A  flash strike by the employees of the Bangalore Turf Club following trainer Satish Narredu's  heated debate with a lady staffer who tendered her resignation with a complaint that the trainer abused her when she had refused to complete the registration process of a horse under the care of the trainer, pointing out that the registration process could not be completed as the trainer had not fulfilled the required conditions to complete the registration process led to a call from the staffers of the club to cancel the eighth day's winter racing schedule before the chairman of the club, Harimohan  asked the BTC staff to call off the agitation  while ordering an inquiry against the conduct of the professional. It is learnt that the trainer has also filed a counter complaint against the lady who made it clear that the trainer intimidated her. 

Well after the chairman’s  promise to seriously look  into the issue, the eight-event  card went under the starter’s flag with the bred in the purple New Alliance from trainer B Puttanna’s yard  making a winning debut after the strongly fancied Ophelia bolted after going down on her knees in the gates  before she was withdrawn.

Chandrashekar Rai, owner of New Alliance pleased with the success of the filly from the Kunigal Stud Farm disclosed that the M R Stud farms were going through a bad patch and New Alliance did bring the smile back on the faces of the Rai brothers who continue to pick up good stock in their effort to enter the classic circle.  Eternal Flame who had impressed most in the morning trials looked heavy  in the parade ring and that the daughter of Arazan  produced a good run despite not being  50 per cent fit makes her a sitter when next saddled.

Well this season, save Invincible Prince, all the four other winners from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard have won without  really being fancied and that’s  not helped the followers of the leading trainer who struck again with the eight to one shot Speed Six  (Burden Of Proof-Six Speed) in the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy on Saturday.

On sheer class, Speed Six was head and shoulders above the rest but the fact that he looked  like a bull in the paddock parade and the fact that his owner-mate Acclaimed was  preferred by the Vijay Mallya camp put of punters from considering  the prospects of the winner who stylishly made every post a winning one in the hands of the promising  Yash Narredu. Acclaimed finished a game second ahead of IM Different while Whispering Gallery found the elite company and the initial pace too hot to handle.

One could clearly notice a spring in the step of the sporting owner Marthand Mahindra  after Pentagram won the Kumararajah MAM  Muthiah Trophy in resplendent style.  Now that Pentagram who is an out and out quality sprinter and the talented Hendrix are at their best and Valerian starting to jump level from the gates, it appears that all the good things are happening for Marthand who loves his racing.  Blitzschnelle  caught the eye while finishing ahead of Shrewd Master and it will not be long before this Rashid Byramji ward  enters the winners’ circle.

The final event, the lower division of the Huthari Festival Plate  saw money pouring in on the Sharath Kumar ward Rakshitha who lost a couple of lengths at the gates and with that lost all the chances to hoist the winning flag. The (7/2) shot  Zagato won the event from the lesser fancied Ordered Steps after Stimulator  set a hot pace before retiring in the final furlong.  Narayan Gowda who led in Zagato, earlier struck through the on-money favourite Secret Dimension who proved too good for his 10 rivals in the Star Luminary Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs.

The upper division of the event saw another public choice Diamond Quest from trainer Prithviraj’s yard make ample amends after failing to justify favouritism in his last essay. Vigorous did well to finish a game second  ahead of Rubi Rey who was  not unduly extended.  Rubi Rey is fit and ready and  will fill your pockets the moment Ramu is up on him holding the whip.

Like Diamond Quest, the on-money favourite Authentic too recorded a smart win in the Galloping Acres Stud Plate after letting down large following in his last start. Ashish rode a copybook race on the winner from Rajesh Narredu’s yard  snuffing out the challenge of Spanish Cannon when the race came on a boil.

The Nelamangala Plate for horses in the lowest class produced a shock result, Inayathullah schooled Celestial Storm  romping home in style. The fact that the lowest class most times throws up surprise results is an accepted study and that’s one reason no lowest class contestant  can be recommended for your note book.