Vittal Deshmukh’s Machiavellianism rallied brilliantly from the back to score an exciting victory in The BTC Anniversary Cup (Gr.2) at the Bangalore races on Saturday. The top-weighted horse asserted his class and superiority over his eleven opponents while tasting his first success this year. The big made horse had wonderful form as a four year old. His numerous victories all over the country had ensured him a high rating. Every time he chose to run in a terms event, Machiavellianism was forced to concede weight to the others.  In his first start this season, he had ended a close second behind Supreme Star over 1600 metres. Talented horses like Agostini and Czar Of Romance had ended behind him on that occasion. The trainer chose to increase the trip by another furlong and ran him a few weeks later in The Chief Justice’s Cup. He failed to perform according to Deshmukh’s expectations and ended fifth behind Amazing Grace. After a good rest, Machiavellianism was seen facing some modest horses in Saturday’s feature. Bullseye and Rock With U were the market fancies in this race. Both had won over a sprint this season and their connections were hoping for an equally effective performance from their wards over the extra furlong. While Rock With U had won over a seven last year, Bullseye was attempting this trip for the first time in her career. Since she had won a class I event a few weeks ago with a huge load on her back, it was felt that her bottom weight today would be a great advantage. In the hands of Zervan, Pesi Shroff’s Bullseye received strong support to start as an even-money favourite ahead of Supreme Star and Rock With U. 

Srinath pushed Rock With U into an early lead and the bay dominated the proceedings till the bend. He led at a comfortable pace from Ethophian, Gentle Knowledge, Chul Bul Pandy and Supreme Star till that stage. While Bullseye moved comfortably in sixth, Machiavellianism was seen being niggled to stay behind her. Imran Chisty had apparently decided to keep Machiavellianism within touching distance of Bullseye, and the jockey was making his best effort to stay there. With those in front getting tired near the two furlong marker, it was time for the others to make their respective moves. Bullseye loomed large on the wide outside and went ahead of Gentle Knowledge. She enjoyed a slender advantage as they moved past the distance post. Since she did not show her usual acceleration, the others started to gain ground on her. Machiavellianism appeared besides her while Invincible Prince galloped on the wide outside. It was evident that we were in for a close finish. But that failed to happen. The shortening strides of Bullseye allowed Machiavellianism to win comfortably. Invincible Prince failed by a whisker to beat Bullseye into third place. A couple of things emerged from this result. The most important amongst them was the inability of Bullseye to perform over an extended trip. The second one pertained to Invincible Prince’s performance in this race. He seems to have improved a lot this summer. The run of Rock With U should be taken with a pinch of salt. This was definitely the worst he has performed in his entire career. Ridgeway made up late ground from the back to take the final spot on the result boards. 

Jockey Trevor did well to pick up back-to-back races in the day’s card. However, his wins astride Coriolis and Coldstream were achieved in contrasting styles. Three year old Coriolis was undoubtedly the most impressive winner this afternoon. He relished the mile trip in The SN Harish Memorial Trophy and posted an authentic victory. Coriolis had made a fine impression while ending second behind Last Chance on the opening day of the season. He had come with a long stretch run to finish second over 1400 metres. He showed that he would be equally comfortable over a longer trip. He was accordingly run over a mile in his next start. Starting as an odds-on choice of the punters, he had run poorly on that occasion. In a race won by Torch Bearer, Coriolis had stopped in his tracks to end a dismal fourth. Trainer Attaollahi gave him another chance by running him over an identical trip on Saturday. In the absence of a formidable opponent, the son of English Channel once again started as a strong favourite to lift this trophy. He justified the confidence of his fans by tearing away from his rivals. Going to the front from the word “go”, Coriolis showed the way to Crazy Pineapple, Laurita and Flyingangel. Shivalik Eyes lost all her chances at the gates by taking a poor jump. The action in front unfurled on expected lines. Trevor and Coriolis kept increasing their lead with each stride and won by a widening margin from Laurita and Flyingangel. Even though the quality of horses that ended behind him was mediocre, what was impressive about this victory was the manner in which it was achieved. Despite being eased up in the straight, Coriolis had clocked a fairly smart timing. He is sure to improve after today’s experience and win his share of long distance races in the near future. 

The Nawab M Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup, a terms race for three year old Indian horses , was Trevor’s next target. A number of good horses had accepted to run in this race.  A winner of more than one race was asked to carry a three kilo penalty. Even though Padmanabhan’s Baracchus was still a maiden, there were many who backed him with confidence. Others like Merion, Coldstream and The General received stray support in the betting rings. Barring The General, who had successfully tackled a seven furlong trip on debut, the others had won their races over a sprint. It was difficult to say which amongst them would improve over an extra furlong. Trevor made full use of his innermost draw and took Coldstream to the front. The Dhariwal trained colt hugged the rails and traveled easily in front of Honeymoon, Rustic Sunrise, Merion and Baracchus. The General fell back on the inside and was stuck there till they turned for home. Coldstream managed to shake-off those around him and established a good lead into the last furlong. It was exactly at this stage that The General wove his way through the pack. He found galloping room on the inside and came with a nice looking run thereafter. However, he was unable to catch Coldstream today. There was a close fight between Rustic Sunrise and Baracchus for the third place. The latter got stronger at the finish to claim that spot. 

