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Satish Narredu trained Tutankhamun made amends in the Chief Minister's Cup, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday's Bangalore races. Tutankhamun had given a disastrous performance in his last effort and one was not sure whether the underfoot conditions or the lack of preparedness which affected his performance on that day. For those who believed that run was an aberration and put faith in his undoubted abilities were rewarded as Tutankhamun held off the late surge of Captain Courage to win the race at nourishing odds. Tutankhamun clocked a fast time of one minute 10.8 seconds for the six-furlong trip. For the record, favourite Lincoln who has made it a habit of being the second best, flopped this time miserably packing up when the race picked up steam.
Lincoln's claim to fame was finishing second best behind Castlebridge and Ruffina in his last two efforts which saw him being made the favourite. Lincoln was well placed to have a say at the finish though he was short on winning experience in a graded race company. Jockey Sandesh who is going through a rough weather, had Lincoln lead the way but the progeny of Excelebration began to face the heat in the final furlong as he was challenged by a host of horses. Suraj Narredu who had a good day with a treble brought Tutankhamun with a ground-saving effort along the rails and shot through the gap between the pace-setter and Siobhan who was shaping to cause an upset. Tutankhamun was not to be denied his glory as he broke clear and had enough cushion by the time Zervan could bring Captain Courage the badly into the fray. The game performer Captain Courage closed with a big effort only to find the winning post come a wee bit early. Siobhan was third ahead of the prolific runner Smile Stone.
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Teodoro looked to have a great chance of winning the 1200 metres Rare Gem Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds, as the trainee of Irfan Ghatala had the benefit of a good forward effort besides taking on a week opposition who was more inclined to give up even before the race. Teodoro was quoted at miserly odds and the favourite, in the hands of Suraj had no problem in bolting clear in the final furlong to win from Zhu Zhu Zest. Songkran was third.
Star Tracker has always let down the weight of expectation and once again, the five-year-old gelding was not up to delivering the goods in the 1600 metres D M Shivaswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. After running prominently till the final bend, Star Tracker failed to run to expectations as he packed up before the race came to a boil. Suraj Narredu brought Super Smart with a powerful effort from way off the pace and the fancied runner bounced ahead of a long time front-runner Silver Chieftain and managed to reach the safety of the post. I've Got Clout showed intent but had to be satisfied with the second spot ahead of Zephir who closed with a good effort.
Prasanna Kumar trained Huemac who was making a belated debut as a four-year-old, trounced the opposition in the 1200 metres Bhishma Plate, a race for horses rated 25 to 35. The good-looking four-year-old had been operated for a wind problem but appeared to be a cut above the rest on class. Jockey Anthony Raj had not positioned the favourite well but Huemac covered places along the rails with giant strides and stormed clear to win in great fashion. Huemac should repeat if the wind problem does not flare up. Smile of Courage was faraway second ahead of As Good As It Gets.
Another Prasanna Kumar trainee Auric Force was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the 1200 metres Adler Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 despite the presence of B Harish in the saddle. The jockey rarely wins a race. Auric Force blasted the opposition, going clear in the final furlong to win by a big margin over Flicka who in turn was more than five lengths ahead of Glorious Days.
Prithviraj trained Incitatus won the 1200 metres Malenahalli Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Cashmere shaped to win the race as the five-year-old mare had a useful lead going to the final furlong. However, Incitatus managed to overhaul the front-runner in the closing moments of the race to oblige big expectations. Aqua Blessing too closed with a rush but could do no better than finish third. Neil Devaney trained Gumption proved too good in the lower division of the race, winning start to finish by more than five lengths. Rocket Punch was second ahead of Shivalik Boy who held off Santa Fe to save place money.
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Gumption (Koushik up) winner of the Malenahalli Plate (Div-II)
Teodoro (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Rare Gem Trophy
Huemac (Antony Raj S up) winner of the Bhishma Plate
Tutankhamun (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Chief Minister'S Cup (Gr.3)
Super Smart (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the D.M.Shivaswamy Memorial Cup
Auric Force (Harish B up) winner of the Adler Plate
Incitatus (Md Akram up) winner of the Malenahalli Plate (Div-I)
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