Racing at Bangalore these days resembles a wedding where half the guests haven’t arrived yet, the caterer is nervous, and the orchestra is playing to empty chairs. The regular summer season, usually bursting with all-India challengers and enough intrigue to keep punters sweating into their race books, has instead opened like a theatre rehearsal. The outstation horses apparently received delayed boarding passes because the first two weeks were reserved for local runners, leaving the Turf Club desperately trying to stitch together cards of even six races.

Punters, meanwhile, are discovering new spiritual dimensions of suffering. Multiple runners from the same stable are cluttering the fields, making winner-picking less a matter of judgment and more a lucky dip.

Saturday’s feature, the 1400 metres BTC Charitable Trust Trophy for horses rated 80 and above, had the betting ring behaving like a stock market. Global Influence attracted sustained support while Ricardo, despite a mighty second last time out, was treated with suspicion because seven furlongs apparently sounded as unsuitable as asking a sprinter to participate in a marathon.

A few wise souls kept an eye on Star Glory, a horse with the delightful habit of appearing at fancy odds and ruining elaborate betting calculations with the enthusiasm of a tax inspector arriving at a wedding feast.

Yash Narredu allowed Star Glory to bowl along in front while Global Influence stalked in second ahead of Ricardo, Don Carlos and Queen Of Kings. Ricardo, expected by some to launch a stirring challenge, instead moved like a man searching for his misplaced spectacles. By the time the field entered the straight, he was going backwards with alarming efficiency. Star Glory simply kept galloping merrily in front and won comfortably, leaving punters who ignored him studying the sky for signs from the racing gods. Global Influence held second while Don Carlos finished a neck away in third after arriving fashionably late.

The 1200 metres Star Contender Plate for maiden three-year-olds saw last time’s failed favourite Bruvestnik being granted another opportunity for redemption. Racing punters, blessed with eternal optimism and selective memory, returned cautiously. The betting suggested an open affair with several runners quoted at similar odds, which is racing’s polite way of saying nobody really knew what would happen.

Bruvestnik attempted to make every post a winning one but inside the final furlong Satish Narredu-trained Shining Ways arrived sweeping down the wide outside. Regal Beauty flew late along the rails while Bruvestnik folded tamely into third. Shining Ways looked a promising youngster while Regal Beauty appears ready to make amends shortly.

Earlier in the day, the father-son combination of Satish and Suraj Narredu struck with Supreme Success in the 1400 metres Ich Dien Plate for the lowest category horses, otherwise known as the racing equivalent of a survival reality show. Royal Jewel was loudly proclaimed the “hot horse” of the race, which in racing circles often serves as an early warning signal.

Supreme Success tracked the pace before quickening smartly at the final bend and establishing a decisive lead. Royal Jewel chased gamely but ran out of fuel near home and barely managed to save second from the late-finishing Vafadar. The hot horse, unfortunately, turned lukewarm precisely when required to boil over.

Trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi’s favourites have lately developed a troublesome relationship with the winning post, repeatedly treating it as a scenic landmark rather than a destination. Solara, however, broke the curse in the 1200 metres Manitou Plate for horses rated 20 to 45. Under Akshay Kumar, Solara led throughout and justified strong favouritism in decisive fashion. Darrington warmed up too late and only managed to edge past Hushed for third.

Apprentice jockey Sachin rode a neat race on the well-backed Baashah in the 1400 metres Quasar Plate (Div I). Noble Cause led into the straight but Baashah, tracking smoothly behind, quickened stylishly to take charge. Favourite Exceed gave chase but discovered that Baashah had found an extra gear not mentioned in the race card. Noble Cause stayed on for third.

The lower division produced another classic Bangalore betting tragedy. Purushotham-trained Acanta upset heavily-backed Art Of Romance, a horse still searching for its first win after thirteen attempts but backed as though victory was a right. Punters supported Art Of Romance to the exclusion of practically everything.

Acanta moved early in the straight, swept past Star Comet and Real Happiness, and pinched a decisive break. Art Of Romance finally produced a late run on the wide outside, but by then the damage was done. The favourite closed with all the urgency of a government file moving from one department to another and fell short by half a length. Star Comet stayed on for third while devastated punters quietly rehearsed the immortal Bangalore phrase: “Swalpa adjust madi.”