A thrilling finish between Lad Star and Alcazaba was witnessed in The KN Guruswamy Memorial Trophy on Saturday. Only a “nose” separated the two of them at the finishing line. The seven furlong handicap for horses in Class II had managed to attract some good runners. After winning three consecutive starts over the past few months, Darius Byramji’s Frankness was bidding to maintain her successful streak. She was seen being opposed by a highly regarded Im Different.  The latter had run a close third to Ethophian in a higher category a few weeks ago. Even though he was conceding a lot of weight to the others, there was fair support for him with the bookmakers. The race started on a brisk note. Taking off smartly from their outside draws, both Frenemee and Lad Star found their way to the front. They were closely followed by Frankness, Alcazaba and Im Different for most of the way. The field was spread across the track as they made their way into the straight. With a sudden burst of acceleration, Warren Singh’s Lad Star shot ahead of the others. With apprentice Bhawani Singh in the saddle, the mare continued her march towards the winning post. Yash Narredu brought Alcazaba with a nice looking run in the last furlong and gained ground on the leader. However, the finishing line came to the rescue of Lad Star. She just about managed to keep Alcazaba at bay. This was the third time in succession that Alacazaba had found “one better” this season. Frenemee saved place money for his connections by hanging on to the third slot on the result boards. Frankness ran poorly to finish off the frame. 

The day had begun with an easy victory for Amit Caddy’s Summer Dawn. The four year old had run a number of times in his career, but had repeatedly failed to figure on the result boards. In his most recent start a few weeks ago, the bay had made up some ground from the back and ended a poor fourth to a runaway Winning Story. The trainer decided to campaign him over a bit longer and entrusted Summer Dawn to Suraj Narredu on Saturday. A number of horses, including Whimsical and Abba, had been demoted to the lowest category at the beginning of this season. The odds in the bookmakers indicated the “open” nature of this race. The speedy Big Copper Penny did the early running ahead of Summer Dawn, Whimsical and Tanganyika. The order remained exactly the same till they turned for home. With Big Copper Penny getting tired at that stage, it was time for the others to make their final moves. Responding nicely to Suraj’s whip, Summer Dawn shot away from the pack and went on to score a five length victory over a late finishing Abba and Tanganyika. Whimsical and Aqua Aria took down a lot of money by performing poorly in this race. The winner appears to have struck some good form which may enable him to defy the local handicapper.

Suraj and Amit won the very next race with Irish Song. The filly had received a sizable penalty for an earlier victory and was presently conceding weight to those belonging to her own age group in an upper category. The first division of The RM Puttanna Memorial Trophy, a seven furlong handicap for those rated 40-65, had attracted ten runners. More than half of them had a realistic chance of winning this race. The bookmakers boards indicated that Beauty Is Truth and My Lakshmi were fancied ahead of Irish Song, Castle Stuart and Optimistic. Barring Beauty Is Truth, the other four were re-appearing after earlier victories.  Amongst the rest of the runners, there was stray support for Diamonite. With Kafka setting a strong pace ahead of Castle Stuart and Diamonite, the others were closely huddled at the back. Not much changed till they came into the straight. Srinath showed some urgency thereafter and took Castle Stuart to the front. The free striding horse skipped clear of the pack and looked like a winner at that stage. However, it was Irish Song that suddenly decided to make a move from the rear. Her fluent strides enabled the filly to come besides the leader. With Suraj waving the whip at her, Irish Song lengthened her strides and went past a helpless Castle Stuart. Beauty Is Truth came with a late bid to take third ahead of a tired Kafka and a lethargic My Lakshmi. 

The lower division of this race witnessed a brilliant performance from Arjun Mangalorkar’s Alfons De Borja. This horse had been running some good races over the past many months, but had been unable to enter the winner’s enclosure. He had been strongly supported in his only run this season, but even on that occasion, was beaten into second place by Aashikaara. Since he had been partnered by a whipless Yash Narredu that day, it was felt that the lack of a whip had made all the difference. The talented colt was entrusted to John on Saturday. The four year old received all round support to start as the first choice of the punters. John had a tough time settling him behind Kingston Town , Ungoogleable and Noble Reward , and his mount hugged the inner rails till they reached the top of the straight. With Kingston Town moving sideways under pressure,there was a huge gap that appeared at the bend. John asked Alfons De Borja to move through it. Within the next couple of seconds, the race was more or less over. Alfons De Borja showed superb acceleration to march ahead of the others. He won by a widening margin from Ungoogleable and Noble Reward. Absolute Red and Kingston Town disappointed their fans with their poor performances. The winner is likely to repeat on promotion. 

The only other race in the day’s card was a sprint handicap for those in Class IV. Even though there were a number of three year olds that had accepted to start in The Royal Challenge Trophy, it was an older Champakali who cornered most of the betting. Her second behind Assiduous a month ago was considered to be good enough to win this race. The Pradeep trainee had come with a strong gallop in the final furlong to take the runner-up berth that day. The filly took a lethargic jump once again today, and this forced her to travel behind Switch, Apollo Star, Fast Lady and Pippin till the bend. Not wanting to get into any further traffic problems, Arshad Alam took evasive action in the straight. He pulled her towards the outer portion of the track and applied pressure. Responding comfortably to her jockey’s urgings, Champakali devoured ground in the final furlong and won from Switch and Pippin. Fast Lady and Apollo Star stopped in the closing stages of this race and faded out of contention. Switch’s performance took everybody by surprise. The filly was totally friendless in the betting rings and ended up paying more than 100/1 for the second horse pool at the totalizators.