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There is no difference between perception and reality as far as racing is concerned. The belief is that it is a mug`s game. The authority exists only on paper. The system has been so corrupted that it is beyond repair unless there is a total overhaul in mindset. For starters, the Stipes and Stewards should dump the age-old alibis pertaining to in and out running of horses. The norms should be replaced by justifiable improvement in performances failing which the sport which is already in low esteem in the public eye will suffer further damage. The professionals in the sport haven`t helped matters and the authorities, acting on various pulls and pressures and their own compulsions and questionable practices, have been taking the sport towards destruction and ruin.
Be that as it may, the feature event of the day itself was an example of questionable in and out running of horses. The race in question, the 1400 metres Dr C Vittal Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 50, saw Bellator trounce the opposition in taking style. On the last occasion, Bellator was the firm favourite but failed to produce a true run, struggled throughout to pick up the pace and eventually finished a poor fourth about five lengths adrift of the winner. Now the horse showed a transformation in performance, albeit over a furlong more, showing intent and aggression from the word `go` and had the race sewn up a long way from home. On the last occasion, the horse didn`t respond to aggressive use of the whip but this time readily showed spark and acceleration.
Trevor had Bellator in about the third position as Allabouther set the pace. Bellator raced with intent and the moment the jockey asked for an effort from the four-year-old gelding, the progeny of Western Aristocrat picked up speed and left the rest stranded and won in an impressive timing of one minute 37.42 seconds. Favourite Ansaldo ran on late to edge out Livisilla to pinch the second slot. Bellator belongs to the stable of trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi whose feat with Lagarde running down the field in one ordinary race and then winning three classic races in a row is still being talked about in awe for unexplainable capabilities.
Why do favourites fail? You may ask the horses themselves might well be the answer from the professionals. If you ask why they fail as short-priced horses, the answer could well be that they are not responsible for the same. As such, racing under such unexplainable circumstances is a disaster for those believing that there is at least some method in the madness.
Trainer Sharat Kumar`s horses don`t run to any set pattern and those hoping to encash on his horses only will end up having bounced cheques! And the trainer`s horses win mostly against the run of expectations. Often, he has got results from horses procured from other trainers. Flaming Orange had run 25 lengths behind in her previous outing albeit 119 days ago over a sprint, with the horse reportedly having bled during the race when under Darius Byramji. Flaming Orange showed no signs of distress as she nailed Papparazi close to home to win as the biggest upset of the day, the 1400 metres Katil Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Favourite Arlette as usual was a latecomer and could only finish third. One can`t put the blame on Sharat Kumar but how such horses can run poorly and show remarkable improvement is something that one struggles to find an answer. The lower division of the race was claimed by the lesser fancied The Sovereign Orb from the stables of trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi. The progeny of Excellent Art simply thrashed the opposition with a start to finish mission. Favourite In A Breeze barely managed to save second place from Golden Memory.
Pradeep Annaiah trained Anakin who had flopped miserably earlier in the season as a strong favourite, proved overwhelmingly superior to the opposition in the 1200 metres Shivanasamudra Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. In the hands of improving apprentice jockey J H Arul, Anakin led from the start and skipped clear in the final furlong to win the race with ease from Tiger Returns and Areca Angel at nourishing odds. The lower division of the race went the way of Aravind Ganapathy trained Pastiche who justified the strong support in betting with a comprehensive six-length win over Arrogance and Raw Gold. Pastiche looked a winner from the top of the straight itself.
Prasanna Kumar trained Obsidian made an impressive debut, justifying the short price, thrashing the field with a start to finish victory in the 1200 metres Topmost Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jockey Sandesh had Obsidian in front from the word `go` and the progeny of Excellent Art put daylight between himself the rest of the backward lot of horses. For the record, Flying Safe was second ahead of Eternal Blaze.
Lesser fancied Osiris from the stables of Sharat Kumar prevailed in the 1200 metres Taj Mahal Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Osiris was another acquired horse for the trainer from some other stable. Osiris held off a host of other horses to win the race from Musterion and favourite Sea of Cortez. Pradeep Annaiah trained Aceros had it easy in the lower division of the race-winning at the expense of Candlelightqueen and Schafenberg.
Samar Singh trained Florencia brought off an upset win in the day`s opener, the 1200 metres Yadgir Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Florencia who hadn`t won for 1021 days, managed to put her head in front at the all-important end, snatching the race from Neva. Florencia hadn`t finished 10 lengths of a winner in her last few outings. Glorious Days was third.
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Florencia (H M Akshay up) winner of the Yadgir Plate
Obsidian (A Sandesh up) winner of the Topmost Plate
The Sovereign Orb (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Katil Plate (Div-II)
Pastiche (Darshan R N up) winner of the Shivanasamudra Plate (Div-II)
Flaming Orange (P Sai Kumar up) winner of the Katil Plate (Div-I)
Aceros (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Taj Mahal Plate (Div-II)
Bellator (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Dr.C.Vittal Memorial Trophy
Osiris (Naveen M up) winner of the Taj Mahal Plate (Div-I)
Anakin (Arul J H up) winner of the Shivanasamudra Plate (Div-I)
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