B R Sharan Kumar

The driving finish of jockey Wayne Smith enabled Mother’s Pride to rally brilliantly from behind and edge past the front running Silken Thomas to land the spoils in the 1600 metres K N Chennabasapa Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the main event of races held on Thursday. Favourite and top weight Fire Zone was restrained and held too far back to make any impact on the result. Jockey Suraj Narredu took Silken Thomas on a start to finish mission and cleverly dictated the pace followed by Dare Don, Blink, Guided Missile, Star Wave, Fire Zone, Balance De Power and Mother’s Pride who was a tailed off last. Wayne Smith remained unconcerned at the rear position and made his move only after the horses straightened out for the run in for home which is quite uncharacteristic of him as the jockey prefers to ride with the pace. Silken Thomas came into the straight a few lengths clear of Blink and the rest, with Fire Zone making his run on the wide outside. Silken Thomas shaped ...

Friday’s races feature the Bangalore City Gold Cup, a sprint race which is contested by good quality sprinters. Palazzio’s Sun who made a successful switch from longer trips to a sprint with ease, looks all set to repeat his feat. He looks fitter and in better shape than on the previous occasion to win the richly endowed race. The other two horses which I like for purpose of betting consideration are Peacemaker and Spark of Reverence. The last named can win if he shows the same brilliance as he displayed over a shorter trip.

History repeated itself at Bangalore Turf Club in dramatic fashion on Monday when the Extra-Ordinary General Body Meeting voted with a massive majority to direct the Chairman of the Club P V Shetty to resign from the post. The meeting was convened by members who wanted to move a resolution to request the Chairman to step down as they felt that the Chairman was incapable of steering the club in the hour of the crisis in view of the government’s firm resolve not to extend the lease of the premises beyond December 31, 2009. Though the government has recently allotted land at Chikkajala, the crucial question of extension of lease is yet to be addressed. The Chairman had been unable to impress on the members about his ability to guide the club in these critical times in view of his inability to open a communication channel with the members of the club as well those whose livelihood depended on the sport. About two decades back, the then Chairman Venugopal Naidu was replaced as Chairman in t...

Gypsy Magic bounced back to winning ways with an easy win in the Gr 3 Usha Stud Million, the highlight of Sunday’s races. The temperamental daughter of Placerville did not show any of her aggressive qualities which had seen the filly chart her own course in the race as she settled down nicely in the third position and warmed up to the task inside the final 100 metres and stretched away from the rest to win comfortably. She had the weights in her favour but more importantly, Gypsy Magic raced like a normal, talented horse and showed that she can mature into a great performer on a bigger platform. Gypsy Magic was the favourite to win the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby but she ran no sort of a race, being settled in the rear and then finishing on when the cause was lost. She had veered out to the wide outside and had run second in the Poonawalla Million and as such, there was always fear that the head strong filly could not be tamed to put in a normal performance. With jockey Appu being decla...

Alcestis should oblige on the basis of her last run The progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek dragged herself to prominence last time out. If the connections are in earnest, she should easily oblige. Lush Lashes has been consistent and she can benefit incase of any infraction on the part of the favourite. Amazing Queen who is a full brother to Noble Princess, is still being persisted over a five and half furlong trip and one does not understand the logic. Six Shooter who found Forest Flair too hot to handle is another worthy of consideration. The speedy daughter of Six Speed was attemping a quantum jump last time out. Now that she is back in modest company, she can shine. Nox should run prominently though she may find Six Shooter difficult to beat. The Spartan who runs best when the ground is hard, can benefit from the fact that it hasn't rained for quite some time. Gysy Magic is so well placed that she should win the Summer Million. But if she continues with her erratic pattern, D'Artag...

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Tomsk extricated himself from a difficult position and managed to edge past Dare Don to justify favoritism in the 1400 metres J B Mallaradhya Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. Fancied runners ran true to expectations, bringing delight to the followers of form. Tomsk had lost by a whisker to Royal Ambassador in his last outing and on the basis of that run, the progeny of Gasawar enjoyed the confidence off all and sundry though he was carrying the top weight. The consistent Tomsk was not expected to be hard pressed by any one for the simple reason that most contenders in the fray had dropped form. Bottom weighted Afea had run a fair race over six furlongs and he was expected to pose a stiff challenge because of the feather weight that he was carrying this time over the extra furlong. Milford led the field from the start, with Dare Don in close attendance while the rest were spread out behind. Tomsk did not take ...

Saturday's Bangalore racing affords reasonable opportunities for puntes to make their choices. Criminal Lawyer who ran a noteworthy second in his last outing, shapes as a good betting proposition. The other horse that puntes can hope to encash is Alaric. The horses which also merit consideration are Noble Kingdom, Rugged Beauty and Spark of Marchador.

