Referent who had recently changed stables from Senior Ganapathy to Arvind Ganapathy bounced back to win the Gr 3 Juvenile Sprinters` Million, a terms race for three year olds, the feature event of Sunday`s Bangalore races. Referent`s below par performance last time out ensured that the horse which should have run as a favourite ran at long odds. Apart from the fact that Referent was bred to sprint, what tilted the scales in his favour was the seven kgs that he was getting from the runner up. Referent added yet another graded race success for Hazara Stud Farm.

Hyderabad challenger Vijays Joy was the best performed horse in the fray. He was set to concede chunks of weight to his contemporaries which was bound to affect his chances. But his last effort against seasoned company was such that he was backed with conviction and was installed the favourite. There was also support for Pesi Shroff trained Myrtle Wood to bounce back after two efforts which were considered not in keeping with the kind of expectations that the connections had on her. On the other hand, Referent who had won the season`s opener in smashing manner, had blotted her copybook with a poor show against Goldberg was allowed to run at liberal odds. But as it has happened with many horses from the gold and brown brigade, Referent was seen in true colour and managed to thwart the spirited bid of Vijays Joy close home.

Suraj Narredu had Vijays Joy dictating the kind of pace which was to prove his undoing in the end. Vijays Joy went at a scorching pace with only Referent and Knighthood in close proximity while the rest were struggling for speed. Vijays Joy had a good break going into the final two furlongs with Referent putting up a stiff fight. Inside the final 100 metres, Vijays Joy began to tire out and Referent was able to edge out the long time leader in the closing stages of the race to win by a shade over a length. Bold Appeal picked up tiring horses while finishing third ahead of late finishing Myrtlewood. The winner clocked a fast time of one minute 11.56 seconds which was fractionally slower than the course record.

The race track this year has been a night mare because of the underfoot conditions which vary from furlong to furlong. We always had soft cushion for the summer season because of the rains while only during March we would have penetrometer reading being as low as the one that one saw on Sunday. There is so much of red mud flying. In their zeal to make drastic changes in one year, surely the authorities have compromised the track. The professionals feel that the track is shifty and the response from horses from run to run vary so much that is difficult to given an explanation for the poor run or otherwise of their ward. Only experienced horses are able to handle the going. The final bend is very shifty where horses seem to lose foothold. The first five metres of the track is unusable because of the attempt to grow fresh grass which has resulted in the track being bald at that place. As a result, wide false rails have to be used which ensures that the narrow track becomes narrower. The final bend is sharp and this ensures that only horses which are well positioned have a better chance of winning. If one were to analyze Sunday`s race, majority of the races were won by horses which went on a start to finish mission. With the kick back and sharp bends and lose track, form has been the victim. The authorities on the other hand believe that the track is in ship shape condition and any criticism is viewed as being deliberate. In such circumstances, things can only get worse because the authorities don`t recognize that a problem exists.

Faisal Hassan trained That`s My Darling won the 1400 metres Smt Bhagirathi Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65, in the Stewards room. Delhi challenger Starlet received unprecedented support to end up as a firm favourite. Advocate General went on a fast clip chased by Artic Attraction while Starlet and That`s My Darling were in a striking position. That`s My Darling elected to make a ground saving run while Starlet moved up with raking strides on the wide outside. Inside the final furlong, Starlet closed in violently which caused That`s My Darling who was getting into full rhythm to be checked and pulled out violently to prevent it from clipping the favourite. That`s My Darling was pulled wide and came home with a rush to finish less than a length of the winner. The resultant objection for interference was upheld by the Stewards. Advocate General stayed on to finish third. The lower division of the race saw Supreme Dominator upset hot favourite Dazzling Bay. Jockey Sandesh was not at his aggressive best. Supreme Dominator came from behind and managed to get the better of Dazzling Bay. The run of Dazzling Bay needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

There was inspired support for Nimfea but the filly was not up to producing a winning effort in the Col Rajkumar C Desraj Urs Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Topspot whose chances had been spoilt in the past due to the horse bleeding during race, this time bled those who didn`t put faith in his abilities as he swept the field with a blistering start to finish mission, winning by more than five lengths in a fast time of one minute 11.89 seconds. Son of Stars found the front runner unrelenting and had to settle for the second slot of Assiduous. Jersey Shore who came in for strong support, graced at the wrong end of the field before gaining places in the straight to end up fourth.

Royal Defence looked a cinch in the 1200 metres Supervite Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest class. The Dominic trainee had been disqualified for breach of medication rules after recording a runaway win. Because of the disqualification, the four year old had gone back to his old rating which meant that he was a winner running at no penalty. Royal Defence took over the running from the wide outside draw soon after the start and was not troubled by any of the runners while finishing well clear of Helios and Cheddar Face. Jayem`s Pride provided apprentice jockey Hindu Singh with his first winner in Bangalore while taking the lower division of the race in a tight finish from Red Angel, Shaft and I`ll Have One More.

Topaz won the 1100 metres Rare Gem Plate, a race for three year olds, at nourishing odds. Favourite Tokyo Bloom was not up to justifying the favouritism. Priority ran well towards the finish to be a suggestive second ahead of Akha Teej who hasn`t made any improvement since the noteworthy effort in her first run of the season. Atlantis was putting in good effort when the race was beyond his reach.

Leo D`Silva trained Whispering Pines who had won against the run of expectations last time out, duly won the 1200 metres Honeyday Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45 quite capably from fast finishing Beyo9nd Intensity and Hapticstar.

Inayathullah trained Admiral Messi just about stayed put in front to win the 1400 metres Pendagon Trophy, a race for maiden three year olds. Adolf who is bred to tackle much more than the seven furlong trip that he was travesring, was tailed off last. He covered acres of ground in the straight to come with an arm`s length of toppling the favo9urite. Adolf can surely strike is given more ground to cover especially since he has this habit of not raising a gallop soon after jump out.