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The enigmatic performer from the stables of trainer Darius Byramji Multifaceted, the highest-rated horse in the fray, had no problem in disposing of the challenge of emerging sprinter Golden Oaks to win the 1200 metres Sprinters Trial Stakes, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races. Golden Oaks was practically attempting to do the impossible of taking a quantum leap in ratings by trying to upstage Multifaceted who was rated 50 points higher.
Golden Oaks could have pulled it off if Multifaceted had shown his known aversion to failing to run to potential when running as a favourite but this time out he ran true to form, with jockey Srinath replacing Sandesh in the saddle. For the record, Multifaceted was not the favourite for the race.
Multifaceted has this habit of not obliging expectations when everyone takes his win for granted. Like in the Sprinters Cup at Mysore in March or on the two occasions during the current season when he was a favourite. After a smashing win in the hands of jockey Sandesh who replaced Suraj Narredu, he yet again let down at Chennai losing tamely much to the chagrin of racegoers who are unable to fathom the quirks of this talented horse.
In the olden days, the nameplate of the house owner would also have a system to indicate whether the owner was in or out. Unfortunately, the backers of Multifaceted have no such facility to know whether Multifaceted is in or out because he plays truant each time, he gives an impression that he is in! Also, he doesn`t seem to like the same jockey riding him because his change of performance comes about when a new jockey is declared to ride. This fact can be checked by going through his race record. Multifaceted, however, has managed to keep the connections safe from any harm by way of a critical scrutiny on the part of the Stewards as each time, an alibi has been manufactured without any problem and the same is offered to the unsuspecting powers that be whose ignorance is matched by their posturing of knowing everything.
Jokes apart, Multifaceted had no business to lose the race unless he wished to. Jockey Srinath took the son of Multidimensional on a start to finish mission and he was untroubled in doing the front-running. Golden Oaks was in the chase followed by stablemate Snowdon and the rest. Multifaceted travelled strongly into the straight and showed no signs of weakening and it was clear that Golden Oaks, despite all the talent that he has, won`t be able to catch up with him. Golden Oaks had to settle for the second spot ahead of stablemate Snowdon who was finishing on. Dream Catcher was fourth. Cerise Noire who was in line for a hat-trick finished dismally, ahead of stablemate St Petersburg who was last.
Trevor Patel has been riding such bad races this season for reasons which are difficult to comprehend. He gave an atrocious ride astride favourite Lokanath trained Golden Memory in the 1400 metres Talked Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. He failed to get a forward position from the outside draw and though the favourite was cantering approaching the final bend, Trevor chose to go for a very difficult passage of getting a gap along the inside of the tiring pace-setter Stone House and Smoke The Grass who was one of the fancied runners in the fray at a critical juncture in the race. By the time, Smoke The Grass made a leisurely forward move, Golden Memory had conceded ground to the well-backed Smithsonian who from a forward position established a winning lead. Golden Memory finished full of running to come less than a length of the eventual winner. Horses can give weight but not ground is an established fact in racing and how jockeys repeatedly make the error of conceding the leeway is hard to explain. It was surely an ill-judged and injudicious ride for which he needs a reprimand. The quaintly named Smoke The Grass finished third.
The upper-division of the Talked Plate looked like being at the mercy of In A Breeze but in keeping with the record of maximum number of withdrawals on veterinary grounds for trainer Irfan Ghatala, the filly was pulled out of the fray before the paddock parade. Allabouther had been ambitiously campaigned in the classics and had performed poorly. If one were to look at her performance in the handicap races, it was pretty good for the company she was racing in, especially since she had a close second behind Sherwin and the latter had gone on to win again. Also, Allabouther had finished less than five lengths behind classic winner Lombardy in one of the runs at Hyderabad. Allabouther was well backed and jockey Anthony Raj had the filly race freely in front. The fancied runner had no problem in winning by a widening margin of four lengths. Arlette who was coming back in distance managed to nose out Shivalic Gold to get the runner-up berth.
The most impressive winner of the day was debutant Ascoval in the 1200 metres World Radio Day Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The progeny of Excellent Art, Ascoval, smashed the opposition with a start to finish effort, winning by a widening margin of five lengths with jockey Trevor Patel hardly having to move a muscle. The bodyweight of Ascoval as reflected in the TV monitors was 530 kgs. This well-built Ascoval from the stables of trainer Padmanabhan looks like a classic prospect. Ruling Goddess finished second well clear of third-placed Electric Blue. Winmylove showed no improvement.
Neil Darashah trained Night Secret who had placed in the classics ran out an easy winner in the 1600 metres Nightingale of India Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Last start winner Livisilla was quoted at cramped odds to record an encore but the filly was not up to the task of fulfilling the expectations. She was edged out from the second spot by another last start winner See My Heels. State Secret who went on a start to finish mission quickened well in the final furlong to retain the initiative and won with a measure of comfort in the hands jockey Arshad Alam.
Colonel Harty from the stables of trainer Narayan Gowda displayed hitherto concealed talent when simply decimating the opposition in the 1200 metres G Krishnappa Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Colonel Harty who has thus far run 14 times had won earlier in the season at a rating of 26. Now having moved up on the scales considerably and rated at 64, Colonel Harty produced the best effort of his life when he left the field standing in the final furlong to win the race pulling up from the late rallying Alpha. One was left wondering what this horse was doing all these days because he simply belongs to the highest class. Stablemate of Colonel Harty, Alexander Dumas was third. Malwa ran way below expectations.
Neil Darashah trained My Vision recorded the first win of his career from 11 outings when he simply outclassed the field in the 1600 metres Manasa Sarovara Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Sharat Kumar trained Dream Ahead who was waited with for 567 days for a touch came in for big support to end up as a firm favourite. In the event, Dream Ahead who was in a handy position, failed to accelerate and finished off the frame. My Vision who was angled out in the final furlong for a clear run by jockey Nazerul Alam accelerated tremendously to win in splendid fashion from Gazebo Talk and Mrs Thatcher.
The first race proved to be eventful with favourite Activated slipping during the race and perhaps impairing its performance. The 1200 metres Bijapur Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, saw jockey Prashanth Dhebe suffer a nasty fall on Ruler of the Nation approaching the final bend. The jockey was rushed to the hospital and he is reportedly being assessed for the extent of the injury. He was in a semi-conscious state and a detailed report is awaited, according to the officials. The race was won by rank outsider Ultimate Choice from Top News and Activated.
The jockeys were not happy with the state of affairs of the track especially approaching the bend. They were of the opinion that the track was loose and causing horses to miss their footing. This has been a problem that has not been addressed to with all the seriousness. The matter has often been brushed aside by the might of the Stewards, with fault-finding exercise restricted to blaming the horses concerned for the mishap. The track has not been the same after the use of tanbark was discontinued. The tanbark was not substituted with any other material and the track has just the cover of grass. If there is an imbalance in the watering, the track becomes loose and unsafe for the horses who tend to lose their footing which is very frequent if one were to look into the race day reports if they are honestly prepared.
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Ultimate Choice (Dharshan Antony B up) winner of the Bijapur Plate
Smithsonian (A Imran Khan up) winner of the Talkad Plate (Div-II)
Ascoval (Trevor Patel up) winner of the World Radio Day Plate
My Vision (Nazerul Alam up) winner of the Manasa Sarovara Plate
Colonel Harty (K Sai Kiran up) winner of the G. Krishnappa Memorial Trophy
Multifaceted (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Sprinters Trial Stakes (Gr.3)
Night Secret (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Nightingale Of India Plate
Allabouther (Antony Raj S up) winner of the Talkad Plate (Div-I)
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