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Darius Byramji trained Secretive Force maintained his winning form tackling the challenge of Point To Prove with ease in the 2000 metres Squanderer Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races. A lacklustre card of six events was gone through and it is a pity that the summer season which used to be highly competitive with quality fields being the feature has been effectively destroyed by the lop-sided policies of the current management which has a blurred vision of the sport.
Be that as it may, Secretive Force was backed spiritedly to repeat which is not a common occurrence in Bangalore. The percentage of horses repeating in handicap horses is poor and only horses which have been left behind in the handicap scales due to physical niggles can repeat as they are yet to reach their mark. Secretive Force who had run behind Sir Cecil in the Mysore Derby hadn`t been seen in action for a long time and he had run twice during this season, finishing second best to Ambrosia and then recording an easy win. Zervan had Secretive Force settled behind Angelino who set a modest pace followed by Indian Pharaoh and the rest. Zervan was not required to do much when overhauling the front-runner in the stretch and the progeny of Multidimensional cruised past the front-runner with ease and was under no threat from the late-rallying Point To Prove. Secretive Force will find it increasingly difficult as the handicapper in Bangalore may effectively stop from winning again with a penalty that could deter his winning run. Angelino just about nosed out Mr Handsome to get the third spot. Indian Pharaoh ran poorly o finish last. The Golconda Derby winner may take a while to regain the winning form.
Dominic trained Castaway fulfilled the promises of her last effort when the filly produced a powerful dash close home to get the better of the heavily supported Treasure Light to win the 1200 metres P V Shetty Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Castaway had been knocking on the doors of success though the winning post had proved elusive. On the other hand, Treasure Delight hadn`t done anything worthwhile after a runaway win in a handicap race and thereafter had flopped miserably when campaigned in terms races. However, the last effort was suggestive of an imminent change in fortunes. Lesser fancied Cadillac threatened to play a spoilsport when she ran on resolutely in front before Treasure Delight took charge. It took a strong effort on the part of jockey Pradeep Chouhan to get Castaway going. Once she got into her stride, there was no stopping Castaway. Last start winner Anfia found the penalty for her runaway win a spoiler for her chances.
The withdrawal of Harbour Sunrise meant that Winall who had the benefit of a good forward run would receive one-sided support to win the 1200 metres Mount Everest Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jockey Sandesh had the favourite in front. The daughter of Win Legend led all the way and skipped clear in the final furlong to win by a widening margin of five lengths over Ozark who held off Silver Swift to get the runner-up berth.
Foi Et Amour had proved to be a deceptive performer in that the filly always gives hopes of a win but falters in the closing strides of the race. Foi Et Amour had been beaten on the last stride by Cosmos in her last outing and once again, she faltered when in sight of victory in the 1600 meters Nanoli Stud Stakes, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Sandesh had Foi Et Amour lead from the start and the daughter of Win Legend quickened well in the final furlong and shaped to win with a measure of comfort. However, the powerful finish of the well-backed Australis once again ensured that Foi At Amour would have to settle for the second place. Candlelightqueen ran on to finish third. Astral Force who came in for sustained support despite a longish absence from the track could not fulfil expectations, but this run should boost his prospects next time out.
There was a pair of tricky races. Track Striker who had earlier in the season won a race managed to produce a good effort in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar to nail Inky Black close home to win the 1600 metres Galilee Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Inky Black made all the running but ran out of reserves and was easily overhauled by Track Striker whose late rally proved productive. After Hours was third while Raw Gold who came in for good support trailed the field and did very little of note in the straight.
Another race which had a tricky look about it was the 1200 metres Brave Dancer Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Dallas, Savisa and Duty Call were the strongly supported horses but Singhsaab from the stables of Md Khan who was at long odds, had the lead going into the final furlong and grimly held on in the hands of apprentice jockey Mohd Asif Khan to stave off a strong challenge from favourite Dallas who fell short by a neck in the end. Arrogance saved place money. The disappointment of the race was the performance of Savisa who finished down the field.
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Winall (A Sandesh up) winner of the Mount Everest Plate
Track Striker (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Galilee Plate
Singhsaab (Mohd Asif Khan up) winner of the Brave Dancer Plate
Secretive Force (S Zervan up) winner of the Squanderer Trophy
Castaway (P S Chouhan up) winner of the P. V. Shetty Memorial Trophy
Australis (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Nanoli Stud Stakes
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