B R Sharan Kumar

Irfan Ghatala trained Tiberius fought a resolute battle with front running Preordained and surged ahead in the closing strides of the race to win the Gr 3 Heroji Lad Bangalore Juvenile Million, the feature event of concluding day’s Bangalore Winter Races on Saturday. The Hazara Stud Farm bred Tiberius was thus recording his third straight win of the season. Nirmal Singh who owns the Hazara Stud Farm, is also the owner of Tiberius and surely the performance of the colt is a good advertisement for his sire Rebuttal who already has a couple of graded race performers from his first crop, in the first season itself. Tiberius was the on money favourite to win the race by virtue of his two impressive wins. Casanova who was originally scheduled to run the mile long Colts Championship last week at Mumbai, was brought back to race in this million after he had showed out in his final spurt. He was well supported to win as the expectation of a good performance from him was quite high. However, he

Apprentice jockey Rajesh was in limelight with a lucrative treble on the penultimate day of Bangalore Winter Races on Friday. Rajesh’s bag of wins included that on Camorra in the feature event, the Sandur Trophy, Youre Chilubuli and Foswell. Rajesh has emerged as a jockey of immense potential and his three wins was in keeping with the rapid strides that he has made during the season. Camorra had recorded a comfortable win in her last outing and on the evidence of that run she had the capability to record an encore. Satish Narredu trained Accurate who had already recorded a hat-trick was strongly supported along with Gazaki in what appeared a competitive race. Rajesh had Camorra dictate the pace from the start and had the progeny of Brave Act quicken for home in the final furlong. The lead that he established held him in good stead as Accurate and Crown Vision charged home with big efforts. Camorra spared half a length at the finish to Accurate who in turn was an identical distance ahe

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Optimus Prime confirmed his status as an eminent sprinter at this centre with an authoritative decimation of the field in the 1200 metres Stewards Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. Barring an odd race, all the races in the eight event card saw one sided contests as fancied runners faced timid opposition. The Dashmesh Stud Farm produce had his share of problems which had seen Optimus Prime race just three times in the last two seasons. After a lung opener early in the season, Optimus Prime had smashed the opposition and was expected to keep his winning spree. However, the opposition he was taking in the Stewards Cup had many accomplished runners in the fray with Carla who had recorded a very impressive win being the overwhelming favourite. Carla has never been a model of consistency and to compound her problems, she also bled which hurt her chances and the hopes of those who had pinned their faith in this horse

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Mountain Range proved too superior to the opposition while winning the 1400 metres Sringeri Plate, a race for maiden three year olds, one of the highlights of a lacklustre card of eight events that was gone through on Friday. The quality of racing on display was poor and given the fact that the season is soon to end, perhaps it is only to be expected. Mountain Range, Arabian Gold and Magnomical were all equally well supported to begin with but the first named firmed up as a favourite close to race time. Mountain Range had run third in his first outing before running listlessly at Hyderabad where he took a fly jump, stumbled and then was out of contention. The progeny of Razeen had made good progress in the intervening period but the fact that his last run was bad was the reason why the connections of Arabian gold and Magnomical who had run a forward race in the Governor’s Trophy had a number of takers. One horse which impressed in the paddock was Hill Rising

Trainer Sharat Kumar has worked wonders on What A Friend who recorded his third win of the season when getting the better of Hatsuhana yet again in the 1400 metres Kanteerava Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. Hatsuhana was better placed over What A Friend in scales vis-à-vis their previous encounter but the latter yet again asserted his superiority with a powerful charge in the final furlong. What A Friend had run behind Fleeting Arrow in his debut run and the latter went on to win several classics. The expectation on What A Friend was higher than that on stablemate but the horse had a setback and faded out from the scene. After it changed stables, Sharat Kumar has been able to get the six-year old gelding to realize his potential albeit late in his career. He has been able to sort out the problem which prevented this progeny of Placerville from living up to expectation. Hatsuhana has had his share of problems but has bounced back well th

