Pronto Pronto prevails by a whisker
In a pulsating finish, the Manjri Stud Farm bred Pronto Pronto managed to get the verdict in the bob of heads to win the Gr 1 Colts Championship Stakes, the second classic of the season, on Sunday. Veteran trainer Imtiaz Sait was thus recording a classic success in Bangalore after a longish break through Pronto Pronto who overcame a lack of a run on this track to win in one of the most absorbing contests of the season. The first visit to Bangalore Turf Club for joint owner and breeder Shapoor Misty proved to be a rewarding one as he led in the winner excitedly along with his son and partners.
Though there were reservations about Amadeus getting the mile trip, he ended up as the favourite in the belief that at level weights he would prove a different customer and put it across Speed Six who had beaten him in their last encounter. Pronto Pronto and Tiberius who had gone into the race with a mock race to boost their fitness were available at nourishing odds. Speed Six was available at longer odds than expected because Australian jockey Noel Callow had done the disappearing act without informing his retainers and the URBB, had very little time to fly in a replacement. For the record, Callow recorded a Group I winner through Risky Business on Sunday at Malaysia. With Trevor Patel who had just come out of the apprentice ranks last Mumbai season, being declared to ride the fancied runner, many felt that this may play a crucial difference to the outcome of the race in the event of the battle reaching the wire. Trevor Patel got everything right and possibly with experience, he may have extracted that bit extra to tilt the verdict in his favour.
Bourne Supreme was withdrawn from the fray at the gates as he played up after being stalled and trotted lame when examined by the vets. Astapi was the pace setter once the field settled down for the mile long trip followed by Arrow In Auto Mode, I Specialist, Amadeus, Pronto Pronto, Speed Six, Super Duper, Severstahl, Star Is Born, Mountain Prince, Star Marquees, Tiberius, Veyron, Forest Regent and Javo. Astapi brought the field into view with Arrow In Auto Mode fading out of contention. Speed Six showed up prominently along with Pronto Pronto and Severstahl while Amadeus packed up without a trace. Speed Six took over the running inside the final furlong and charged for home with Pronto Pronto on his heels. The former managed to retain the lead till the dying moments of the race but Srinath’s stronger finish shaped the destiny of the race. Speed Six and Pronto Pronto passed the post locked together with the latter catching the magic eye ahead of the former. Severstahl finished third while Star Marquees ran on to finish fourth.
Earlier, the Rashid Byramji trained Yamas who was to sport blinkers, came to the paddock without one and the officials concerned who are expected to check all the equipment declared to be carried by the horse also overlooked this lapse. The horse won the D M Shivaswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated for horses rated 40 to 65, with a start to finish dash in the hands of Frenchman Ladjadj Stephane, with Fiorucci finishing an impressive second. The official race card stated that Fiorucci will have steel shoes but the horse had aluminium shoes on. The official card cannot be relied upon these days tas here are too many mistakes in the same. An enquiry has been ordered into running of Yamas without blinkers. There is so much lack of commitment that the weights of horses is also not proper as the weight difference between one run to another within a fortnight is shown so exaggerated that it has to be disputed. The penetrometer reading is also inconsistent as can be made out by the timings which are in variance with what has been the norm all these years. One thing is sure; the Managing Committee has successfully demoralized the officials and the results are there for all to see. Darius Byramji’s Gluteus Maximus won the upper division of the race quite capably at the expense of well backed Indian Bolt.
Neil Darashah trained Successor brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres Stewards Cup in a cluster finish. The well backed Classic Charge led the field as Successor settled down in about the fourth position contrary to his front running tactic. The entire field close up inside the final 100 metres and Successor grew strong to edge past the front runners to land the spoils ahead of Lads Gladiator, Classic Charge. Rare And Precious who was the favourite and Atlantus dead heated for the fourth spot. A long neck, neck, nose and dead heat highlighted the closeness of the finishers. Sky Train ran a disappointing race.
Prithviraj trained Sukanti was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in the 1400 metres Fantabulous King Plate, a race for lowest rated horses. The well bred filly stayed glued to the gates and came out long after the rest of the runners had gone beyond her reach. A Game To Remember ran freely in front and won with a measure of comfort from Star of Stars who was the only realistic trier in the race other than the winner.
A big gamble was brought off on Ladzone who with no apparent form and jockey P Mani declared to ride, came in for sustained betting to end up as a firm favourite. In the event, Ladzone checked in nine lengths clear of the rest. One was left wondering as to how the trainer had concealed the merit of the horse so much.
