Trainer Padmanabhan had a good reason to smile this
afternoon, as his runners picked up the two trophies that were on offer
during Saturday's racing at Bangalore. He had pitched Retribution in the
day’s feature,The Chief Minister's Trophy to be run over a mile and a
quarter. His other runner was a very impressive looking youngster named
Pallazio's Sun. These horses are the property of sporting owner Capt.
Jamshed Appoo, who was unable to make the trip from Mumbai to lead them
in. He had sent Daniel Grant to guide the fortunes of both of
them.
The feature event attracted only five runners, who were 4
years old and over.In terms of sheer rating, there was a great disparity
between all of them with Talk Of The Devil standing tall at 113, while
Southern Chieftain at the bottom with a rating of 61. The terms of the
race allocated them weights within 4 kilos of each other. The bookmakers
had no problems in making Retribution an odds-on favourite to win this
race, considering his gallant run in the Mysore Derby over the same
trip. He was looking well in the paddock and ran
accordingly.
Hayes took Stafire to the front with Retribution in
close second, while Fairytaleending, Talk Of The Devil and Southern
Chieftain followed in close order. The order remained the same as they
straightened for home, except that Daniel Grant was noticed moving up on
the outside, and storming into the lead. Retribution kicked away from
the rest, while Appu was seen coaxing Talk Of The Devil to get closer.
The margin of victory was reduced, but the result was never in doubt.
With this victory in a top class event, Retribution is now headed for
Hyderabad, where he is going to be campaigned in the Derby in late
January.
Pallazio's Sun is a son of champion filly Pallazio, who
till recently had held many sprinting records in Western India. He is a
top class colt and has a bright future ahead of him. He was entered in
the top division of the AP Kothavala Cup. His supporters could easily
back him at 6/4, as there was a lot of support for Mystic Dancer, a full
sister to Mystical. She too was looking fit in the parade ring, but was
found wanting, when Prakash asked her to keep pace with Pallazio's Sun.
Different Opinion did the early running with Pallazio’s Sun in close
attendance, while Mystic Dancer was seen being urged to stay in
contention. The favourite thereafter quickened smoothly and went many
lengths clear of a late finishing Cassandra, while Rimpuche plodded on
to be third. Mystic Dancer was a poor fourth and her progress should be
watched carefully. Cassandra should be in the winner’s enclosure before
long, while the winner shall be campaigned in the big events during the
coming months. It has to be mentioned that he clocked a class I timing
in his first career start.
The lower division of this cup event
saw a very erratic finish with the first four finishers being spread
right across the track. Last Samurai was racing ahead of the favourite
Lucky Mascot and Cart Wheel, while Mind Me was seen being whipped before
the bend. Last Samurai started veering out and took the Prakash ridden
favourite along with him. Chris Hayes saw the events in front of him and
immediately ducked towards the rails. In doing so, Cart Wheel was able
to take a firm hold on this race, when all of a sudden Mind Me decided
to raise a fluent gallop. Although Mind Me finished on the edge of the
outer sand track, his finishing effort was a shade better than the rest
and he got the nod from the judge. Lucky Mascot and Last Samurai filled
the frame, finishing close behind the first two.
For reasons not
known to many, Spirit Of China came in for very spirited betting in a
sprint race for horses in class IV. This gelding is known for his
aversion to morning track work, is sometimes slow out of the gates and
occasionally stops to gallop midway through a race. However, he was at
his best behaviour today and did everything right, except galloping
fluently when it mattered. He was found flat footed whilst Appu took
Silken Clare on a start to finish mission and galloped away from
Antivirus and Gara Fluid. The favourite finished second last. Spirit Of
China has taken down a lot of punter's money and should be ignored from
a betting point of view.
Irfan Ghatala's Bee For You attracted
much money, but was not upto the challenge when Serious Warrior and Jedi
Knight skipped away from him. Bee For You was able to save place money
by finishing third. Irfan's Bastian Bay, an impressive winner in his
previous start was well fancied in the last race of the day. Mangalya
Prarambh was the public choice in this event and was engaged in a duel
with the front running Ocean Crest, when Irfan's other runner Astounding
Blue was seen arriving on the scene. Mangalya Prarambh found the top
weight a stopper and faded into third, while Astounding Blue got the
better of Ocean Crest near the winning post. Bastian Bay was not
sighted. The moral of the story is that you should be extremely careful
while backing horses coming from the yard of Irfan Ghatala, since they
follow a very mysterious pattern of performance. A Run To Remember and
Allegro were easy winners of the other two races in the day's
card.
