Sun Kingdom survives a scare
Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Kingdom was a racing certainty in the Gr 2 HDIL Bangalore 2000 Guineas and the son of Royal Kingdom won the second classic of the season as expected on Saturday but not in the manner expected. Jockey Suraj Narredu nearly made a mess of it but the Equus bred horse was so superior that he was able to overcome the shortcomings of the jockey and still win with a measure of comfort. Electing to make a run along the rails, Suraj had his passage closed and though the front running Braavo and Aprillia had established a useful lead, they lacked the class and stamina to sustain which went against them as Sun Kingdom, after being pulled out, came home with big strides to seal the race in sight of the post.
Sun Kingdom looked unbeatable and as such, ran at cramped odds as there was no perceptible threat. Magisterial appeared the only one capable of essaying a challenge but then this talented horse does not have sound legs and had barely managed to win a handicap race as a lead up to this race. His preparation for the classic may not have been the way his trainer Ganapathy would have wanted given the innumerable problems that the horse was confronted with.
The Darling Boy bolted to the front and had a break of over 8 lengths but his pace setting had no bearing on the race as the rest of the runners stayed glued behind Magisterial who slowed the pace after settling in second position. Braavo, Aprillia raced in close proximity with Sun Kingdom in about the sixth position. Rounding the final bend, Magisterial marginally went wide providing an opening along the rails. Suraj went for it but the horse was not warmed up to take the opening in a trice and he was hopelessly boxed behind as Magisterial rolled on to the rails. Braavo and Aprillia too moved strongly on the outside to surge ahead. Aprillia was slightly inconvenienced by Braavo’s inward drift. Suraj pulled Sun Kingdom to give the favourite a clear run and the class of Sun Kingdom saw him cover up the leeway and even spare a length at the finish. The fact that Braavo had not done well beyond seven furlongs and Aprillia was suspect over the mile long trip saved the day for Sun Kingdom. Magisterial appeared legless as he failed to pick up steam and eventually retired to finish a tame fifth.
Sun Kingdom clocked an impressive time of one minute 38.90 seconds given the fact that he was completely thrown off his stride at a crucial juncture of the race. Sun Kingdom no doubt is a top colt in the country but it is a pity that he may not be running in the Indian 2000 Guineas where he had a great chance to prove his mettle against the best in the country.
After being held up in sixth position and coming wide into the straight, favourite Cruising was simply too good for the field in the 1400 metres Racing Patrons Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, as she left the field stranded inside the final furlong. Soberano held off stablemate Firezone for the runner up berth. Corbett, who was gracing the wrong end of the field, dropped his jockey 300 metres from home.
The Galloping Acres Stud Plate, run over nine furlong for horses rated 60 to 85, had an open look about it, with Spark of Atan receiving considerable support to pull it off. Cavalry Charge was also fancied along with Sunspirit but both had question marks about their capability to tackle the trip as effectively as they had done over shorter trips. Lowndes Square set the pace with The Last Samurai getting stranded in the gates and losing considerable distance. Midway through the race, the saddle on Spark of Atan appeared to have slipped and the jockey thereafter could not offer any assistance to the horse and went out of reckoning. Jockey Chris Hayes had Cavalry Charge racing behind pace setter Lowndes Square with Lush Lashes chasing him with Spark of Atan in about the fifth position followed by Sunspirit. Rounding the final turn, Hayes pushed Cavalry Charge to take over the running and the progeny of Burden of Proof went surging ahead to open up a big lead. Lush Lashes gave a valiant chase but could not overhaul the front runner. Sunspirit ran on to finish third.
Trainer Attaollahi, who saddled Cavalry Charge, earlier had a winner through Senor Speedy who fought off a thrilling battle with front running Fame And Glory and managed to head home in the dying moments of the race. Senor Speedy thus provided his sire Rosmini who was a brilliant sprinter in his days, with his first success from among the handful of runners that he has had. This was in the Parafait Amour Plate (Div I). Sunstorm, who is a full sister to the celebrated sprinter Palazzio, who was making his debut in the lower division of the race, smashed the opposition without having to be extended. The rest of the runners were hopelessly outclassed.
Darius Byramji trained Aidan proved overwhelmingly superior in the 1100 metres Beginners Plate, a race for maiden two-year olds. After tracking Rhythmic Dancer into the straight, Aidan easily collared the front runner and won by a widening margin of eight lengths. Magnitude ran on from behind to snatch the runner up berth from Rhythmic Dancer.
Puttanna had two failed favourites during the course of the day. Kripa was widely expected to make amends in the J Tyrrell Memorial Plate but Attractor proved a spoilsport as he refused to budge and managed to prevail by a whisker in the hands of jockey Gopal Rao. Supreme Arch was in contention till the final furlong but he failed to gather steam and ended up a tame third.
