Sriram Komandur trained Life Awaits won the 1200 metres Saptharishi Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races, in an absorbing finish. Life Awaits gained momentum in nick of time to edge out top weighted Goldberg in the waning yards of the race and then reached the safety of the winning post before the late-finishing Saladin could inflict any damage.

The race had a strong competitive flavour and suggested the possibility of a tight finish. After an eye-catching third to Shivalik Star in his last outing, it was only to be expected that Life Awaits would be right there at the finish. Goldberg had made his only appearance during the season a winning one. Goldberg was scheduled to run at Hyderabad last month but had been withdrawn due to an episode of fever. The horse showed out in the paddock parade and there was considerable support for him to oblige despite the back-breaking weight that he was assigned to carry. The wide outside draw was an additional cause for worry. On the peculiar Bangalore track, it is a big disadvantage to been drawn on the wide outside as the horses have to be sharp from the gates and have to burn a lot of energy to take a forward position.

Jockey S John exploited the explosive speed of the progeny of West Virginia from the gates to shoot ahead within the first furlong. Goldberg stayed put there and enjoyed a healthy break all through the race. Life Awaits who was handily placed was a danger looming large while the others did not shape like potential threats. Saladin who has been raced sparingly failed to get a prominent position early on in the race. Goldberg shaped to win but closer home, looked vulnerable as Life Awaits began to make an aggressive effort even as the weight began to have a bearing on the front-runner. Life Awaits got the better of Goldberg in the shadow of the post and managed to spare half a length at the finish. David Allan on Saladin managed to weave his wave through a difficult position and the progeny of Arazan flew home. His dramatic effort saw three horses go past the post locked together. While Life Awaits won by half a length, Goldberg managed to retain the second position by a short neck from Saladin. The finish indicated that there was little to separate the first three finishers and the one who got his act right, emerged victorious in the end.

Summerhill was widely believed to be in with a serious chance to win the 1400 metres Devarayanadurga Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 45 to 65. However, Summerhill was not positioned well and had an impossible leeway to bridge in the homestretch. The progeny of Burden of Proof thus let down huge expectations. Last start winner Topaz had the racing form but the fact that apprentice jockey Darshan was in the saddle did not enthuse too many punters to have a bet on his chances. In the event, Topaz who got a fine ride by the apprentice, bounced clear in the final furlong from a handy position and held off the strong challenge of Splendid Splasher who was back on the track after a longish absence. A short neck separated El Fenix and Thomas who occupied the next two slots on the frame. The lower division of the race saw Racing Fire who had performed poorly, win the race at nourishing odds. Racing Fire hit the front from the start and refused to budge from there as he spurted clear in the final furlong to win with a measure of comfort. Hector could have posed a serious threat but jockey Jagadeesh who elected to come along the rails, angled out the horse sharply, throwing the horse off its stride. Though Hector finished with a rush, the effort was too late to make a dent on the verdict. Zafran also closed strongly to take the third position. Favourite War Envoy was not seen to be in with a chance and finished off the frame.

Imtiaz Khan trained Carducci was the biggest upset of the day, claiming the 1200 metres Alchemy Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35, in a tight finish from Breaking Away and Scorching. Jockey Srinath on favourite Real Generous hit the ground as the horses broke off from the gates. Carducci held off Breaking Away who came menacingly at the finish but falling short narrowly. Carducci returned a dividend of Rs 517 on a tenner!

Gregory Sandhu trained Erdemir had suffered serious interference last time out and despite the hiccup, the four-year-old gelding had finished second to Lightning Attack. Erdemir looked a cut above the rest in the 1400 metres Star Windsor Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Erdemir had no problem in storming ahead at the top of the straight and staying there without coming under pressure from the rest of the runners who seemed to be lacking in class to stretch the favourite. For the record, Mission Blue nosed out Calico King to get the runner-up berth.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Setaglow who looked more ready than the rest in the 1200 metres Bugs Bunny Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds, duly obliged with a fighting effort which enabled the daughter of Multidimensional to make a winning debut at the expense of Malana. David Allan on Malana led the field from the start as the daughter of first season stallion Western Aristocrat showed great speed. Malana had a useful lead going into the final furlong but Setaglow who moved swiftly from behind managed to overhaul the front-runner inside the final 100 metres to record an impressive win. The rest of the runners were no match to the battling duo. Star Wind was third seven and a half lengths adrift of Malana.

Suraj Narredu drove out his brother Rajesh Narredu trained Super Smart to get the better of Tinderella to win the 1600 metres Mandya Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Fiorenzo was third. Favourite Tanoura who had won against the run of expectations last time out at fancy odds failed to live up expectations of a repeat win as he was not positioned too well and did not improve to go out of contention well before the race came on the boil.

In a race meant for apprentice jockeys, Sharat Kumar trained Chicago who had three unproductive runs during the season, had been sharpened sufficiently to attract significant betting from smart people to win the 1400 metres Mudabidri Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class. Jockey M Naveen who is now fairly experienced in terms of the number of rides that he has had, settled Chicago in a handy second position as Campfire led from the start. Chicago easily overtook the front-runner in the homestretch and stretched away for a facile win over Campfire Girl who staved off the Fioroloco to retain the second spot.