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After an inexplicably poor performance, Sulaiman Attaollahi showed total reversal of form when staving off a strong challenge of Nisus to win the Gr 2 Bangalore 2000 Guineas, the second classic of the Bangalore Winter Season on Saturday. Favourite Golden Oaks travelled too aggressively in front and this had a bearing on his performance as he weakened in the final 100 metres to finish a disappointing third.
Lagarde`s win should be considered as an upset in the context of his last run where he had finished more than 12 lengths behind some poorly rated horses which flopped subsequently. Lagarde reportedly had come back lame on the right fore. Lagarde had performed well in a mock race and the poor run was hard to explain as the jockey had stated that he felt during the race that the horse would collapse. The quick transformation was something hard to explain though such unexplainable improved performances always raise an element of suspicion especially when these horses suffer this kind of fate as strongly fancied horses. One doesn`t know whether the horses had any other issue like a soft palate or not when he ran last time out and how they sorted it out. Barring the last poor run, Lagarde was rated as one of the best three-year-olds of this centre when he made his debut in the winter season and it is quite possible that if had run to expectations last time out, he would have been a strongly fancied runner along with Golden Oaks. Unfortunately, in racing hindsight is the best sight which racegoers are not blessed with.
Be that as it may, Golden Oaks who had every reason to be the favourite was strongly backed to win the race ahead of Nisus who had reeled off three wins in a row. The only question mark against Golden Oaks was whether he would tackle the mile-long trip effectively like he had done the shorter trips as the Leitir Mor progeny had shown to have more speed than stamina. Though Golden Oaks had no issue about the mile-long trip as he clocked a smart timing except that his start to finish foray, in the end, proved to be his undoing. Nisus who ran a close second ran true to his rating.
From the innermost draw, Golden Oaks shot ahead and led by lengths all through the race. Nisus was in the second position while Lagarde was in about the fifth position while the rest were all spaced out with Cavalini being a tailed off last after a lethargic beginning. Golden Oaks maintained the lead deep into the straight but a strong challenge from Nisus saw the favourite buckle closer home. In the meanwhile, Lagarde had made steady progress, electing to race close to the rails as the gap was wide enough as Golden Oaks had come off the rail. Nisus headed briefly before Lagarde along the rails managed to pinch the lead in the dying moments of the race. Lagarde spared half a length at the finish while Golden Oaks was in the third position a length and quarter behind the runner-up. Christopher Wren was fourth while the other runners in the fray did not measure up.
Trevor Patel also failed on another favourite Jack Ryan in the 1400 metres Bold Majesty Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Realia and Jack Ryan were the strong market fancies along with Ombudsman. Trevor had Jack Ryan take charge in the stretch and the fancied runner led all the way before being floored by the finishing burst of long shot Whizzo who came home with a wet sail from way off the pace. Whizzo spared a neck at the finish to Jack Ryan. The long-shot was ridden by jockey Ashhad Asbar. Ombudsman ran on strongly but had to be satisfied with the third position. Realia was not sighted at the busy end.
Trevor managed to win astride his third fancied runner. Last start winner Alexander Dumas received one-sided support to record an encore despite the horse being dropped back in distance from a mile to a sprint in the 1200 metres Hampi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Alexander Dumas too had a bad draw. Despite all the handicaps, Alexander Dumas proved to be a better class horse as he produced a powerful run in the homestretch to not only cover the leeway on those in front but won drawing away. Asgardia held off the fancied The Corporal to get the rummer-up berth. The lower division of the race was dominated by rank outsider On The Trot from the stables of trainer Arjun Mangalorkar. On The Trot had run 27 lengths behind the winner 16 days ago in the same category and over the same distance. This time out, On the Trot won with a great deal of ease from another unfancied runner Aceros. There was a cluster finish for the third place with Port of Beauty necking out Queen Regnant and Sea of Cortez to save place money. There was support for Queen Regnant in the betting ring but the filly found the trip too sharp for comfort.
Rajesh Narredu trained Priceless Gold made a winning debut in the 1200 metres Atmanirbhar Bharat Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The three-year-old had been subjected to systematic preparation and though the progeny of Excellent Art ran green in the early part, Suraj Narredu was able to control him. The favourite found his rhythm in the stretch to win as he pleased from Glenary who held sway till overhauled by the eventual winner. Paradise Beckons was third more than eight lengths behind the runner-up.
Apprentice jockey J H Arul who had come frustratingly close to winning finally managed to break the ice through the well supported last start winner Green Channel. Green Channel found herself at the wrong end of the field till turning for home but made a big rally along the rails and managed to thwart the bid of Sun Splash by a whisker. Mr. Humble who attracted big support could only finish a tame third. The lower division of the race saw Lokanath trained Ultimate Striker receiving big support along with Augustina. Ultimate Striker who was running for the second time in his career, showed good improvement as he covered plenty of leeway in the final furlong to nail Perfectgoldenera in the concluding strides of the race. Augustina could only finish third.
Pradeep Annaiah trained Anakin who had found one better in Green Channel, made amends with a smashing win in the 1200 metres Davanagere Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 20. Jockey Srinath kept Anakin in mid-field before bringing the five-year-old gelding into contention on the wide outside. Anakin proved too good for the opposition drawing clear in the final furlong to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Arrogance and Aerospeed. Phoenix Reached who was deserted in the betting after early thrust performed poorly. This was the first career win for Anakin from 10 outings.
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Anakin (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Davangere Plate
Priceless Gold (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Plate
Ultimate Striker (Darshan R N up) winner of the Jog Falls Plate (Div-II)
Whizzo (A Ashhad Asbar up) winner of the Bold Majesty Plate
On The Trot (S John up) winner of the Hampi Plate (Div-II)
Lagarde (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Bangalore 2000 Guineas (Gr.2)
Alexandre Dumas (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Hampi Plate (Div-I)
Green Channel (Arul J H up) winner of the Jog Falls Plate (Div-I)
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