In the concluding race of the day, Dancing Emeralds who had twice finished second best, virtually had no one to oppose her as the Neil Darashah ward checked in well clear of the rest. Game Dancer raced is earnest to finish a long way second ahead of Diamond Flame who was warming up to the task long after the cause had been lost.
Though there were reservations about Amadeus getting the mile trip, he ended up as the favourite in the belief that at level weights he would prove a different customer and put it across Speed Six who had beaten him in their last encounter. Pronto Pronto and Tiberius who had gone into the race with a mock race to boost their fitness were available at nourishing odds. Speed Six was available at longer odds than expected because Australian jockey Noel Callow had done the disappearing act without informing his retainers and the URBB, had very little time to fly in a replacement. For the record, Callow recorded a Group I winner through Risky Business on Sunday at Malaysia. With Trevor Patel who had just come out of the apprentice ranks last Mumbai season, being declared to ride the fancied runner, many felt that this may play a crucial difference to the outcome of the race in the event of the battle reaching the wire. Trevor Patel got everything right and possibly with experience, he may have extracted that bit extra to tilt the verdict in his favour.
Bourne Supreme was withdrawn from the fray at the gates as he played up after being stalled and trotted lame when examined by the vets. Astapi was the pace setter once the field settled down for the mile long trip followed by Arrow In Auto Mode, I Specialist, Amadeus, Pronto Pronto, Speed Six, Super Duper, Severstahl, Star Is Born, Mountain Prince, Star Marquees, Tiberius, Veyron, Forest Regent and Javo. Astapi brought the field into view with Arrow In Auto Mode fading out of contention. Speed Six showed up prominently along with Pronto Pronto and Severstahl while Amadeus packed up without a trace. Speed Six took over the running inside the final furlong and charged for home with Pronto Pronto on his heels. The former managed to retain the lead till the dying moments of the race but Srinath’s stronger finish shaped the destiny of the race. Speed Six and Pronto Pronto passed the post locked together with the latter catching the magic eye ahead of the former. Severstahl finished third while Star Marquees ran on to finish fourth.
Earlier, the Rashid Byramji trained Yamas who was to sport blinkers, came to the paddock without one and the officials concerned who are expected to check all the equipment declared to be carried by the horse also overlooked this lapse. The horse won the D M Shivaswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated for horses rated 40 to 65, with a start to finish dash in the hands of Frenchman Ladjadj Stephane, with Fiorucci finishing an impressive second. The official race card stated that Fiorucci will have steel shoes but the horse had aluminium shoes on. The official card cannot be relied upon these days tas here are too many mistakes in the same. An enquiry has been ordered into running of Yamas without blinkers. There is so much lack of commitment that the weights of horses is also not proper as the weight difference between one run to another within a fortnight is shown so exaggerated that it has to be disputed. The penetrometer reading is also inconsistent as can be made out by the timings which are in variance with what has been the norm all these years. One thing is sure; the Managing Committee has successfully demoralized the officials and the results are there for all to see. Darius Byramji’s Gluteus Maximus won the upper division of the race quite capably at the expense of well backed Indian Bolt.
Neil Darashah trained Successor brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres Stewards Cup in a cluster finish. The well backed Classic Charge led the field as Successor settled down in about the fourth position contrary to his front running tactic. The entire field close up inside the final 100 metres and Successor grew strong to edge past the front runners to land the spoils ahead of Lads Gladiator, Classic Charge. Rare And Precious who was the favourite and Atlantus dead heated for the fourth spot. A long neck, neck, nose and dead heat highlighted the closeness of the finishers. Sky Train ran a disappointing race.
Prithviraj trained Sukanti was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in the 1400 metres Fantabulous King Plate, a race for lowest rated horses. The well bred filly stayed glued to the gates and came out long after the rest of the runners had gone beyond her reach. A Game To Remember ran freely in front and won with a measure of comfort from Star of Stars who was the only realistic trier in the race other than the winner.
A big gamble was brought off on Ladzone who with no apparent form and jockey P Mani declared to ride, came in for sustained betting to end up as a firm favourite. In the event, Ladzone checked in nine lengths clear of the rest. One was left wondering as to how the trainer had concealed the merit of the horse so much.
In the concluding race of the day, Dancing Emeralds who had twice finished second best, virtually had no one to oppose her as the Neil Darashah ward checked in well clear of the rest. Game Dancer raced is earnest to finish a long way second ahead of Diamond Flame who was warming up to the task long after the cause had been lost.
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