Leading local trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi and Mumbai champion Pesi Shroff hold a whiphand in the Bangalore summer classics. The former under his care has Elpenor, winner of the prestigious Poonawalla Multi-million, while Pesi Shroff in his yard has a couple of classic hopefuls including Lazarus, Christofle and Jamari who are ready to make their presence felt against the best at this premier racing centre. 

The summer season starting on Saturday, May 20, has attracted 165 outstation horses, James McKeown topping the list with 27 horses. Calcutta champion Vijay Singh this summer has brought down 17 and Patric Quinn's list of eight includes the classic hopeful Destroyer. The fact that most of the top performers on the circuit are down at the Bangalore campus, the summer season, it is needless to mention will be very competitive and from the punters point of view, winner picking will be tricky. 

Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) chairman, Shivkumar Kheny briefing newsmen disclosed that BTC has increased the stakes this summer. The total stakes offered this season is 18.4 crores against the 14.41 offered last year. The owners and pros immensely pleased with the decision of the management committee to raise the stakes made it clear that the decision to offer bigger prize money has attracted all the star performers and summer season will prove to be a big draw. 

"The onus was on us to raise the bar. It was tough taking into account that the club didn't have the finances to support, but we have boldly decided to get to the next level and hopefully we will rope in a few sponsors for all our classic events and the Maharaja's Cup," said Kheny. The added money for the summer Derby scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 16, is one crore with the club promising a total prize money of two crores. 

A maximum of a dozen acceptors are permitted to be accepted in races on all race days and 14 in a race on all four classic and Maharaja's day. A couple of senior pros were of the view that the club would do well to allow 15 horses in a race taking into account that more than 700 horses are ready to parade their skills. "It is clear that a good number of horses will be ballotted out in each race and that's not a good sign revealed a couple of senior pros. 

The Board Of Appeal has been reconstituted and S Chockalingam will head the six-member appeal board. Kheny revealed that most pros from other premier racing centres satisfied with the facilities offered by the host club and more importantly the ship-shape condition of the track following timely rains made it clear that the galloping goldmines under their care will make it a summer to remember. 

The opening plum, the Racing Patrons Trophy on Saturday has attracted a creditable field of eight runners and the best horse in this campus, Elpenor will compete in the War Hammer Million the next day.