Prasanna Kumar trained Areca Legend prevailed by the skin of his teeth in the Gr 3 1200 metres Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the main event of Friday’s Bangalore races. Areca Legend just about held on to win by a whisker in a desperately close finish involving four horses.

Silver Ikon showed the way with Imran Chisty settling Areca Legend in a handy second position ahead of Dream Catcher, Diamond Rays, Lady Legend and Star Carnation. Inside the final 300 metres, Areca Legend shot ahead with Diamond Rays, Dream Catcher and Lady Legend joining the issue. In an absorbing finish, Areca Legend held off Lady Legend who showed a semblance of old form when finishing with a strong effort. Dream Catcher was another short head behind Lady Legend. Diamond Rays was a nose behind Dream catcher.

Padmanabhan trained Roman Senator scored an impressive win in the 1400 metres Red Baron Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50 despite running after a long break of 145 days. Though not subjected to extensive preparation, the progeny of Multidimensional showed a lot of class when devouring ground in the final furlong from way off the pace to record an emphatic win over Alexander Dumas who held off Cuban Pete for the runner-up berth. Schafenberg who led well into the straight weakened in the final furlong to go out of the reckoning. David Allan who recorded a quick double having guided Rorito to victory in the earlier race showed his driving prowess by bringing the fancied runner with a well-timed run from the rear of the field. Roman Senator should make a mark in the graded races on the strength of this win.

Another Padmanabhan trainee Rorito benefitted immensely from a quality ride by David Allan as the top jockey worked his way brilliantly along the spaces that obtained on the inside on straightening for the home to bring the horse into strong contention by the final furlong. Under the driving finish of David Allan, Rorito roared past the long-time leader Ozark to win with a measure of comfort. Favourite Mighty Red who was coming on the back of an impressive forward run last week picked up momentum when the cause had been lost and could only run on to take the third spot.

Newly licensed apprentice Ankit Yadav made a winning debut guiding the speedy Simone to victory in the day’s opener, the Ghataprabha Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category but confined to apprentice jockeys. Simone shot off into the lead from the wide outside draw and held the lead comfortably despite drifting out of a straight course in the final furlong. Fancied Premier Princess chased in vain and was relegated to the third position by Estella who was ridden by another rookie Arul who is talked about as one of the best of the newly licensed apprentices.

Pradeep Annaiah trained Aesir recorded an encore in the 1400 metres Hyderabad Silver Vase, a race for horses rated 75 and above, After Into The Spot led the field deep into the straight, Aesir came into contention in the final furlong and sped clear to win with a measure of comfort in the hands of jockey Darshan. Rafa ran on from way off the pace to take the second position ahead of Royal Sceptre who showed some flourish at the finish.

Darius Byramji trained Multifaceted trounced the opposition in the 1200 metres Chikkaballapur Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Zervan had the speedy Multifaceted take charge from the word go and the progeny of Multidimensional expanded the lead in the stretch to win by a widening margin of nine lengths over Depth Charge and Angelino. The rest of the runners finished way behind. Despite the presence of jockey Jagadeesh in the saddle, the bookmakers were not prepared to offer good odds on Mega Ikon who towered over the opposition on the basis of his performances thus far though his last run during the summer season in the pouring rain was an aberration. Mega Ikon was backed to the exclusion of the rest to win the lower division of the Chickballapur Plate. Jagadeesh had Mega Ikon lead all the way and the favourite skipped clear in the final furlong to win the race with ease from late rallying Aaron the Baron. Constantinople was third.

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Simone (Ankit Yadav up) winner of the Ghataprabha Plate

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Rorito (David Allan up) winner of the Manipal Plate

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Roman Senator (David Allan up) winner of the Red Baron Plate

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Mega Ikon (V R Jagadeesh up) winner of the Chikkaballapur Plate (Div-II)

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Areca Legend (Imran Chisty up) winner of the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy (Gr.3)

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Aeisir (Darshan R N up) winner of the Hyderabad Silver Vase

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Multifaceted (S Zervan up) winner of the Chikkaballapur Plate (Div-I)

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