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Prasanna Kumar trained Knotty Ash who had lost winning form after being campaigned over extended trips regained the form of old in the 1200 metres Own Opinion Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of opening day`s races of the Bangalore Summer Season held on Saturday. The speedy son of Gusto rallied well along the rails in the stretch to leave the field stranded in the final furlong to record an easy win.
Lady Legend who had an imposing record was made the favourite to win the race as she had been confined to extended sprints. Sea Quest who had made a sensational debut the last summer season but subsequently suffered from a spate of problems had been showing out in the workouts and was expected to cause a flutter. Side Winder, Bora Bora, Sea Quest raced ahead of Knotty Ash who stayed put along the rails in the fourth position. After straightening for the homestretch, the front-runners fell back one by one and Knotty Ash in the hands of Akshay Kumar gained firm control of the race with a ground-saving run along the rails. Lady Legend moved up strongly on the wide outside but the ground conceded was too big for her to make an impression on the front-runner who had gone away. Courage ran on from far behind to take the third position.
Sea Quest reportedly bled and finished poorly. Sea Quest had won the six furlongs race breaking the course record which was something unprecedented but unfortunately, he ran into one problem or the other to become one of those who failed to realise the undoubted talent and ended up becoming a one race wonder. Lady Legend should be seen in a better light over a slightly extended trip while Courage could get his turn when given more ground to cover.
Sulaiman trained Ambrosio recorded an encore, edging out Secretive Fore close home in the 1400 metres Bourbon King Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. The lack of a race run and the fact that Secretive Force was running after a longish lay off of 209 days perhaps went against Secretive Force who had the lead going into the final furlong but was caught up with and overhauled by the eventual winner. The rest of the runners were outclassed with Stand Out finishing more than 8 lengths behind in the third position.
Prasanna Kumar trained Corona Del Corsa was fit and fine to strike in the 1200 metres Welcome Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. The fancied runner took charge approaching the final furlong in the hands of Suraj Narredu and sped clear to with ease from Abira who was rallying on well in the end. Ruletheworld had a useful outing when finishing a leisurely third. Rajesh Narredu trained Animal Queen who had the benefit of a good forward run last season showed out in front from the start and held on to win the lower division of the race from late-finishing Musterion. Crack of Dawn was a suggestive third while the money on favourite Alberto appeared to be misplaced.
Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Constantinople who had been a let down as a fancied runner on a couple of occasions in the winter season, proved a revelation when swamping the opposition in the 1400 metes Royal Command Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. The winner spared more than seven lengths to Stars In Her Eyes and the disappointing Natalma. The followers of favourite Here And Now were counting their losses the moment the gates opened as jockey Trevor Patel went for a toss. Royal Marshall rode one of his rare winners on Constantinople who was at fancy odds for a failed favourite.
Imtiaz Khan trained Ice Speed was well supported to win the 1600 metres Happy Valley Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Though Ice Speed raced in the rear group even as Honey Trap showed the way, the favourite produced a good burst of speed in the final furlong to win the race in emphatic fashion by a margin of over three lengths. Three Wishes was second while Turf Striker edged out the long-time leader Honey Trap to save place money.
Dominic trained Touch Your Destiny held on grimly to land the spoils in the 1100 metres Littleover Plate, a race for horses rated 25 to 35. Touch Your Destiny led all the way in the hands of apprentice Manish and barely lasted out as Industrialist and Lagopus essayed a strong challenge only to find the front-runner escape to victory.
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Animal Queen (Kiran Naidu up) winner of the Welcome Trophy (Div-II)
Ice Speed (A Ramu up) winner of the Happy Valley Plate
Ambrosio (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Bourbon King Plate
Knotty Ash (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Own Opinion Cup
Corona Del Corsa (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Welcome Trophy (Div-I)
Constantinople (R Marshall up) winner of the Royal Command Plate
Touch Your Destiny (Manish R up) winner of the Littleover Plate
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