The Dashmesh Stud Farm bred Conceptual maintained her amazing progress to win the Gr 2 Bangalore St Leger in splendid isolation on Sunday. The daughter of Valid Concept, who had already recorded a hat-trick of wins, appreciated the step up in distance as she cantered home over the grueling trip of 2800 metres to win the last classic of the season. Favourite Ice Breaker found the trip beyond her compass and was a tame third. Spark of Gold who held the second position midway through the race, stayed clear of Icebreaker to gain the runner up spot. It was nice to see one of the most enthusiastic racing families in the country, the Brars lead in the winner with great relish. The Dashmesh Stud Farm had been in the forefront as a leading nursery, having produced horses of the caliber of Elusive Pimpernel, Chaitanya Chakram and Astronomic who all had the distinction of winning the Indian Derby. There had been a slump in the fortunes of the stud farm in the last decade as they were not lucky to...

Darius Byramji trained Rimpuche’s aggressive finish enabled the fancied runner to put it across her rivals in the 1200 metres S M Ramakrishna Rao Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. The seven event card was lackluster and after the high of the Derby, racing was a damp squib. Rimpuche hadn’t won a sprint for a long time but the filly received strong support because she had maintained her zest and had a good forward run over seven furlongs in Equidae’s win. She was well supported ahead of Sugar Ray and Jersey Pride while Mark of Gibraltar who had some credentials, was ignored in the ring because the stable has been struck by lightening. . Enchanting Girl set a scorching pace as the field set out for the six furlong trip, with Sugar Ray a few lengths adrift followed by Welcome Back, Kyles of Bute, Mark of Gibraltar, Jersey Pride, Rimpuche and the rest. Rounding the final turn, Sugar Ray took charge of the proceedings but he was findi...

The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared 85 acres of land at Chikkajala to Bangalore Turf Club for purpose of building a new race course. The present race course has to be vacated by the Bangalore Turf Club by December 31, 2009 as per the lease agreement signed by the club with the government. Originally, the government had promised 95 acres of land at the dried up tank bed but in view of the fact that the proposed race course land is right next to the National Highway 7, the government has retained 10 acres of land keeping in mind the possibility of road expansion and other developmental works. The Karnataka Cabinet which met on Friday approved the proposal to give the land on a 30 year lease. It may be recalled that the High Court of Karnataka had cleared the government’s move and had given the go ahead to allot the land as per law. BTC will enjoy possession of the land for a period of 30 years from the date of signing of the agreement. The annual lease rent has been fixed at Rs 50,000 per ...

The Pune Season has always been an eagerly awaited one if only because racing is totally different from the one at Mumbai. The small city atmosphere rubs off on people who seem to be more friendly and informal during this season. The monsoon rain also adds to the romanticism of the season as the rains in its wake bring an element of unpredictability. One has to wait for form to settle down before making any serious betting choices. On the evidence of Mumbai form, Red Romeo should win. But then the horse is running at such cramped price, that it is better to watch that race. Since one has to be wary about the bets on the opening day of the season itself as the track has received good quantity of water recently due to delayed monsoonn and horses are not at their optimum fitness, the choice of bets should be restricted to bare minimum. For me Dancing Glory and Weizhou appear as safe propositions for considerations of a modest bet.

The practice of making young horses wait behind the starting gates, in front of thousands of excited public, either by lack of time planning or to suit betting interests is proving to be detrimental to the horses and this has a definite bearing on their performance capabilities. Horses hear far better than humans and this can impact its behavior adversely which will then have a bearing on its performance. Loud noises can sound like a bunch of angry bees to the horse and instinct would tell horses to run. And if they are restrained as they are behind the starting stalls, they jog up and sweat. ``Horses are prone to spend nervous energy and work up a sweat which has a bearing on the performance of a horse,’’ says Mr. Khusro Dhunjibhoy who owns the well known Nanoli Stud Farm besides being a sport administrator having been the Chairman of Royal Western India Turf Club for five years. The horses which were in the line up for the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby had to wait for as many as 15 minu...

The Karnataka High Court on Monday cleared the hurdles in the way of government allotting the 95 acres of tank bed area at Chikkajala for relocating the Bangalore Race Course. The government has asked the turf club to vacate its existing premises and re-locate at the end of its lease period which expires on December 31, 2009. The government’s attempt at giving a suitable land had run into trouble as Chikkajala area which was identified as being most suitable by both the government and the turf club came under the purview of the Supreme Court order which prohibited allotment of tank band area for any commercial activity. The government has been able to get the land cleared by the court on the condition that the existing tank bed within the 125 acres will not be meddled with and preserved as a tank. The Chikkajala area has traditionally been a dry area, with ground water reserves too at a premium. Dr K M Srinivasa Gowda who is the former Chairman and currently the face of BTC struggle to...