Rashid Byramji led in a winner after a longish interval through lesser fancied Caspian Sea who just about managed to reach the safety of the winning post before Captain’s Lover could extricate from the rails after being kept there for a long time by Brunetta, in the Nilgiris Cup, a seven furlong race for horses rated 60 to 85, which featured races held on Saturday. The eight event card did not throw any major surprise though Hamsafar won as a long shot. She had been consistent but as she had had not won, she was not considered as a possible winner as the focus of attention was on other horses who have the habit of ending up as favourites with little or no credentials because of the hype they enjoy. The public also cannot be blamed because more often than not such horses have obliged without solid racing form especially when they are running in lower classes. Bucephalas who had run a forward race was more supported than the rest in the Nilgiris Cup. There was significant thrust on Capta

There had been persistent debate whether the format of the Invitation Cup races needed to be changed for the last several years. The plea was to make it as a weight for age race without penalties like the Arc De Triomphe which is the richest race on grass in the world. The protagonists of this move wanted the best horses of classic vintage take on older accomplished and classic winning horses. The traditionalists had shot down the proposal as they felt change was unnecessary. This issue came up once again at the Turf Authorities of India Meeting on Monday. With Hyderabad Race Club and Madras Race Club opposing the move, a compromise was struck in the form of framing a new race, to be held on rotational basis on December 25. The race, named Indian National Championship Trophy, is to offer stake money of Rs 1 crore. It will be open to four year olds and over and without penalties. The colts and geldings will carry 57 kgs and fillies and mares will care 55.5 kgs. The modalities needs to b

The Royal Western India Turf Club organised the Invitation Cup weekend with its customary zeal. There was high quality action and the club’s chairman Vivek Jain as usual worked hard to make the event colourful in all respects though the awards function was a flop because under the existing system, it is bound to repetitive and boring. Imagine the situation where year after year, the same horse keeps winning! The lack of excitement about these awards could not have been better illustrated by the fact that most of the award winners were not present on the occasion. Perhaps the awards are an embarrassment of sorts for the recipients themselves. What is the value of these awards, advertised as Oscars of racing when the organisers could not get the winners to receive their prizes. The presentation ceremony was boring notwithstanding the best effort made by presenter Vir Das. Without his presentation which was laced with ribald humour which kept the crowd entertained, it would have been a di

Cooji Katrak trained Moonlight Romance achieved a unique place in the history of Indian racing as she achieved the rare feat of winning the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, McDowell Indian Derby and HDIL Indian Turf Invitation Cup by staving off the spirited bid of Xisca in a fitting finale to the Invitation Cup weekend races on Sunday. Chaitanya Chakram and Smart Chieftain had achieved this unique distinction in the past. The fact that only a few fillies have won this event in the 48 year history of the race puts the achievement of the daughter of China Visit in proper perspective. Moonlight Romance was the favorite to win this event which is billed as the final of the national championships in racing. The filly had done nothing wrong having done whatever that was asked of her. Richard Hughes who had partnered Ocean And Beyond in the Derby this time wisely trusted the Indian Derby winner to deliver the goods. There were many who believed that Xisca who was finishing on well in the Indian D

In keeping with the expectation of a possible upset in the Gr 1 Oasis Star Sprinters Cup, lesser fancied runner from trainer Pesi Shroff yard Atilla pulled it off at the expense of Celestial Way and Forest Flair on Saturday. Upsets are par for this event where several factors other than the relative merits of the runners has a crucial role to play. Everything went right for Atilla who had the merit, good draw and luck of the race going in her favour. Jockey Imran Chisty rode a fine race on the winner who added another feather in the cap of Usha Stud Farm’s stallion China Visit who thus had a sprinters cup winner besides the conqueror of the Indian Derby. Madhur Bajaj who principally owns the horse could not have asked for a better gift for the generosity that he had bestowed on the Western India trainers by sponsoring a posh lounge for their comfort. The race was named after India’s best ever sprinter Oasis Star who had twice won this event as a favourite and it was quite evident that

Jaggy Dhariwal trained Arabian Prince became the Maharaja of long distance races in India when swamping the opposition in the Gr 1 Privilege Industries Stayers Cup, the highlight of first day’s action of the Invitation Cup weekend races on Saturday. Arabian Prince who had proved his invincible aura over staying trips by winning the Gr 2 Maharaja’s Cup at Bangalore at the expense of Horse of the Year Becket, also has to his credit the best timing over a mile and half trip for any horse in the country. He had further enhanced his credentials by winning a host of graded races at Kolkata. He had imposing credentials, looked outstanding in the paddock and simply left the field stranded when winning in a record timing of three minutes 09.98 seconds bettering the record of Radical Force which stood at three minutes 11.63 seconds by a significant margin. Jockey Chris Hayes rode a brilliant race, getting all his moves right and thus recorded his second Group I success at Mumbai this season. Imp

