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ALEXANDER BURNES MAKES A WINNING COMEBACK

By Ikram Khan | 08 Aug 2019 | BANGALORE


Trainer Neil Darashah leading Alexander Burnes (P Trevor Up), winner of The Capricorn Stud Plate

A couple of sharp showers and intermittent drizzle forced the stewards of the Bangalore Turf Club to cancel the last four races in the nine-event card framed on the penultimate day of the summer season on Thursday, however, the club decided to include the feature event, the Bangalore Summer Million in the concluding day's card on Friday. The results of the five-events was a mixed bag for the punters, two firm favourites, Sadaqat and Abira and one well supported second choice New Creation reigning supreme after Odyssey and Alexander Burns provided the shock treatment at the start. 

The principal added attraction, the Chaitanya Chakram Trophy run over a mile saw the second in demand at the betting ring, New Creation from trainer S Padmanabhan's yard confidently piloted by leading pro Sandesh prove too good. The winner after assuming command at the distance post  resolutely powered through to score in fine style. The favourite Ambrosio, who has made it a habit to finish second, again was seen finishing on well after New Creation had wrapped up the race to gain the runner-up berth, his third in his last three starts. Punjabi Girl expectedly came home third ahead of the topweighted Merlot. 

After failing to display her true potential and disappointing a large following in her last essay, the Arjun Manglorkar ward Abira came good in the upper division of the S M Ramakrishna Rao Memorial Trophy run over a sprint in pouring rain. John astride the winner tracked the leader Alberetta for most part of the trip before he streaked ahead at the top of the straight and put the issue beyond doubt two furlongs from home. Alberetta did well to hang on to the runner-up berth ahead of the Prasanna Kumar last start winner Galvarino while Mega Ikon who was fancied most in place by his stable connections failed to make the frame. 

Earlier the five to one shot Alexander Burnes produced a sparkling gallop in the hands of top gun Trevor Patel to shed his maiden status in the Capricorn Stud Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The fact that the Neil Drashah trainee was making an appearance after six months made no difference to the goodtype of youngster, who produced good turn of foot to score from Rorito. Queen Regnant from Arvind Ganapathy's yard finished third ahead of the public choice Cavaliere while Aachen raced in patches and failed to even make the frame. 

The result of the opening event, the lower division of the Camino Plate floored the followers of form, the Sharath Kumar schooled Odyssey edging out Gin Daisy. The 12 to one shot partnered by apprentice jockey Kuldeep who had no form to gain attention appeared to have sported wings on a cloudy day marked by a couple of sharp showers and blustery cold winds. Girl With Pearl, fancied sweetly in place made it to the delight of her supporters while the favourite Dallas was never in the hunt. 

The Azhar Ali-trained Sadaqat who had caught the eye while finishing a suggestive third in his last essay was strongly fancied, backed down to favouritism (6/4) from the morning quoted price of (5/1) and the public choice in the hands of Antony Raj produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to send his supporters running all the way to bookie payout counters happily cashing all their big investments. Smile Of Peace finished second ahead of Paradiso while Honey Trap who too had her fair share of followers produced a dismal effort which is too bad to be true.