The British Bloodstock Marketing and Tattersalls sought to impress on the Indian breeders the wide spectrum of choice that is available at their bloodstock sales at a dinner reception on Saturday. Executive Chairman of BBM Gavin Pritchard-Gordon emphasized the fact that their sales had helped a large number of owners world wide in procuring top quality bloodstock. ``Trade in bloodstock between Indian and Britain has been only spasmodic in recent years but now that the ban on the importation of bloodstock from UK to India has been lifted, I very much hope that we can return to the original status quo, and that Indian breeders might now refocus their attention on Newmarket, the centre and home of Racing and Breeding in Britain and the prestigious Tattersalls December Sales’’, he said. Pregnant mares were not allowed to be imported to India because of CEM related ban. The ban has been conditionally removed by the Indian government. ``The Indian government has permitted pregnant horses to ...

Aboline lived up to the top billing that he enjoyed at the commencement of the season by wining the Gr 1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, in a sensational finish from Jacqueline on Sunday. The Arjun Mangalorkar trainee who had put in a dubious run in the Colts Trial Stakes, bounced back to his wonted form, and won the glamour event of Bangalore Summer Season in front of a packed but chaotic gathering. The victory of Aboline was the third individual Derby winner sired by the Kunigal Stud Farm resident stallion Burden of Proof. The long distance races in India have rarely been true run affairs because of the inability of the jockeys or the connections associated with the horses to understand that a Derby can be won with aggressive efforts from the front. Traditionally, Derbys in India have been won by horses coming from way off the pace, a practice which ruled the mindset of the riders and trainers in the last decade. However, worldwide, the pattern has changed, with fancied runners not hesit...

The Gr 1 Kingfisher Derby, the Blue Riband of the Bangalore Summer Season, to be held on Sunday, has an intriguing look about it. Though the cream of three year olds at this centre are in the fray, the reason why one cannot point out a single horse as being outstanding is because of the fact that one can detect a flaw in all the contestants. Gypsy Magic can pull it off but the question mark about her prospects rests with her behavior during the race. She has shown a distinct aversion to running in a crowded field but has run brilliantly when she has raced far away from the rest. One has to see whether World’s leading jockey Richard Hughes has an answer to the wayward ways of the temperamental filly. If Hughes gets the better of her and gets Gypsy Magic to focus on racing, she should emerge victorious. Jacqueline was an impressive winner of the Fillies Trial Stakes. One is not sure whether she can extend her supremacy to the longish trip of 2000 metres. Her trainer Pesi Shroff thinks th...

Padmanabhan trained Rhapsidion Snow who has been an outstanding performer over seven furlongs, should give a bold show in the Gr 2 B T C Anniversary Cup, the star event of Saturday’s races. The speedy daughter of Placerville had won this event last year in brilliant fashion. The six-year old mare has recovered wonderfully from a setback as evidenced by her brilliant mock race last week. As such, she should be able to sweep the others of their feet with yet another front-running effort. Red Renegade, who ran behind Captivating in his only run before a setback kept him out of action, has since been gelded. He has shown class and should strike right away though there is great deal of hype on Alviano and Star Bright. Sun Classique and Caprioska also appeal as decent betting propositions. Forest Flair can lose to Celestial Way not because of the weight that he is conceding but because of the extended trip of seven furlongs which may blunt his sharpness.

Indian buyers will surely have problem of plenty as the importation restriction of pregnant mares from USA and England are being eased by the government. The Keeneland Sales traditionally have been mega affairs, with the horses on offer matching every expectation and purse. The Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing and Sales representatives, W.B.Rogers Beasley (Director of Racing) and Chauncey Morris (Sales & Marketing Associate).hosted a reception to Indian breeders and a select gathering on the eve of the running of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby at Bangalore on Friday. Goffs has been the flavor of Indian buyers in the last few years but the scene is set to change dramatically with USA and England offering a bigger pool to choose from. Leading Indian breeders Zavaray Poonawalla, Ameeta Mehra, A K S Brar, F D Wadia, Khusro Dhunjibhoy, and Padmanabh Ruia among others were present at the reception. Incidentally, the Kingfisher Derby which is scheduled for Sunday will have two representative...

