B R Sharan Kumar

The Capricorn Stud Farm bred Sirono won the Gr 3 Deccan Chronicle Juvenile Sprinters Million, the feature event of Sunday’s races in a thriller from Carla. The winner clocked a fast time of one minute 12.02 seconds. The day’s races did not run kindly for punters as just one strongly backed favourite obliged in a card of nine events. The bookmakers’ perception did not match the ground realities. Carla and Sirono had both recorded impressive wins in their previous runs and were closely matched in terms of performance and timing achieved. However, Carla came in for one sided support, with Sirono running at a much higher price than warranted. In the event, the Prithviraj trained Sirono fought a thriller with Carla for the entire length of the straight before getting the nod in the closing stride of the race. The race also heralded the emergence of these two horses as sprinters to reckon with. Vijay Damini set a fast pace as the field set out for the six furlong trip, with Carla and Sirono ...

Irfan Ghatala trained Advantage Logan maintained his amazing consistency by recording his fifth win from seven outings on Saturday. The Capricorn Stud Farm bred Advantage Logan held off the challenge of 10 other contestants en route to victory in the 1400 metres Karnataka Sub-Area Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of the day. The race had an open look about it, with about half a dozen horses being fancied by their respective connections to pull it off. Top weighted Atlantus came in for more support than the rest despite apprentice Chethana being declared to ride the five-year old gelding but the jockey was not up to the task of delivering the goods as the favourite lost a forward position within the first two furlongs and then was brought wide to essay his challenge. Atlantus was a well beaten fourth. Caprioska did all the front running before being overhauled in the final furlong by Advantage Logan who quickened for home with a resolute effort. Magnanimity c...

The BTC Managing Committee, led by Harinder Shetty can successfully negotiate with the government for new land and time only if the club members and others from the fraternity offer complete cooperation and don’t throw hurdles in the path. For the record, the Bangalore Turf Club has filed the Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court on Thursday against the High Court verdict, asking it to vacate its premises by September 22. ``The SLP has been filed by the club in order to protect its interests and not to take an adversary position against the government. We are bargaining a good deal for the club and we should be able to sign the lease agreement for the land at Doddaballapur within the next 20 days. The Chief Minister has been very kind despite the club antagonizing him on several counts. We have been having fruitful meetings with the top functionaries of the government and the process of allotting the land to the club is on fast track. We have field the SLP as per the mandate of t...

Chief Minister Yeddyurappa assured that he would give land and time to Bangalore Turf Club provided they started work on the land that would be allotted to them shortly in an informal chat after Meet The Press programme organized by the Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters Guild on Thursday. The meet was organized in connection with the successful completion of two-years of BJP rule in Karnataka. ``The decision to shift the race course is final. There is total unanimity on this score,’’ Yeddyurappa said. ``The High Court has fixed September 22 as the deadline for the turf club to vacate its premises. Though the court has not mandated giving any alternate to Bangalore Turf Club, I am giving them land. It is in the process of finalization. About 120 acres of land in Doddaballapur is being identified as most suitable land. Let them start the work, then I will give time as well,’’ Yeddyurappa added. This piece of news coming as it does straight from the horse’s mouth should prov...

Irfan Ghatala trained Sun Kingdom emerged as a strong contender for the forthcoming Kingfisher Derby with a classy performance which had the field well beaten in the Gr 1 HDIL Colts Trial Stakes, the second classic of the season on Sunday. Sun Kingdom has all the attributes of a champion. He relaxes during a race; changes gear instantly and possess a wonderful temperament. The progeny of Royal Kingdom can land the glamour event of the season if he maintains his form and fitness, retains the zest he showed while winning the classic in a smart time of one minute 37.80 seconds. Arjun Mangalorkar’s Immense came up with a long stretch run to finish an impressive second. The rest of the runners don’t quality for consideration as being contenders for the Derby. Sun Kingdom’s imposing credentials had made him the overwhelming favourite to win the coveted race. Ciel Indienne and Immense had their share of supporters while the rest were not considered to be in the reckoning. Ciel Indienne led fr...

On sheer weight of performance, Padmanabhan trained Becket was unbeatable in the Gr 3 Chief Justice’s Cup, the feature event of Saturday. The race in the past had seen giants of Indian racing produce some exhilarating stuff. The Sohna Stud Farm bred Becket lived up to expectations of belonging to the elite league by the weight of his performance. What contributed an element of drama to the proceedings was the fact that the son of Hawk Wing was made to cover too much ground in the straight. Despite going into the race without any solid preparation, Becket stretched out magnificently to edge out Mysore Derby winner Fleet Indian close home. Spark of Gold ran on to be third while the hyped up Onassis continued his dismal run. Jockey Zervan on Cotswold Arms upset the rhythm of the race by bolting to the front and established a distance lead over his nearest pursuer Aristos while Fleet Indian raced in the third position while Becket was held quite far back. Approaching the final bend, jockey...

Villoo Poonawalla’s death last Tuesday has caused a big void in racing world. Being the wife of one of leading faces in Indian racing, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, she was easily the most recognizable person in horse racing at Pune and Mumbai. She was a great racing enthusiast and was instrumental in Dr Cyrus Poonawalla keeping a substantial number of horses to race in his colors. She also goaded Dr Poonawalla to buy quite a few got abroad horses for purpose of racing them in their colors. In fact, Phenomenale who won the Pune Derby two years ago, raced in her colors. India's best known nursery of thoroughbreds, the Poonawalla Stud Farm, is owned by the Poonawalla family. Having been an amateur rider herself in her younger days, Villoo had passion for racing and made it a point to be present at the racecourse to cheerfully lead in the winners owned by the family. She led in Change of Luck who won the Casino Royalel Indian St Leger in March earlier this year, with great delight. She express...