The jockeys belonging to the Jockeys Association of India refused to ride after the first race of Saturday had been run citing unsuitable and treacherous ground conditions. The track which has looked far from ideal right from the start of the season was starved of water but intermittent rains in the last two days had perhaps helped refresh the track.
The track was as good or as bad as it was right from the start of the season and the character of the track had not deteriorated dramatically to justify the refusal of jockeys to ride. Racing in Bangalore has been held in far worse underfoot conditions and the charm of racing is that it is held in all sort of underfoot conditions brought about by the vagaries of nature. As such, the refusal of jockeys to ride just after one had been run came as a surprise. If the protest of the jockeys had come about after a few races had been run, perhaps their refusal would have been viewed in different perspective by the authorities.
The rumours doing the rounds was that the jockeys were upset by the suspension handed out to jockey Srinath for misconduct during an enquiry and that there would be disruption to racing on Saturday. The fact that jockeys did not ride may have been the result of the circumstances but the fact that the rumours did the rounds with messages flying fast and thick about the action that the jockeys planned to cock a snook at the authorities perhaps gave a different meaning to the action of the professionals. The fact that the jockeys were not acceptable to ride in a couple of more races before arriving at any decision also strengthened the feeling that the action of the jockeys was pre-meditated. Somehow strikes are common in Bangalore with the authorities always showing a helpless attitude where as such agitations are unheard of at other centres. This resulted in the action of the jockeys being resented in all quarters. The jockeys were firm in their action and were not amenable to reason and were in no mood to pay heed to the authorities.
Under the circumstances, the Stewards of the Club decided to go ahead with the day`s racing with the help of apprentice jockeys who are not part of the Jockeys Association of India along with visiting jockey Cedric Segeon. The eight races were free of any incidents with most events bagged by fancied runners. Despite all the jockeys riding without whips, there were no hiccups and form held true giving a lie to the fears of the established jockeys. The timings were noticeably slow as the official stated position about the track itself was soft going. One good outcome from the whole affair was that apprentice jockeys got to ride winning horses which they may not have otherwise got but for the circumstances.

While it is for the authorities to deal with the matter appropriately after considering the presentations of the jockeys and that of the supervising officials, the sad outcome was the lack of respect to established traditions. The authorities no doubt have lost their power to govern because often they are forced to bow down to the dictates of the professionals.
Coming back to the feature event, the Gr 2 Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, Sea Fairey who was well placed in scales was the favourite. New Prince who had a great summer season but ran poorly in his next two runs, had the credentials but was allowed to run at nourishing odds. Last start winner Smile Stone too had his share of supporters, the change of jockeys making punters little apprehensive about the ways things would pan out. Apprentice jockey Surya who got the chance to ride the Azhar Ali trained four-year-old gelding, took New Prince on a start to finish mission as is his wont and the front-runner enjoyed the uncontested lead. New Prince established a sizeable lead going into the final furlong which held him in good stead as Smile Stone came from way off the pace with a big effort only to find the front-runner reach the safety of the winning post. Mickey Mouse who could not hit the front like he has always done over extended trips, was poised to put up a fight but could not quicken well enough and had to be satisfied with the third slot. Sea Fairey failed to show any spark.
Jockey Cedric Segeon who had got his first winner of the season on Friday, enjoyed the rides that came his way, booting home three winners. The speedy Goldberg was assigned to him with the designated jockey Sandesh being not available. Segeon took Goldberg to the front and the speedy customer was so good that the others were left with a difficult task right from the start. Goldberg took the Daria Daulat Cup (Div I) quite easily form Downtown Abbey who came from a long way back to finish second ahead of New Emperor. The lower division of the race was won by long shot Hillsboro in the hands of apprentice jockey Prashanth. After tracking Ravello into the straight, Hillsboro skipped away from the rest to win with great deal of ease from Cool Baby and Jersey Shore.
Another winner that fell into the lap of Segeon was Tuscano who won the 1400 metres Antaragange Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 with a start to finish effort. Tuscano had enough cushion when Emancipation came up with a late bid. Candice who looked like she was going to give a fight to the eventual winner weakened and even lost the runner-up berth in the end.
Thomas More was also a chance ride for Segeon thanks to the absence of Sandesh. Segeon had Thomas More race upfront and the progeny of Kingda Ka had the O M Lingappa Silver Bar, a race for horses rated 30 to 50, sewn up long way from home. Legacy Dream picked up steam late and finished a noteworthy second ahead of First Step. Secret Pursuit was withdrawn from the fray.
Irfan Ghatala trained Daisy Duke appeared to be the best bet in the 1400 metres Star Luminary Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 but apprentice jockey Anthony Raj very nearly messed up the opportunity. Daisy Duke travelled freely in front and had a big lead in the straight when she began to veer out of a straight course. She survived a scare as Saffron Intense covered the leeway in the final furlong with great alacrity. However, the winning post came to the rescue of favourite Daisy Duke who just about managed to hold on to the lead. Midnight Sky was third.
Atlantis brought off an upset in the 1200 metres Davanagere Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 by barely managing to cling on to the lead from late-charging Wear The Hat to provide apprentice jockey Manesh with the first win of his career. Atlantis had a sizeable lead in the straight but was faltering in the end when Wear The Hat who was nowhere to be sighted at the final bend, covered acres of ground in the straight to come close to toppling the front-runner. Thundersquall was third.
Arshad Alam on Miniver Rose went at a scorching pace in front which proved her undoing in the end in the 1200 metres Novice Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Miniver Rose shaped to win as she enjoyed a big lead going into the final furlong but she began to halt in her stride in the closing stages of the race which enabled Sea King to cover the leeway and eventually win with a measure of comfort. Good Earth was third. Favourite Air of Distinction made no show.
The second race of the day, the 1400 metres Nelamangala Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category was delayed because of the refusal of jockeys to ride. After a lapse of one hour, the club decided to run the races with apprentices as the dialogue between jockeys and the authorities failed to break the deadlock. Apprentice jockeys came in for the originally declared jockeys. Ryan Ahmed who got the chance to ride on Resemblance brought his horse from way off the pace to win from Now U Know and Noble Princess at big odds.