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Malesh Narredu trained debutant Sea Quest produced a sensational performance swamping the opposition in the Gr 3 1200 metres Juvenile Sprinters' Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature of Saturday's races in a record timing of one minute 10.7 seconds. Sea Quest became the first horse in one's memory to have won the life's first run in a record time. The performance is put in perspective when one compares the timing clocked by the record holder Speed Six who had clocked one minute 11.27 seconds at the peak of his career.
The accomplished runner in the fray Athenaeus who had many good runs to his credit was backed to the exclusion of the rest with Knotty Ash being the second favourite. Though there was buzz that Malesh has a few good horses in his yard but were handicapped because outstation horses were not allowed to run in maidens races and their entry was restricted to only sweepstakes races, Sea Quest ran at big odds.
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Jockey Yash Narredu took Sea Quest on a start to finish mission and the progeny of Uncle Mo led the field from the start with the speedy customers Athenaeus and Knotty Ash unable to hit the front. Sea Quest travelled well within himself and broke clear at the top of the straight to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Knotty Ash. Athenaeus sent distress signals approaching the final bend and eventually finished more than 65 lengths behind the winner. Athenaeus reportedly burst his blood vessels. Southern Legacy was third while another Mumbai challenger Anatevka was nowhere to be seen. Uncle Mo, the sire of Sea Quest, was a winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Gr.1, Champagne Stakes-Gr.1, Kelso H'cap-Gr.2 etc. He won from six furlongs to 8.5 furlongs. This makes Sea Quest an exciting classic prospect. Uncle Mo was also a record-breaking freshman sire in 2015.
Britto trained Castaway who had the benefit of a good forward run, showed improvement when tackling the opposition effectively in the 1100 metres Red Divine Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jockey Trevor Patel rode a tactical race on the winner, waiting with the horse till turning for home and taking the gap that materialized along the rails. Castaway got the better of No Opinion inside the final 300 metres and sped for home. Debutant Whizzo made his bd on the wide outside but found the progeny of Win Legend too good for comfort and had to settle for the runner-up berth. No Opinion stayed on to take the third position. Sun Power who was also well supported in the betting ring along with Castaway, stayed in touch till the final bend but failed to produce anything extra and faded out of the reckoning well before the race came to the boil.
A poor lot of horses were in the fray for the 1800 metres Azhar Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. My Valentine who had a rating of one was made the favourite. The best horse in the fray was Internal Affair who had won two races in his career but was a known EPIH bleeder. There was no buzz on the horse in the ring but Internal Affair put his best foot forward when he led from the start and skipped away to win from My Valentine with a measure of comfort at long odds. Internal Affair was winning after a wait of 498 days whereas the runner-up had touched the board on five occasions without a win to her credit. Kings Kid ran on to take the third position.
Jockey Imran Khan drove out Fresh Start to a thrilling win over late-finishing Buscadero in the 1600 metres J B Mallaradhya Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Last start winner Free Port was marginally ahead after straightening for home but could not sustain her lead as Fresh Start pounced on her and surged ahead with more than a furlong left in the race. Buscadero made a strong bid down the middle but found the post come frustratingly early as Fresh Start escaped to victory. Golden Success who showed flourish down the final furlong, could not produce that bit extra and had to settle for the third place.
Trainer Hilton Sequeira had a well-backed winner through Breezeofthesouth in the 1200 metres Karnataka Police Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above, Breezeofthesouth had mostly been campaigned over a slightly longer trip and as such, the shorter straight of Bangalore was expected to pose hurdles in the six-furlong affair. However, the well-prepared progeny of Dancing Forever was handled very well by Srinath who brought the horse in the middle of the course, finding spaces. Breezeofthesouth picked up speed in the final furlong, overhauled Mickey Mouse and held off the late rally of Super Success and favourite Big Heart. The last named took time to warm up and this made a big difference to the outcome of the race.
A big gamble was brought off on Samar Singh trained Turf Tactics in the1600 metres Young Rajput Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Turf Tactics had run a brilliant mock race in the early part of the season and looked to be in good shape. However, with jockey Raja Rao declared to ride, one was not sure what to expect as the jockey himself may not remember when he last won a race. Find was once again made the favourite to make amends after having lost the race at the gate itself on the previous occasion. Find once again was lethargic from the gates. Admiral One showed out in front and had the lead going into the final furlong. Turf Tactics did not get a clear run in the middle of the field and the jockey dropped Turf Tactics to the rear with 350 metres left in the race and made his bid on the wide outside. Turf Tactics flew home as he covered the leeway with giant strides and was striding clear in the final moments of the race. Turf Tactics hadn't won for more than 1000 days. Admiral One stayed on to finish second ahead of Brunesco.
Samar Singh had a double for the day as Subah Ka Tara who had finished five lengths Diamond Rays at level weights in a maidens' race, gave weight and a thrashing to his opponent. After Soviet Union expended his energy leading in front, Subah Ka Tara shot ahead at the top of the straight. Diamond Rays was unable to make an impression as the front-runner skipped clear to win in great style. War Hero was third.
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Internal Affair (Kiran Rai P up) winner of the Azhar Plate
Castaway (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Red Divine Plate
Fresh Start (A Imran Khan up) winner of the J.B.Mallaradhaya Memorial Trophy
Sea Quest (Yash Narredu up) winner of the Juvenile Sprinters' Million (Gr.3)
Breezeofthesouth (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Karnataka Police Cup
Turf Tactics (K Raja Rao up) winner of the Young Rajput Plate
Subah Ka Tara (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Camineto Plate
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