The Usha Stud Farm bred Moonlight Romance is on the verge of emulating Smart Chieftain who had the unique distinction of winning the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, McDowell Indian Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup several years ago. Moonlight Romance is already a dual Derby heroine and her win in the Invitation Cup will be a fitting tribute to the amazing talent of the talented daughter of China Visit. Richard Hughes seems to have given up his reservation that he had about the filly and has now chosen her ahead of Ocean And Beyond who finished second best in the Indian Derby. The first four finishers of the Indian Derby are all in fray and there is no reason to believe that there could be a result other than the one that we saw in the Derby. These horses have maintained their form and fitness and should once again be involved in a close a finish. After Storm Again won the Indian Derby and Invitation Cup, no other horse has been able to repeat this feat. In the 48 years history of I

If Becket had not performed poorly in his last run over a mile, he would have gone into the Gr 1 Maj P K Mehra Super Mile as an overwhelming favourite. He ran a poor race, was well beaten and failed to show the spark that had made him a super star at the very same venue in the last year’s running of the Invitation Cup where he had measured super filly Jacqueline. After his shock defeat, he will not enjoy the tag of invincible aura and Indian 1000 Guineas heroine Siachen is bound to start as a favourite given the fact that the mile trip suits her best and she has not put a foot wrong over this trip. The Super Mile has been one of the premier attractions of the Invitation Cup weekend races as exceptional horses have always taken part in this event. The race named after a man who revolutionised breeding in India through his Usha Stud Farm, has never been short of glamour quotient. Becket will surely continue to have his share of admirers who will give him one more chance to redeem their e

Traditionally the Gr 1 Oasis Star Sprinters Cup has been a graveyard of favourites. Interestingly the only two times that favourites looked invincible in the last decade was when Oasis Star after whose name the cup has been named was running. On both the occasions that Oasis Star ran in this race, she won in record timing. Other than Oasis Star, there has been an odd favourite who has won the Sprinters Cup but they have been exceptions to the rule. With the horses well matched, luck of the race and draw plays a vital role and as such upsets are par for this race. Forest Flair picks himself as a probable winner in this race as the progeny of Placerville lost in last year’s edition to Palazzio’s Sun. Forest Flair has given weight and a beating to most of the contestants in fray. But his poor run last time out puts a question mark whether he is in the same condition that made him an invincible sprinter on the local circuit. Trainer Karthik Ganapathy attributed the below par performance l

The Gr 1 Stayers Cup has never attracted a big field as Indian breeding is oriented towards producing sprinter milers. However, this year’s running of the Stayers Cup has proved to be an exception with as many as 11 runners in the fray. The race too has a competitive look with about three to four horses going into the race as strong contenders. Spark of Gold who finished third in last year’s edition is the only horse to have gone over the trip among the horses in fray. Jaggy Dhariwal trained Arabian Prince who has won over the Leger trip and done consistently well at Kolkata this season, is stoutly bred to stay and should have a bold show. For a son of Burden of Proof, Arabian Prince has got the stamina influence from his dam Arabian Rose who was a solid race performer having missed the Indian Derby to Indictment by a narrow margin. Arabian Prince has already foaled a winner of this race through Arabian Knight who won the Stayers Cup at Hyderabad two years ago in record timing. As suc

India’s position as favourites for the World Cup has been rudely shaken by the inability of its bowlers to defend a massive total of 338 against England. The team has several shortcomings which cannot be addressed to at this point of time. They simply have to hope that their batsmen fire on all cylinders and get a total which can cover up for India’s poor bowling and fielding. As Dhoni wryly put it: ``If you have to score massive totals each time you go to bat in order to win, things are indeed going to be very tight.’’ What makes India favourites in the eyes of many people is because they are playing in home conditions in which their batsmen and bowlers excel. The team has done nothing wrong in the last few years and boasts of the best possible combination. The team has also proved to be adept at handling pressure situations. Their biggest plus point is captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni whose stoic presence does not betray the pressure he may be going through. He does not get excited