Jockey Pradeep Chouhan was able to extract a spirited run form Enduring Speed who managed to close home with a big rush and win the Premium Spirit Plate (Div I) at the expense of Sound Bet and Trillion Win. There was solid support for Your Destiny but he was never in contention form the word `go’. Walter, who was not seen in any active workout during the morning trials, was suddenly relied upon by the majority to win the lower division of the race. Walter failed to improve much form the outer draw and apprentice jockey Pradeep compounded his problems further by taking the final turn very wide which effectively snuffed out whatever chances he had. Man Down Under got up in the nick of time to get the better of long shot Good Gift in the shadow of the post.
Sun Kingdom looked unbeatable and as such, ran at cramped odds as there was no perceptible threat. Magisterial appeared the only one capable of essaying a challenge but then this talented horse does not have sound legs and had barely managed to win a handicap race as a lead up to this race. His preparation for the classic may not have been the way his trainer Ganapathy would have wanted given the innumerable problems that the horse was confronted with.
The Darling Boy bolted to the front and had a break of over 8 lengths but his pace setting had no bearing on the race as the rest of the runners stayed glued behind Magisterial who slowed the pace after settling in second position. Braavo, Aprillia raced in close proximity with Sun Kingdom in about the sixth position. Rounding the final bend, Magisterial marginally went wide providing an opening along the rails. Suraj went for it but the horse was not warmed up to take the opening in a trice and he was hopelessly boxed behind as Magisterial rolled on to the rails. Braavo and Aprillia too moved strongly on the outside to surge ahead. Aprillia was slightly inconvenienced by Braavo’s inward drift. Suraj pulled Sun Kingdom to give the favourite a clear run and the class of Sun Kingdom saw him cover up the leeway and even spare a length at the finish. The fact that Braavo had not done well beyond seven furlongs and Aprillia was suspect over the mile long trip saved the day for Sun Kingdom. Magisterial appeared legless as he failed to pick up steam and eventually retired to finish a tame fifth.
Sun Kingdom clocked an impressive time of one minute 38.90 seconds given the fact that he was completely thrown off his stride at a crucial juncture of the race. Sun Kingdom no doubt is a top colt in the country but it is a pity that he may not be running in the Indian 2000 Guineas where he had a great chance to prove his mettle against the best in the country.
After being held up in sixth position and coming wide into the straight, favourite Cruising was simply too good for the field in the 1400 metres Racing Patrons Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, as she left the field stranded inside the final furlong. Soberano held off stablemate Firezone for the runner up berth. Corbett, who was gracing the wrong end of the field, dropped his jockey 300 metres from home.
The Galloping Acres Stud Plate, run over nine furlong for horses rated 60 to 85, had an open look about it, with Spark of Atan receiving considerable support to pull it off. Cavalry Charge was also fancied along with Sunspirit but both had question marks about their capability to tackle the trip as effectively as they had done over shorter trips. Lowndes Square set the pace with The Last Samurai getting stranded in the gates and losing considerable distance. Midway through the race, the saddle on Spark of Atan appeared to have slipped and the jockey thereafter could not offer any assistance to the horse and went out of reckoning. Jockey Chris Hayes had Cavalry Charge racing behind pace setter Lowndes Square with Lush Lashes chasing him with Spark of Atan in about the fifth position followed by Sunspirit. Rounding the final turn, Hayes pushed Cavalry Charge to take over the running and the progeny of Burden of Proof went surging ahead to open up a big lead. Lush Lashes gave a valiant chase but could not overhaul the front runner. Sunspirit ran on to finish third.
Trainer Attaollahi, who saddled Cavalry Charge, earlier had a winner through Senor Speedy who fought off a thrilling battle with front running Fame And Glory and managed to head home in the dying moments of the race. Senor Speedy thus provided his sire Rosmini who was a brilliant sprinter in his days, with his first success from among the handful of runners that he has had. This was in the Parafait Amour Plate (Div I). Sunstorm, who is a full sister to the celebrated sprinter Palazzio, who was making his debut in the lower division of the race, smashed the opposition without having to be extended. The rest of the runners were hopelessly outclassed.
Darius Byramji trained Aidan proved overwhelmingly superior in the 1100 metres Beginners Plate, a race for maiden two-year olds. After tracking Rhythmic Dancer into the straight, Aidan easily collared the front runner and won by a widening margin of eight lengths. Magnitude ran on from behind to snatch the runner up berth from Rhythmic Dancer.
Puttanna had two failed favourites during the course of the day. Kripa was widely expected to make amends in the J Tyrrell Memorial Plate but Attractor proved a spoilsport as he refused to budge and managed to prevail by a whisker in the hands of jockey Gopal Rao. Supreme Arch was in contention till the final furlong but he failed to gather steam and ended up a tame third.
Jockey Pradeep Chouhan was able to extract a spirited run form Enduring Speed who managed to close home with a big rush and win the Premium Spirit Plate (Div I) at the expense of Sound Bet and Trillion Win. There was solid support for Your Destiny but he was never in contention form the word `go’. Walter, who was not seen in any active workout during the morning trials, was suddenly relied upon by the majority to win the lower division of the race. Walter failed to improve much form the outer draw and apprentice jockey Pradeep compounded his problems further by taking the final turn very wide which effectively snuffed out whatever chances he had. Man Down Under got up in the nick of time to get the better of long shot Good Gift in the shadow of the post.
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