An interesting card of eight events was conducted at The Bangalore Turf Club on Friday. Since the summer season is set to conclude shortly, the fields are tending to get smaller over successive weekends of racing. The Bangalore City God Cup (Gr.3), a richly endowed sprint for Indian horses three years old and over, was the feature event in the day’s card. Even though there was prize money for the first six finishers, this terms race managed to attract only seven runners. Many in this group were acknowledged to be high class sprinters and some of them had already won at this level. On the basis of their recent form and comparative performances, it was abundantly clear that Pesi Shroff’s Bullseye was the one to beat in this race. Those that shaped as her closest rivals were Rock With You and Shivalik Star. Bullseye had given weight and a beating to Shivalik Star over a similar trip earlier in the season. The fact that she was racing after a gap of over one year, further enhanced the quality of the said performance. In her very next start over an unsuitable seven furlongs, Bullseye had ended many lengths ahead of Rock With U. On all counts, the five year old mare shaped as a good bet in today’s race. As regards Rock With You and Shivalik Star were concerned, the former had beaten the latter by over five lengths in an earlier clash. There was nothing to suggest that the result would get altered today. Keeping all these factors in mind, the bookmakers were seen offering a short price on the Shroff trainee. The next-in-demand was Rock With U, while Shivalik Star was available at 8’s and over in the betting rings. What happened on the track was quite unexpected. Shivalik Star put a vastly improved performance and demolished his opponents.  

Barring Ancient Wonder, who lost a lot of ground at the gates, the other six got off to a fluent start.  PS Chouhan took Rock With U to the front and the pair settled into a comfortable lead over Bullseye and Ishpingo. Shivalik Star, who normally likes to race in front, was unusually held up at the back. John had settled him comfortably in fourth, and the horse was seen moving smoothly on the wide outside. The order remained exactly the same till they entered the straight. It was hereabouts that Zervan asked Bullseye to accelerate. The mare moved past a tired Rock With U and enjoyed a slender advantage into the final furlong. But she was soon joined and passed by Shivalik Star. He came with a blistering turn-of-foot to sail past the favourite. With the jockey waving his whip at Shivalik Star, the five year old won by a widening margin of almost four lengths from a tired Bullseye and an exhausted Rock With U. This performance from Shivalik Star was perhaps the best that we have seen in his fairly long career. Arjun Mangalorkar must be congratulated for producing him in such fine shape on Friday. 

Trainer Padmanabhan added another double to his two winners on Thursday. This has enabled him to chip away at Amit Caddy’s lead in the trainer’s championship, and the two professionals are headed for a close finish over the last two days of racing this season. Five year old Midnight Cruze was running against horses in her own age group. The seven furlong trip was ideally suited to her style of running. The mare had ended a respectable second a few weeks ago, and the trainer tried to enhance her chances by entrusting Midnight Cruze to apprentice Yash Narredu on Friday. With two kilos off her back, she travelled comfortably behind Magic Wave, Spanish Fly and The First Bullet. The four of them were clear of the rest as they entered the straight. Once the tired front-runners moved off the rails, Yash was quick to seize a god-sent opportunity. He pushed Midnight Cruze through the wide gap and charged towards the finishing line. Deep Blue Sea moved strongly on the wide outside and came to challenge the leader. The pair matched strides for the next hundred metres and were locked together at the post. The camera confirmed that Midnight Cruze had managed to win narrowly from Deep Blue Sea. Spanish Fly and My Law plodded along to take the other spots on the result boards. 

