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The shortest priced horse in recent years, Corfe Castle who was expected to have a walk in the park, suffered a shock defeat in the hands of Desperado in the Gr 1 Nawab Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races. The opening race of the day itself had set the tone for shock results and Corfe Castle`s defeat could be one of the biggest advertisements for the uncertainty of the sport.
The Leo D`Silva trained Corfe Castle had pulverized the opposition in the Poonawalla Multi-Million at Mumbai. Star Superior who was at the receiving hand on that occasion, is one of the strong favourites for the Derby to be run on Sunday. Corfe Castle having exhibited great credentials had scared away many of his opponents. The bookmakers were unwilling to offer him at value odds. The other three was not considered worthy of any bet by most punters.
Neil Darashah who is back after an unfair suspension saddled the long shot. The progeny of Win Legend went on a start to finish mission and he had enough cushion in front and he was beyond the reach of Corfe Castle who made his bid from way off the pace. Corfe Castle has proved to be somewhat of an enigma having won impressively his maiden run followed by a shock defeat in his next run. Then he produced a sensational performance in the Poonawalla Million to get an imposing aura about him. He had a niggle which kept him out of action during this season, but his second mock race indicated that he was back to his best. The obsession with bringing a horse from way off the pace can have its own limitations because you can give a weight but difficult to concede ground. The exaggerated check in which Corfe Castle was ridden, was the undoing of the favourite. Trevor Patel was perhaps only following the instructions, but the tactic boomeranged as Corfe Castle did not produce the patent dash. His inconsistency will always be a cause for concern and this quality will always prove a nightmare for punters. For the record, Salvador Dalli was faraway third.
Padmanabhan trained Into The Spotlight won the 1200 KN Guruswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 75 and above, the other highlight of the day. Into The Spotlight who is a full brother to the celebrated In The Spotlight, the champion horse who won the Indian Derby, the Invitation Cup, over twice the distance, has turned out to be an exception by turning out to be a late-maturing sprinter. Into The Spotlight was backed with conviction to win the race. Trevor had Into The Spotlight in front from the start and the favourite managed to stay put, withering the late charge of Justice Angel. Ambitious Approach who stayed in touch with the front-runner could not change gears as it were and had to settle for the third place.
The opening race of the day, the 1100 metres Mysore Cup, a race for maiden three-year-olds went horribly wrong for the punters who were at their wit`s end, baffled by the way things turned out. The ones in serious betting namely Sharp Response, Rajveer and Desert Angel did not figure at the finish. Rank outsider Triggar provided jockey Vinod Shinde with an elusive win. Alpha led the field deep into the straight with Triggar who was racing along the rails angled out in the final furlong to get a clear run. The progeny of Total Gallery responded well to the urgings and stormed ahead of the long-time leader close home. Another long shot Yerwazan ran on to finish third. All the three fancied runners failed to save even place money. Only Hope jumped outwards from the gates and drifted out to the outer sand track.
Pradeep Annaiah trained Velocidad won the 2000 metres Admiral Henry John Rouse Cup, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Velocidad was expected to build on his good forward run and was widely supported to win. Zervan kept Velocidad in about the fourth position as Tinderella did all the pacemaking. Entering the straight, Zervan alerted the favourite who drifted in slightly and at the same, Nitromax who was in the second position also rolled out, causing Masada to be shifted in, causing her to lose her stride. Velocidad went on to win from Nitromax, with Masada finishing third. Jockey Arshad Alam who rode Masada put an objection against Zervan who was astride the winner for interference, but it was overruled as it was marginal.
Padmanabhan trained Isn`t She Special who had incurred a penalty of 16 points for finishing third in the Fillies Championship Stakes, defied the penalty when winning the 1600 metres D Kumar Siddanna Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 45 to 6 5. Trevor had the daughter of the celebrated In The Spotlight leading all the way and the favourite had no issue in finishing comfortably ahead of Athena. The latter was sluggish at the start but made good to eventually finish second ahead of Sporting Pleasure.
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Triggar (Vinod Shinde up) winner of the Mysore Cup
Velocidad (S Zervan up) winner of the Admiral Henry John Rous Cup
Desperado (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Nawab M.Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup
Isn`t She Lovely (Trevor Patel up) winner of the D.Kumar Siddanna Memorial Cup
Into The Spotlight (Trevor Patel up) winner of the K.N.Guruswamy Memorial Trophy
Iris (S Zervan up) winner of the Mumbai Cup
Orenda (A Imran Khan up) winner of the Delhi Cup
Internal Affair (Kiran Rai P up) winner of the Indian Pattern Committee Trophy
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