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Padmanabhan trained Big Sur has made rapid strides since being relocated to Bangalore from Mumbai. The progeny of Win Legend chalked out his second straight win beating graded race performer Watchmyscript enroute to claiming the 1800 metres Ashoka Chakra Cup, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. Sriram Komandur trained Diamond Rays swamped the opposition in the other highlight of the day, the Stewards Trophy.
Watchmyscript had many notable performances to her credit with her recent exploits at Pune where she beat Lady In Lace and was a late-finishing third to Raees, saw her being made the firm favourite. Big Sur had won very impressively at Mysore and he had his share of supporters. David Allan took Big Sur on a start to finish mission with Ultimate Warrior for the company. Watchmyscript who was settled in the rear steadily moved up as the race progressed and stayed in striking reach of Big Sur by the final turn. Watchmyscript made an aggressive effort and raised hopes of toppling the front-runner. However, under the driving finish of David Allan, Big Sur responded well and skipped ahead to win by a shade more than a length. Corybantic ran on from behind to grab the third position from Booker Jones.
Diamond Rays looked a cinch because he had fared well against better quality horses. He went to the post as a strong favourite to win the Stewards Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Jockey Neeraj Rawal had Diamond Rays in the second position behind pace-setter Side Winder and quickly assumed command on turning home. Diamond Rays swiftly went beyond the reach of the rest. Queen Latifa who was positioned in the rear, was brought wide and the progeny of Burden of Proof covered a lot of ground in the stretch to claim the second place ahead of Life Awaits.
Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Lady Legend was a smashing winner of the 1400 metres Pratap Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, Lady Legend came into strong contention on turning for home as the front-running Good Time Indeed failed to prolong his stay in front. Lady Legend cruised past the front-runner and stretched away to win by a widening margin of four lengths over Blue Blazer who in turn was another four lengths adrift of the third-placed Full Bloom. In the form that she is in, Lady Legend should complete a hat-trick of wins.
Ganapathy trained Star Cavalry came in for big support in the betting ring to make a winning debut in the 1200 metres Bugs Bunny Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Star Cavalry obliged the expectations thanks to a brilliant ride by jockey David Allan whose perseverance yielded results. Star Cavalry did not take a brisk jump and did not get into a rhythm. David Allan did not give up and kept persisting with the horse. Star Cavalry took the final turn in the penultimate position and was many lengths behind Here And Now who had scooted into what looked like a sizeable lead. However, Star Cavalry came home with a big effort and managed to put his neck in front at the post. The jockey had to change the whip hand to prevent Star Cavalry from going on to those in front. Point of Beauty was also in the thick of things but Hope And Now managed to nose out the former to keep the second position.
Arjun Mangalorkar trained Panama had been running consistently and got the company she needed to make a bold show in the 1200 metres Madhugiri Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Panama justified the strong faith of her supporters with an aggressive run in front and easily held off the late-rallying Rosebrook who conceded ground to the eventual winner and struggled to make it up in the stretch. Siyouni was third.
Arjun also saddled the long-priced winner of the day in Angels Kiss who made a winning debut in the 1100 metres Longchamp Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Prithviraj trained I Do What I Do was backed to the exclusion of the rest but the favourite, after leading into the final furlong, failed to sustain his effort and faded out. Angels Kiss flew on the wide outside to win with a measure of comfort, with a tenner returning a rich dividend of Rs 299 on the tote. Odyssey who was troublesome at the gates ran on to take the second place ahead of Stars In His Eyes. Another three-year-old from Prasanna Kumar stables Yerwazan had no problem in obliging huge expectations in the upper division of the race, winning start to finish. First-timer Armin showed out when finishing from way off the pace to be an impressive second ahead of Aceros.
The day`s opener, the 1200 metres Gulbarga Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class, went the way of trainer Dominic`s ward Music Divine who had the control of the race from the top of the straight and thwarted the spirited bid of favourite Arrogance. Duty Call was third.
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Music Divine (A Sandesh up) winner of the GULBARGA PLATE
Star Cavalry (David Allan up) winner of the BUGS BUNNY PLATE
Angels Kiss (Antony Raj S up) winner of the LONGCHAMP PLATE (DIV-II)
Panama (A Sandesh up) winner of the MADHUGIRI PLATE
Diamond Rays (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the STEWARDS TROPHY
Big Sur (David Allan up) winner of the ASHOKA CHAKRA CUP
Lady Legend (A Sandesh up) winner of the PRATAP STUD PLATE
Yerwazan (Chetan Kalay S up) winner of the LONGCHAMP PLATE (DIV-I)
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