The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby has been in the news for more reasons than one. While there is speculation about the fate of Bangalore Turf Club and its continuance beyond December 31, 2009 due to government order asking the club to vacate its premises without an alternative facility available, there is also talk whether this would be the last Derby that BTC would host There is no reason to be cynical at this stage and BTC may still wriggle out of the crisis and get an extended life line. At this point of time, the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby takes centre stage as the biggest racing event of the calendar is scheduled for Sunday. Interestingly, the Derby has attracted the largest field ever in the history of racing in Bangalore. This is so because the track cannot take any more horses as the starting gates cannot be spread out farther than this. The big field has brought in its wake certain logistical problems for the horses taking part in the fray. The draw has been rather unfavorable to...

For the first time in the history of Gr 1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, the race will be contested by the full complement of 18 runners. In fact, there were 20 horses originally accepted to run but since the width of the course is such that it can only accommodate 18 horses, two horses had to be eliminated. The process was simple as the rules state that horses which have not won a race are the first to be eliminated. The second process was not required at all. Though the system adopted is widely accepted, the turf club authorities would do well to move with the times and take stake money in graded races as a prime consideration. This would have meant that Leonardo who had run second in the Colts Trial Stakes would not have been the unfortunate victim. The Derby has an open look about it if only because the principal contenders have several questions raised about them. There is this question of staying ability of Sprint Star, winner of the Colts Trial Stakes and who is a final entry fo...

The British Bloodstock Marketing and Tattersalls are hosting a dinner in Bangalore on the eve of the running of Gr 1 Bangalore Derby. The move is obviously an attempt to promote its bloodstock in Indian market. All these years, mares from England and USA were not permitted be imported to India due to CEM related ban but the good news is that the ban has been lifted. The opening up of the British market gives enormous choice for Indian breeders and other buyers who have been doing big business at Goffs. The Tattersalls bloodstock sale will be held from November 30 to December 3. Approximately, about 1200 lots will come up for sale. The overseas market has been a big help for both the breeders as well as race horse owners who are trying to get value for their money. The breeders have a captive market in India and the choice available to buyers is restricted. The best stud farms don’t throw open their produce to all buyers and are sold selectively to big owners because these people buy in...

Padmanabhan trained Noble Prince brooked no opposition en route to winning the coveted Gr 2 Maharaja’s Cup here on Sunday. Noble Prince put three Grade 1 winners and the other pretenders firmly in their place by coming home in splendid isolation. It was a good day for trainer Neil Darashah who saddled three winners and missed the fourth one by a whisker. Though Noble Prince hadn’t run this season and had not won a race for one year, he was made the firm favourite to win as the others in the fray hadn’t done anything noteworthy during the season. The big made Noble Prince proved a cut above the rest and won the event he had lost last year. Jockey Wayne Smith had Noble Prince lead he charge from the wide outside draw as the field set out for the long journey. Noble Prince led the rest till the field traversed the first of the 11 furlongs. Angelique then sailed into the lead as the field went past the first tricky bend with Arabian Knight running in close attendance while Noble Prince who...

Noble Prince, who missed out winning the Gr 2 Maharaja’s Cup last year, should make amends when he takes on a small field on Sunday (July 5). The big made son of Placerville is in fine shape though he is running for the first time during the season. The weather has been good and if it does not rain during the race, Noble Prince can be considered as a good betting proposition. There are quite a few races which may tempt a race goer to back them. Just In Time, Kyles of Bute are at a mark where they can make their presence felt. If there is a will to win, even Dark Horse is worth an indulgence.

Interestingly, the Karnataka Government’s move to shift race course has not just been an issue for the last 30 years. Even as early as 30s, the then Municipality had asked the club to shift from its existing premises. Originally, the race course area was called as Malenahalli. The Municipality had cited traffic congestion as the reason for its demand. The Bangalore Turf Club signed a lease agreement sometime last year with the Government of Karnataka validating a 20-year back-dated lease which is due to expire at the end of this year. All these years, BTC did not sign the lease agreement but managed to run the show. However, the government issued a stern warning last year to sign the lease agreement on the dotted line. The chairman of the club signed the lease deed without any safe guards after clearance from the members of the club. The lease was not for future but only meant to validate the period for which the club operated without a lease. Barring an odd member, everyone was in fav...

The Pesi Shroff trained Bruckner who ran behind good horses like Polish Patriot, Systematic and Fleet Indian in his first run in Bangalore, should be one of the good bets at the races to be held on Friday (July 4). Bruckner has been working well and the present opposition should not pose too many problems. Flower Alley who has been an under performer, can pose a stiff challenge. Among the other horses which are worthy of consideration are Greenbro who won decisively last time out and Hyderabad's Lone Ranger who is blazing the track. There is also much hype on Aphrodisiac in Green Bro's race. Pelikano is running over a suitable distance and may oblige.