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AUGUSTUS CAESAR WINS BANGALORE TURF CLUB TROPHY GR.3

By Ikram khan | 21 Nov 2020 | BANGALORE


Trainer S S Attaollahi (Deputising trainer Altamash Ahmed) leading Augustus Caesar (Neeraj Rawal Up), winner of The Bangalore Turf Club Trophy (Gr.3)

Leading pro Padmanabhan maintained his winning streak, leading in two good winners including classic hopeful Golden Oaks, who is certain to start the favourite in the second classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas scheduled to be held on Dec 19. After his impressive effort behind the classy Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled filly Forest Flame in the Poonawalla Multi-Million, Golden Oaks was expected to sail through without raising a sweat, but many racing pundits not satisfied with his showing in a mock race were of the view that the colt would find it tough to match strides with the speedy Abira from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard, but the classic frontliner and his trainer made the knowledgeable run for cover the moment leading pro Trevor Patel setalight Golden Oaks. The winner produced a sublime effort clocking 1:12.27 seconds for the sprint dash, which in fact was better than the time recorded by Augustus Caesar (1:12. 51) in the BTC Trophy for horses in the highest class. Golden Oaks on the strength of this showing looks a cinch in the 2000 Guineas, while the first classic too appears at the mercy of the Sulaiman filly, who impressed most in a mock race.

After he had failed to display his true potential on the opening day over a distance of seven furlongs, most racing were of the view that Multifaceted from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard will be hard to down in the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy run over a sprint. Suraj Narredu took the half-money favourite to the front soon after the field of seven runners came under the starter’s flag but the moment he asked the Darius ward to quicken at the distance post, Multifaceted surprisingly kept going back and it was Augustus Caesar who after gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the sprint trip produced a stunning finish to gallop home a deserving shock winner. Dream Catcher finished second ahead of another speedy customer Knotty Ash while Multifaceted failed to even make the frame. It is clear that this Darius ward has slipped down the ladder and is best left ignored until his trainer arrests the slide in the months ahead. Saint Petersburg too is one other who performed below par, finishing last and this Sulaiman ward too will take a while before aiming to get into the winners’ circle.

Winner of the Fillies Championship Stakes and the Summer Derby, Well Connected resumed her winning ways at her parent-centre. The top filly who had failed to come up trumps in a couple of classic duels at premier centres looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and with the in-form Trevor Patel packing punch lasted out to score from Tenno Sho. The runner-up could well have gone much closer than the half-length verdict had Imran Khan been a little more alert when the race came on a boil. Nevertheless Well Connected is back on the winning track and it will pay to follow her exploits this season.

The first three events produced shock results from which the punters took a while to recover before recouping most of their lossess on the two Padmanabhan winners and the Sulaiman schooled Bellator who won the final event providing Trevor an arm-chair ride to success while registering a grand treble. Anjar Alam astride the 15 to one shot Bloom Buddy from trainer Irfan Ghatala’s yard  edged out Morganite and the lesser fancied Jokshan in the opening event, the Manipal Plate run over a sprint. The favourite Carmine was never in the hunt while the bred in the purple Celestial Cloud performed like a dud.

Amalfi Sunrise from trainer Rajesh Narredu’s yard was fancied most in the lower division of the November Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs but the public choice after streaking ahead approaching the distance post lacked the gas in the tank to continue and had to rest content with the runner-up berth behind the ten to one shot Sadaqat who in the hands of Ashhad Asbar stormed through to score in style.

Secret Source from Satish Narredu’s yard was fancied most in the World Television Day Plate. The top fancy opened even-money before crashing down to (85/100) in the outside market. But the public rage flopped badly and at no stage of the race looked in the running for the top honours. Prasanna Kumar schooled Realia won the event in the hands of Naveen from In A Breeze and Arabian Phoenix while Secret Source finished in the ruck.

Prasanna Kumar later shared the training honours with Padmanabhan leading in another long shot Astral Force who after a number of below par efforts chose to put his best stride ahead and romp home a smart winner snuffing out the challenge of last start winner High Priestess from Padmanabhan’s yard. Now that Astral Force is back in the winning circle he is certain to pick up a couple more this season. Whizzo too caught the eye while finishing third and is one for the notebook.