The Bangalore Summer Season is set to start on Saturday, May 18 but the concern thus far had not been about any strike threat which used to be par for the start of the season but absence of good rain. However, as if to oblige the fervent prayers of racing enthusiasts for a prompt start to the season, it rained heavily on Thursday which should help the race track considerably. The track was hard and the ill-effect of the summer heat was showing on the horses as well. The good news is that the weatherman has forecast more rains over the next one week which should not only help in cooling the temperature significantly but also help the race track which is crying for water and looks parched at the moment.

The summer season is short and competitive. Unlike the long winding winter season which affords horses time to come into their own, the two and half month summer exercise demands that horses need to be on the boil to make an impact. The classics as usual are the showpiece of the season as the form in these races gets reflected in the classics held over the country during the monsoon and winter seasons. Indian Derby winner Super Storm, Invitation Cup winner Tintinnabulation, Guineas winners Vijays Pride and Machiavellianism showed out during this season last year. The same goes for all the horses which have excelled in the subsequent classics. The season also has several graded races for four year olds and over which are well endowed.
Poonawalla Multi-Million winner Murioi heads the ratings for three year olds at 70 though it is quite possible that others may supersede him during this season. The son of Dubawi is a good looking horse and has loads of talent. Being the best horse of the Ganapathy`s stable, he is sure to get all the attention and as a result, he has to cope with the attendant pressures as well. Neil Darashah trained Miracle Memories beat a good lot of horses in the Juvenile Million on the last day of the winter season in the manner of a top class horse. His progress is also of great interest. Miracle Memories has been working well and should be seen in action in the early part of the programme itself.

File photo of Starry Eyes (David Allan up) winner of the Forbes Breeders` Juvenile Fillies` Championship (Gr.3), being led in by trainer C D Katrak & Dr.Y K Hamied

Starry Eyes, who finished runner up to Murioi, subsequently went on to win the Million race over a mile. The style of winning suggested that this daughter of new stallion sensation from Usha Stud Farm, Multidimensional is cut out for longer trips and she is an out and out a Derby horse. The filly was among the first of the horses to arrive for the season and is presently stabled with Rashid Byramji. Cooji Katrak is the trainer of the horse. Starry Eyes appears an exceptional type and is a hot horse for the classics.

Pesi Shroff has brought quite a few youngsters who are thought about highly by the champion trainer from Mumbai. Marinsky who won a host of races before finishing third in the Poonawalla Million, Amelia who made a sensational debut over five furlongs, Archie who narrowly failed to collar Mint Approach despite running after a longish break owning a knee chip operation, are among the lot who evince more than ordinary interest. Pesi also has some well performed older horses like Ambrosia, Storm Tracker et al who should keep the trainer busy.

File photo of Mariinsky (S Zervan up) winner of the Gool S Poonawalla Million (Gr.3)

Trainer Irfan Ghatala did not win the number of races that he was expected to win during the winter season as his horses performed below par running mostly as strongly fancied horses. His horses are showing out and are in busy preparation for an early strike. He has the horses to win his share of races though the lack of will to win often comes in the way of effective realisation of the potential.

Trainer Vittal Deshmukh has had a dream year and could win the title Trainer of the Year if there was one such award. Not the type that Turf Authorities of India gives every year which has become a farce. His older horses Machiavellianism and Tintinnabulation are here in Bangalore. They have logged miles in race runs and preparatory workouts. Though the fatigue factor could affect them, they will still be force to reckon with in graded races which are in plenty during the season. Deshmukh has quite a few youngsters like the unbeaten Decathlon, Kallu Mama, Fastest Finger, and Machine Gun et al which are rated highly and are expected to keep the trainer in limelight.

Trainer Laxman Singh has brought a few horses which look impressive though most of them haven`t had an outing. He has a half-sister to In The Spotlight in training. The expectation of a good performance from the trainer is high and one has to see how well he is able to exploit the situation with good horses at his command. Zoheb Shaikh has come for the summer season for the first time from Hyderabad and this youngster has had a good season and appears blessed with good lot of three year olds. Veteran trainer Leo D`Silva and Shezad Abbas have some good quality horses in them. The Hyderabad brigade is hoping to maintain the impact that they made on local racing this year as well. ``The Hyderabad three-year olds should do well during the season,`` said Leo D`Silva exuding confidence.

Arjun Mangalorkar had a quiet winter season as he has given time for his horses to come up. He has a few good juveniles ready to make a mark. S Attaollahi is another trainer who is expected to strike early as his horses are showing out though as the season progresses, his strike rate is bound to come down. The unbeaten daughter of Multidimensional, Striking appears to be the pick of the lot.

File photo of Speed Six (Trevor Patel up) winner of the D P Sharma Memorial Sprinters Trial Stakes, being led in by trainer S Padmanabhan

Trainer Padmanabhan has quite a few three year olds which have not raced. He is bound to have a good season as these horses are showing out in workouts. Apart from the juveniles, he has good lot of older horses like Speed Six, Equine Lover, Chase The Sun who should do well in the graded races over middle distance.

Every week`s racing features a graded race and there will be plenty of good racing action during the season. Racing is bound to be competitive and only those who are ready will strike during the season. The season will also see quite a few trainers busily run their horses to bring them down in handicap mark for the Mysore regular season. Horses from such trainers are to be avoided.

With the Mumbai contingent and Hyderabad brigade upping the ante, the summer season could well be considered as the best racing season in the country.