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Darius Byramji trained became the first horse during the winter season to complete a hat-trick of wins when he managed to stave off the late bid of My Opinion to win the Gr 2 2800 metres Bangalore St Leger, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. The rest of the runners in the fray were woefully inadequate to tackle the gruelling trip and finished way behind the battling duo.
Cosmos who had recorded back-to-back wins was confidently backed to win over the longest race of the season as the other runners, though being classic winners, were rated way below the well-performed five-year-old gelding. Knight Templar was taken on a start to finish mission but after traversing the first six furlongs, Suraj Narredu decided to let Cosmos take charge. Cosmos travelled well within himself into the straight and broke clear in the stretch even as Knight Templar found himself out of depth over this testing trip. My Opinion went in the chase and despite an all-out effort by Akshay Kumar on the Chennai Challenger, Cosmos had enough legs to reach the safety of the winning post though the lead was fast diminishing. Cosmos spared half a length at the finish to My Opinion. Well Connected was third nearly 10 lengths adrift.
Last year`s Golconda Derby winner Royal Crystal found his bearings in a handicap company, giving a winning performance in the 2000 metres Narasimharaja Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Royal Crystal had performed poorly in his last outing in a terms race as the penalty he had to carry for his Group I was too stiff against the likes of Cosmos who was favoured by the terms of the race. John settled Royal Crystal in the rear of the field along with Electra and Peluche. Speedster who took over the running within the first two furlongs brought the field into view. John made a swift move on Royal Crystal who had the speed the gap to take the run along the rails with Peluche who forced his passage along with the eventual winner. Royal Crystal had the lead going into the final furlong and easily contained the challenge of Peluche to win the race sparing a length at the finish. Roma Victor ran on to take the third position ahead of Electra while favourite Angelino gave a disappointing performance.
Inayathulla trained Northern Alliance recorded an encore swamping the opposition in the 1400 metres RWITC Cup, a race for horses rated 75 and above. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, Northern Alliance was kept in a handy third or fourth position as the pace set by Into the Groove suited him fine. Suraj Narredu alerted Northern Alliance to the task inside the final 350 metres and the favourite changed gears as it were and produced a strong burst of speed to leave the field stranded to win by a widening of five lengths. Rafa who lost ground at the start recovered well and ran on to take the second spot ahead of Saint Petersburg who weakened to finish third after chasing the pace-setter into the homestretch. Automatic made no improvement from his previous suggestive effort.
Lokanath trained Poseidon won against the run of expectations in the 1400 metres Bharachukki Plate, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Last start winner Hokkaido was strongly backed to record an encore. Royal Resolution who raced up with the field took over the running on turning for home but was unable to keep the lead beyond the final furlong. Hokkaido who was well-positioned to make her bid was pushed to take charge with about 200 metres left in the race. Poseidon who was loitering in the rear found spaces along the inside and came up with a strong challenge to collar the front runner and then held off the late flashing Grey Channel The last-named was given a light run early on in the season but the jockey and the trainer had been let off with a dubious suspended sentence.
Kishan Thomas trained Mystic Eye was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the 1200 metres Mount Joy Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Jockey Zervan had Mystic Eye dictate the pace from the start and the favourite was in no danger of being overhauled by any of the runners. Last start winner Lovely Sierra ran on to take the second place ahead of Griffin. Glenary who had some supporters ran way below expectations. The lower division of the race was claimed by favourite Golden Vision who toyed with the opposition and won untroubled by a margin of over four lengths in the hands of jockey Suraj Narredu. Last start winner Bloom Buddy showed no progress while finishing a disappointing second ahead of Activated.
Trainer Dominic presented himself with a Christmas gift when Wings of Desire who had found the winning post elusive for more than two years landed the spoils in the hands of jockey Trevor Patel by claiming the 1200 metres Kolar Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Tico Rico led deep into the straight before being overwhelmed by Wings of Desire who made good the opening along the rails to surge ahead in the final furlong. Wings of Desire had enough cushion to withstand the late onslaught of Venus Bay. Tico Rico stayed on to take the third position.
Another horse which hadn`t won for more than two years was Samar Singh trained Casey who trounced the opposition in the 1400 metres Topmost Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. After Armin set a fast pace and tired out after entering the stretch, Casey made swift progress and took charge well before the final furlong and stormed ahead to win by a widening margin of five lengths over Sadaqat who found his rhythm too late to make an impact. Favourite Hafnium was a well-beaten third.
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Golden Vision (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Mount Joy Plate (Div-II)
Casey (Naveen M up) winner of the Topmost Plate
Wings Of Desire (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Kolar Plate
Royal Crystal (S John up) winner of the Narasimharaja Trophy
Cosmos (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Bangalore St. Leger (Gr.2)
Northern Alliance (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the R.W.I.T.C Cup
Poseidon (V R Jagadeesh up) winner of the Bharachukki Plate
Mystic Eye (S Zervan up) winner of the Mount Joy Plate (Div-I)
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