Nuray is a very nice specimen and we are sure to hear a lot about her in future. 

One can say the same about Satish Narredu’s Country’s Pride.  He was racing in the upper division of this maiden’s event over 1200 metres. On the basis of some fine track-work in the company of experienced and older stable mates, he too received strong support in the betting rings. The one that was expected to give him a fight was Shaft. This charge of Rashid Byramji was vastly experienced and had done well in both his starts this season. By using start-to-finish tactics in his most recent run, he had ended second behind Medinah. Since Shaft was blessed with initial speed, his supporters felt that he would be more effective in this whip-less event. However, they were disappointed with his efforts today. Once Country’s Pride darted to the front, second favourite Shaft was under pressure to retain the second spot. He followed the leader till the bend before calling it a day. Country’s Pride raced on tight reins for the rest of the way. He finished quite a few lengths ahead of Scarlet Emperor and Forest Queen. Padmanabhan trained Scarlet Emperor was another one that impressed on debut. Despite looking gross in his first start, he made up much ground on the wide outside and took the runner-up berth. After this experience under his belt, he will be too-good-to-miss in his next start. 

Suraj’s fourth and last winner of the afternoon was Presidents Rule. This ward of trainer Amit Caddy was extremely lucky to win this race. One stride before and one stride after the winning post, second placed Starstruck seemed to be ahead of him. A bobbing of heads at the finishing line showed that he was a “nose” ahead of Starstruck at the wire. Suraj had held him back in the early stages of this race, and allowed Magic Wave, Isle Of Fire and Gagan Star to lead on sufferance. Once the group began to bunch up in the straight, Presidents Rule appeared on the wide outside. With his rider making free use of the whalebone, Presidents Rule got stronger and took up the running. He was challenged by a late finishing Starstruck in the last furlong. With rookie Ramesh Kumar in the saddle, the latter was at a clear dis-advantage. A long duel down the final furlong ended in the above-mentioned result. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that if one was to exchange the riders, we would have seen Starstruck as a clear winner of this event. 

The supporting event in the day’s card happened to be The Nilgiri’s Trophy. Trainer Padmanabhan’s Invincible Prince was a short-priced favourite to win this race. After a fine victory in a terms race over seven furlongs this season, this colt had started as a fancied runner in The Bangalore 2000 Guineas. His poor run in that event confirmed that he was a bit uncomfortable over longer trips. The trainer did well to revert to his winning distance and entered him in today’s race. He was placed at the bottom of the scales and was receiving weight from most of his ten opponents. David Allan took a good jump from  an inner draw and settled Invincible Prince comfortably towards the inner rails. He got a fright when he saw those around him jostling each other and trying to get into each others way. The vastly experienced rider chose to stay out of trouble and dropped his mount through the pack. His supporters were a bit concerned to see him racing at the back. However, the smiles returned to their faces once Invincible Prince appeared on the scene. He made up much ground on the extreme wide outside, whizzed past the leaders and sped away to a remarkable victory. Solitaire Royale, early leader Shivalik Fire and Violent Storm filled the rest of the frame. The stipes are expected to have a look at the tapes and try to identify the culprits involved in the traffic jam. It is important for them to take this seriously, as it will certainly help them in averting accidents in the future. 

Padmanabhan and David Allan combined effectively to win the concluding race of the afternoon with Aashikaara. This colt had won a similar race in November, and was lucky to be retained in the same category by the handicapper. Aashikaara is a free striding type that enjoys his freedom in front. Since he had won his last start in identical fashion, David decided to use the same tactics today. He allowed Aashikaara to lead from the beginning and eased him ahead of Rakshita, Red Admiral and second favourite Jackie Oh. Despite his top weight, Aashikaara continued to stay ahead and was seen maintaining his advantage over the others. His closest challengers into the final furlong were Rakshita and Jackie Oh. The leader veered out near the winning post, but was still good enough to keep Rakshita and Jackie Oh at bay. One must empathise with those who had backed One Of A Kind.  He lost many lengths at the start and was literally out of this race right from the beginning. The manner in which he covered ground in the straight to finish a commendable fourth, was quite suggestive. He showed that he is in fine form and possesses the ability to win a race at his present mark. 

Mumbai-import King Julien was the medium of a well planned gamble in a seven furlong handicap for older horses in class III. The six year old was relocated to Bangalore after his Pune campaign and was handed over to trainer Prasanna Kumar. The confidence of the connections was reflected in their choice of a jockey. With Md Shoaib astride, they backed him to start as a joint favourite alongside Go Green in this race. Once again, there was a lot of jostling in the early stages of this race. It is difficult to understand why the riders at this centre aren’t able to maintain a straight course. As a result of this skirmish, the rider of Go Green was sent for a “toss”. Vivek got caught on the inner rails, and with nowhere to go, Go Green crashed through the false rails. Both horse and jockey were soon flat on the ground. It is learnt that the two of them were a bit fortunate to escape with minor injuries. King Julien did well to occupy the box seat behind Mountain Train and was a couple of lengths clear of Firelight and Wrekin. King Julien wrested the initiative in the final furlong and moved ahead of the pack. A late bid from a strongly ridden Supreme wasn’t good enough to collar the leader. With this performance, King Julien had justified the confidence of his numerous supporters. Click and Abbas Dreams were close together while moving into the minor berths on the result boards. 

The only other race in the  card was the first race of the day. Firm favourite Star Kingdom was appearing on a race track after a fairly long time. It was learnt that a near fatal accident was the cause of his longish absence. However, his pleasing movements on the training track enthused many to go “nap” on him.  It was felt, that if one was to consider his old form, there was none amongst the present group that looked capable of beating him. Star Kingdom’s supporters were in for a surprise. The horse raced in a lethargic manner and failed to figure on the board.  Irfan Ghatala’s Dofantasy sported a pair of wings and won from start to finish. In the hands of Anjar Alam she proved to be too strong for Spanish Moon, Prazsky and Abba. One shouldn’t read too much into this result, as none of the placed horses looked good enough to win a race later in the season.