The next horse to win from Padmanabhan’s yard was Iron Marshall. The KN Chennabasappa Memorial Cup, a sprint for older horses in class II, had attracted some speedy contenders. Real Steel, Next Move and Jersey Shore received almost identical support with the bookmakers. While Jersey Shore liked to race in front, the other two had an ability to accelerate in the straight. The speedy pair of Virat and Cape Ferrat led marginally from Jersey Shore, Real Steel and Iron Marshall. After a level start, Next Move had steadily dropped to the rear. The field was totally spread out as they entered the straight. Finding a clear passage ahead of him, Sandesh brought Iron Marshall with a nice looking effort and took over the running. Jersey Shore tried to stay in touch with him, while Next Move started to make a mark on the wide outside. But there were no doubts about Iron Marshall’s superiority. Responding comfortably to Sandesh’s whip, the chestnut strode powerfully across the finishing line. Jersey Shore and Next Move fought a close duel for the minor berths. 

The lower division of the above race had a strong favourite in Rajesh Narredu’s Loveofmylife. This filly had run well as a top weight in a lower category and it was felt that with so much weight off her back, she would be tough to beat in this race. Amazing Desire and Solitaire Royale were the others that were backed by the punters. The last named was considered to be a top class horse as a three year old, but a number of “niggling problems” had somehow retarded his progress. In his two earlier starts this season, he had run sluggishly to finish off the frame. However, we saw a more energetic Solitaire Royale today. PS Chouhan allowed him to stay behind Sweet Secret, Loveofmylife and Violent Storm till the bend. Once Loveofmylife had taken over the running in the straight, it was time for Solitaire Royale to make his move. Responding gamely to Chouhan’s urgings, he came with giant strides to sail past the leader. The manner in which he accelerated in the final furlong was quite suggestive. In his present form, it is quite possible that he will defy the handicapper in his very next start.

The other notable performance on the race track came from Amit Caddy’s Fair Game. The three year old filly did remarkably well to complete a hat-trick of victories this season. Since the handicapper had given her stiff penalties, there weren’t many who gave her a chance to win today. There a number of speedy youngsters that were participating in this class III sprint. Many of them had figured prominently in The Juvenile Sprinters Million. New Emperor, Topspot and Westside Story had run well in that race. With Chouhan in the saddle, Topspot was backed confidently by his connections. Just as New Emperor started by setting a fast pace ahead of Fair Game and Topspot, the others began to spread out at the back. A number of jockeys were seen looking for a clear passage, as a closely huddled group made their way towards the finishing line. In the hands of A Ramu, Fair Game spurted to the front. Putting her head down, the filly moved strongly towards the winning post. Once those around her got tired, it was time for the others to make their respective moves. While Scarlet Emperor came through the pack, Westside Story appeared on the wide outside. Both of them failed to collar the leader. Not taking anything away from the winner’s performance, one had to empathize with Westside Story. Not only did she concede weight to all her rivals, but she also travelled longer than each one of them.  The filly will be too-good-to-miss the day Darius Byramji decides to run her over a sprint at a low weight in an upper category. 

The other races in the day’s card were the two divisions of a sprint  reserved for horses, five years old and over, in the lowest category. Since there were a large number of acceptors, the handicapper was forced to split them into two divisions. Both these races were won in identical fashion. In the upper version, Sharat Kumar’s Angel Queen stole a march over the others. She darted out of an innermost draw and led by quite a few lengths over Thunder and Astonishing. Even though Christopher realized that she was slowing down in the straight, he did not panic.. On the other hand, a heavily backed Inspirator roused hopes by gaining ground on the wide outside. Angel Queen continued to respond to Christopher’s whip and just about managed to scamper home ahead of Inspirator and Simra. 

In the lower division, Imran Chisty used similar tactics astride the Lokanath trained Shahraan. This horse had been running pathetically in recent times and had ended last of twelve in his previous start. However, a more energetic Shahraan put up a vastly improved performance on Friday. The dark bay darted out of the gates and showed the way to Attractor. The others were tightly huddled at the back. The order did not change thereafter. Shahraan continued to dominate the proceedings in the straight and succeeded in keeping a hard ridden Attractor at bay. Balance Of Nature appeared late on the scene to save place money for his backers. Heavily supported Attractive Bay ran poorly to finish off the frame.