B R Sharan Kumar

David Allan rode a splendid race on Magnitude to guide the Ganapathy trainee to a fine victory in the Governor’s Trophy, the feature event of Saturday’s races. The power packed riding by David Allan enabled Magnitude to stave off the strong challenge essayed by Severstahl in the mile long terms event. Favourite Castro was not in the race right from the word `go’ Castro who was a late rallying second as a favourite to Severstahl was once again backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the hope that over the extended trip, he would make amends for his last start failure. Severstahl, who had beaten him, was running in the race without penalty but still he was quoted at generous odds. So was Magnitude who had run a suggestive fourth to Midtown Magic in his last essay. Much to the chagrin of race goers, Castro took a lethargic start and stayed put to end up a dismal last. Magnomical was the pace setter followed by No Doubt, Saratoga Spring, Severstahl, Magnitude, Current Ray and Castro. S...

These days it is increasingly becoming difficult to predict the way the horses sporting the famous colours of white and black V are going to run. Inconsistency in pattern of running is becoming too glaring for comfort. Cavalry Charge had gone down rather tamely after the drift in odds as a favourite in his previous outing but this time out, the strong support in the ring was indicative of the shape of things to come. The progeny of Burden of Proof hit the front from the word `go’ and was never headed as he romped home to a fine victory in the 2000 metres Delhi Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the main event of races held on Friday. Also joining this category of horses was Camorra who had not true to her potential in her previous outing but this time, showed remarkable alacrity and zest when staving off the challenge of Flame Back. The Delhi Race Club Trophy saw Cavalry Charge displace Topkapi as the favourite. The latter had run twice during the season and had do...

The Bangalore Turf Club which is battling for its survival with the eviction threat looming large and the matter pending adjudication in Supreme Court, suffered a huge body blow on Thursday when the government proposed to increase the turnover tax on tote from the existing four to eight present which is bound to have a huge impact on its revenues. The Mysore Race Club has escaped the blow, with the turnover tax maintained at the existing rate of four per cent. The increase is bound to paralyze the totalisator pools, already affected due to 10 per cent tax deduction. The government take was four per cent. Now with the increase, the turf club has to increase its cut from the collection by at least another two to three per cent which is sure to cripple the system and drive the punters to illegal channels where a punter can back without paying any tax. Reduced dividends become unattractive for punters to back on club operated totes. In the short run, the government will get higher revenue...

I had written sometime back that sport is being about courageous. Nowadays with so much at stake, jockeys rarely take chances and at the slightest pretext, want to withdraw. We have seen several race days being cancelled if there is some amount of rain as jockeys protest citing dangerous underfoot conditions. But there have been instances when jockeys have shown exemplary courage in the face of adversity and such deeds need to be remembered for posterity. The other day I was playing the videos of Kolkata races held on February 16 and was fascinated by the splendid effort by apprentice jockey Shezad Khan who fortuitously stayed in the saddle despite his horse brushing the rails and the jockey almost rolling out of the horse. The jockey miraculously jumped back on to the saddle and managed to ride out the horse. Nine out of 10 times the jockey would have landed on the ground with a thud as the horse ducked by the impact on the rails and the jockey’s both legs came out of the horse and h...

Hall of Fame stallion Placerville (Mr Prospector – Classy Cathy) died at the famed Poonawalla Stud Farm on Saturday. The death of Placerville coming as it did within a week of legendary stallion Razeen’s death has been a big blow for Indian racing. Though both these veterans were in the twilight of their career, they had classic performers in each crop and were a great value addition to Indian breeding through their daughters. Placerville had lifted the profile of the Poonawalla Stud Farm for the consistency with which he produced classic winners. Like a true champion stallion, Placerville too died with his working boot on, having covered one mare during the on-going breeding season. Twenty-one year old Placerville died of cardiac arrest. Placerville produced champions that are literally who is who of Indian racing. Smart Chieftain who won the Indian Triple Crown (Indian 2000 Guineas, Indian Derby and Indian St Leger), also won the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby and the Indian Turf Invita...

Barring classics, it is rare to see a challenger from Mumbai take part in a graded race in Bangalore and Class Apart belonged to that rare brigade. Dallas Todywalla trained Class Apart came all the way from Mumbai because there was not much scope for a sprinter during the rest of the season as the millions for three-year olds from now onwards will be over longer trips and the Gr 3 P Dayanand Pai and P Satish Pai Bangalore Winter Million was an ideal race especially considering the fact that the local three year olds are yet to show great promise. The progeny of Burden of Proof, Class Apart justified the optimism of the connections to bring him all the way from Mumbai as he led from the start and easily held off the challenge of Preordained to land the rich prize. There were just six runners in the fray and three of them, Class Apart, Preordained and Araceli were all backed with enthusiasm, with the first named going into the race as a firm favourite. Jockey Chris Hayes took the spee...

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Optimus Prime won the S Rangarajan Memorial Trophy, a sprint race for horses 80 and above, the feature event of Friday’s races with ease from Lads Gladiator. The progeny of Valid Concept, despite the many niggles, had benefitted by the run benefit he had as he came from behind on the wide outside to speed past the opponents to win with a measure of comfort. Optimus Prime was originally considered as a classic prospect but he did not do well over extended trips. His win during the last season over a sprint brought to the fore his sprinting abilities. However, since he cannot be worked regularly on the outer sand track, this is also a restricting factor in getting him fit as also the number of races that he can run in a season. He was well supported to win along with Friendly Bond but the latter put in a pathetic performance and was not seen at the busy end. Lady Duff and The Spartan disputed the lead in front as the field set out for the six furlong trip, with ...

