A true race enthusiast would travel many a mile to watch a finish like we were fortunate to see in The Kelachandra New Millenium Cup, the feature event in Friday’s card at Bangalore. Five of the six starters finished within one and a half lengths of each other. It is another matter that the top market fancies were beaten by two rank outsiders. Woman on Top and Running Bull were looking well in the parade ring while the favourite Badge of Gold seemed to have lost his condition in recent times. However, on past form and
the presence of Colm O'Donoghue in the saddle, the punters backed him down to odds-on favouritism.
Hesperus jumped out smartly and Appu in his favourite style of riding, decided to make all the running. He was closely followed by Running Bull, Badge of Gold and Woman on Top while Royal Ambassador was noticed losing a few lengths at the start. They were in the same order as they entered the straight and were bunching up with each stride. Hesperus was desperately hanging on to his slender lead and seemed to be pulling it off, when Running Bull and Woman on Top came charging at him. All three were locked together in a blanket finish with Running Bull emerging victorious by a nose from Hesperus. Woman on Top was another head away in third. Royal Ambassador was the one who caught my attention. He was slowly away at the gates, came wide round the bend and his jockey accidentally dropped his whip at a very crucial stage of the race. In spite of all this, and the fact that he was the lowest rated horse running on almost equal weights because of the terms of the race, Royal Ambassador finished a fast finishing fourth only a length away from the winner. He will be too good to miss when he is raced in a handicap race in his own class.
The day began ominously for trainer Ganapathy when his long priced Star Royalty, ridden by Prakash, swept the opposition and emerged as an easy winner of the opening event of the day. A lot of money went down on She's a Diamond who was found flat footed and was seen finishing a tame second ahead of a disinterested Bliss and Royal Artist. He immediately led in his second winner when O'Donoghue cantered home on Exclusive Grey in The New Year Trophy beating stablemate Poetic by a widening margin. There was a lot of hype around D Byramji trained Adamaris who was reported to be a classic hope of the stable. There were plans to send him to Mumbai to have a tilt at the many million races at that centre. After today’s run, his connections may have altered his travel plans, as Adamaris showed that he is nowhere near ready at the moment and ran very green when asked to quicken by Suraj Narredu. His numerous supporters who had backed him down to on-money favouritism were quick to acknowledge the fact that they had made a big mistake.
Dr MAM Ramaswamy was present at the course on this first day’s racing in the new year. With the world record that he has set by winning his 500th classic, it was expected that all his admirers would be keen to congratulate him.
Keeping this in mind, The Karnataka Racehorse Owners Association, along with The Karnataka Trainers Association, decided to honour him with a formal felicitation function in the paddock after the second race. After the presentation of mementoes, Dr Ramaswamy thanked the gathering as well as his team, past and present, and walked away to a thunderous applause from the thousands present at the BTC.
Eshwer trained Stanza Starry was another favourite who had to bite the dust because of inadequate assistance from his rider. Apprentice Gaurav Sapra looked extremely awkward while languishing at the tail end of the field, and allowed his filly to finish third when the front running River Blush and Simply Dangerous had kicked away from the rest. The racing patrons present at the course were seen demanding stricter supervision and change of stipendiary stewards at this centre. It is learnt that a delegation of owners led by the vice president of KROA met the stewards and demanded severe action in such cases. The stewards have called for an enquiry after the last race on Saturday and we shall keep you informed if and when any action is taken by the authorities at the BTC.
The star of the day was undoubtedly a 5 year-old gelding called Rio Bravo. With the very tight handicapping norms prevailing at this centre, it is difficult for ordinary mortals to win back to back races. You have to be good to win three in a row and exceptional to extend it further. Rio Bravo won his fourth consecutive race in about six months and proved that he is really stout hearted. With his army of fans supporting him, he was sent to the starting gates as a firm favourite to win this 1,400 metres race. His regular partner Vivek was content to settle him at the back as Amazing One, Carra Mia, Woman in Charge and Alekona made the early running. Alekona was seen kicking away from the rest, when Rio Bravo accelerated under the whip and shot through the pack, to nail Alekona in the last 50 metres. It was a popular victory for the sporting owners of this horse.
It was Suraj Narredu and Rashid Byramji who combined effectively and won the last two races of the day. They first succeeded with Aelenia , who made all the running and won effortlessly from stablemate Top Of The Class and favourite Sporting Master. Aelenia was neglected in the betting ring because of the long break since her last run , but she showed that she has too much class and is likely to earn more laurels for her connections in the future.
Suraj on Orpendale was sitting comfortably in mid-bunch as Feelfree and the heavily backed Charlie Brown were seen fighting each other to take the early lead in the last race of the day. This duel took its toll on Feelfree and Charlie Brown, and they were seen to be fading away as the race took a serious turn. Orpendale accelerated thereafter and sped away for an unextended victory over Hold That Tiger. The rest of the runners were outclassed.
Trainers Ganapathy and Rashid Byramji were joined by Suraj Narredu in sharing the days professional honours.
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