bangalore races

It can only happen with the gold and brown colours. A horse can show great form and then run poorly and vice versa, a trend that happens with amazing regularity. Badge of Gold, who began the season as one of the top three-year olds at this centre, confirmed that impression with an emphatic win in the highest class only to falter thereafter in his next two races in term races. But brought back to a handicap race, Badge of Gold regained his winning form, edging out Rhapsidion Snow with ease in the 1400 metres Patrons Trophy which highlighted the penultimate day’s racing of Bangalore Summer Season on Thursday.
Despite his two poor runs, Badge of Gold was backed down spiritedly, with Rhapsidion Snow next in demand. Rhapsidion Snow hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the seven furlong trip, with Badge of Gold racing alongside. Rounding the final bend, Rhapsidion Snow did not appear to leave his opponent behind as Badge of Gold was only biding his time. The two were involved in a brief tussle and Rhapsidion Snow who held the initiative till the final furlong, drifted out and would have taken Badge of Gold along with her but jockey Mark Zahra did well to control the drift. Badge of Gold got stronger on the wide outside, went clear and won with something to spare. Hugo, who had won his last outing with a start to finish dash, struggled for pace in the early part and finished on to take the third spot.Sweeping Success was another horse from trainer Ganapathy’s yard to be seen in different mood. Sweeping Success who had gone down to Logans Run rather tamely in her last run, won the A.Raoof Sait Memorial Plate (Div I) which had some of the most promising three-year olds in the fray. More than five horses were running with a fair chance of landing the spoils. In The Zone who had got the better of Logans Run ended up as the firm favourite. River Island, Raider’s Sun, Sweeping Success and the rest were at lucrative odds. At the start, Fighting Star went on to Raider’s Sun, causing him to check the horse and lose ground as a result. Fighting Star set the pace with Angelique, Sweeping Success, In the Zone and Olivia Valiere racing in close attendance while Raider’s Sun had to be settled in almost the rear of the field.Rounding the final bend, Fighting Star shifted out to give In The Zone a clear run along the rails while Sweeping Success was held up along the rails but jockey Prakash was able pull his horse out in the nick of time and get her going. In the meanwhile, Raider’s Son who was left to cover plenty of ground on the front-runners, came up with a big run and challenged Sweeping Success very strongly but the winning post came too quickly for comfort and the filly held on to win by a neck. In the Zone ran to be third. Sweeping Success had run a good fourth in the Fillies Trial Stakes but in her earlier run, last as a firm favourite. In contrast, the lower division of the race was contested by poor lot of horses. Colonel Duff who went into the lead on turning for home, just about lasted out to win from South Star who came in for sustained support in the ring. When this race was held, the going had become soft due to heavy showers that preceded the two races before. My Friend Paul and Mother’s Pride, who were also fancied to run well, ran below expectations.Despite failing thrice as a favorite, Associator still opened as the first choice for the Mystic Memory Trophy but soon the odds drifted out so alarmingly that from an initial quote of 6/4, he ended up at tens and over. Marianella became the favourite by default while Enforcer was next in demand. In the race itself, Associator was not in serious business while Born beauty who went ahead of the front-running Marianella to the top of the straight, held on to win from Enforcer who finished second best for the sixth time! Jockey Imran Chisty on Associator did not get a good position, dropping back and then in the straight, continuously kept his horse behind horses, not giving room to gallop. He pulled the horse out only in the closing stages of the race and the horse finished on strongly suggesting what he was capable of if he was allowed his head. The Stewards have opened an enquiry into the running of the race but it remains to be seen if anything comes about if only because the jockeys who belong to the stable are a privileged lot. Born Beauty who had finished down the field in her last run, won the race, reversing the form and for this, trainer Loknath was fined Rs 10,000 for improved performance of the horse as compared the run of the filly only four days ago.