Wally Swinburn who rode in India for a number of years with remarkable success is back on a `nostalgic’ visit to India. He attended the Indian Derby, the auction sale at Pune and was at Bangalore for last week’s races. Wally’s association with Bangalore’s champion trainer R M Puttanna in the `60s was legendary. Wally rode at Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore and was known to be an excellent judge of horses and a brilliant rider who understood the psyche of the horse. Wally’s son Walter also rode in India and was a hugely successful jockey in England. Walter Swinburne rode Epsom Derby winners on Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), and Lammtarra (1995). Walter also rode the winner of Arc de Triomphe All Along. Wally has continued his association with racing by setting up a stud farm and has been running a successful operation for the last two and half decades. Incidentally, Wally also bred Gaswar who has proved to be a highly successful stallion in India. ``I am due to visit Anne Wright’s ...

Neil Darashah trained Mighty Heart who has bounced back to top form after a series of listless performances recorded an encore in style while claiming the Narasimharaja Cup, a seven furlongs race for horses rated 80 and above, the main event of a long card of 10 events that were gone through on Saturday. Trainer Sharat Kumar was in limelight as his horses struck form against the run of expectation, boosted by the right money they attracted as he saddled a well-priced treble. Clear Mandate and Flaming Lamborgini were the market fancies as they had the form to recommend their credentials. The latter lost support close to race time and it was clear that he may not be in serious business as Flaming Lamborgini has always produced his best when least fancied. Clean Mandate led the field into the straight with Ohiyesa and Mighty Heart in close attendance. Jockey Appu goaded Mighty Heart to get past the front runners with a furlong out and then skipped away from Ohiyesa to record a comfortabl...

The Usha Stud Farm took its Indian Derby tally to a record 12 winners when the daughter of China Visit, Moonlight Romance accomplished the rare Derby double of winning the Gr 1 Kingfisher Derby and Gr 1 McDowell Indian Derby. Moonlight Romance held off the challenge of Ocean And Beyond, Xisca, Macchupicchu to win the most coveted event of Indian racing calendar in thrilling fashion. The victory of Moonlight Romance was in keeping with the raising status of Usha Stud Farm’s resident stallion China Visit, who after a hesitant start, has been firing classic winners to enjoy a near sweep this year. Apart from Moonlight Romance, Xisca is also the winner of two individual Derbys namely the Deccan Derby and the Calcutta Derby Stakes. The son of Red Ransom, China Visit was expected to continue the legacy of all time sire sensation in India Razeen who is in the twilight of his career but when his progeny did not fire in the manner expected, there was panic. The Usha Stud Farm had always domina...

Indian racing enthusiasts are a matured lot having a good understanding of the nuances of the sport, its ups and downs and willing to take things sportingly. But there also exists a section which is firm in its belief that racing is all about manipulations. The failure of every favourite is viewed with suspicion and the victory of a lesser fancied runner belonging to the same trainer or owner at the expense of the favourite is considered as a conspiracy. Instances of the connections indulging in manipulating the results of their horses are seen in India but then everything cannot be straight bracketed. In racing conspiracy theory takes wings as a heady mix of conviction and lack of logic overrides reason. The power of the internet has helped propound theories of conspiracy no matter how little evidence one has on hand. Leaping to conclusions and possibly the fondness for stock expressions has also led to perforation of conspiracy theory in every aspect of racing. I have come across on...

The Usha Stud bred Moonlight Romance kept her date with destiny in the most coveted event of Indian racing calendar, the Gr 1 McDowell Indian Derby with a remarkable performance in front of a mammoth crowd on Sunday. The Kingfisher Derby heroine went on to win the Indian Derby like many of her illustrious predecessors and in the process provided veteran trainer Cooji Katrak with his first ever Indian Derby success. For once Richard Hughes’ magic touch and his gift for picking the right horse eluded him as Ocean And Beyond which he had chosen ahead of Moonlight Romance was shy by a shade over a length. For David Allan who got a chance ride thanks to Jockeys Association of India’s refusal to permit Ryan More to ride without a work permit, seized the opportunity with both hands to record the biggest success of his racing career. The Usha Stud Farm which has bred a record number of Indian Derby winners, swelled tits tally to 12, having been stuck on 11 for a few years. Usha Stud Farm’s res...

In racing success often comes when least expected as evidenced by the victory of lesser fancied Spearhead in the 2400 metres Stayers Trial Stakes, a rich terms race for four-year olds and over, the feature event of Thursday. Spearhead was never reckoned to be a stayer and his presence in the race was more in hope as also to ensure that the race did not go void. To the pleasant surprise of the connections, Spearhead led all the way and won quite capably. Favourite Sun Control was never in contention though on the basis of her impressive second to Balmoral Castle who lost the Golconda Derby subsequently by a whisker due to sheer bad luck, was well supported to make a smooth transition to the highest class as she was set to take on seasoned horses which had lost form inexorably. Whether Sun Control is a good stayer or not was a question that remained unanswered as the favourite was a beaten cause well before the final turn. This should not be a surprise as the trainer concerned has just ...