A wave of unexpected results at Bangalore on Sunday caught punters off guard, undoing the gains many made on Saturday. With just two favourites obliging across the card, followers of form were left reeling, while bookmakers raked in the profits. Amidst this chaos, trainer Aravind Ganapathy stood tall, saddling a stunning treble—each at lucrative (10/1) odds. The young handler, whose form has seen its share of ups and downs, celebrated a memorable day with three knockout victories that shocked most racegoers.
Moonstar Sparks the Streak
Ganapathy’s first success came in the Beautiful Babe Plate over seven furlongs. Moonstar, piloted by the seasoned Akshay Kumar, settled behind early leader Resplendence before producing a strong run down the straight. Responding readily to Akshay’s urgings, Moonstar surged ahead to win convincingly. The well-fancied Rosario from Pesi Shroff’s stable followed the winner in second, while Xanthe and Sassy Sarah completed the frame. Rosario, sent out as the odds-on favourite, couldn’t match the winner’s final kick, disappointing a sea of backers.
Flash Returns in Style
The next highlight came in the lower division of the Pendragon Plate, where Flash, returning from a six-month break, made a striking comeback. Under Rayan Ahmed, the sprinter shot to the front early and dictated terms throughout. Legendary Impact, second favourite in the betting, chased in vain, while the fancied Basilica was unable to make an impression and settled for third. Flash’s commanding front-running win demonstrated the value of fitness and form beyond the betting ring.
Spirit Dancer Completes Ganapathy’s Hat-trick
Ganapathy’s third winner of the afternoon came through Spirit Dancer in the Ramkirpal Plate. The speedy contender jumped smartly and went straight to the front. Under pressure in the final furlong, the gelding held off a late bid from outsider Lady Invictus. Favourite Oxytocin, backed heavily at 45/100, was a major letdown. The six-year-old mare never threatened and finished a dismal third, stunning the large number of punters who had wagered confidently on her.
Meropi Impresses in Feature Event
The classy Meropi from trainer Aashay Doctor’s yard justified strong support in the prestigious HH Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup. Having finished second to Time And Tide in the Sprinters’ Cup earlier this March, she was the pick of the field. Partnered by Trevor Patel, she raced prominently and delivered a fluent victory. Prana, trained by Prasanna, closed in strongly towards the end but left it too late. Knotty Charmer, who had led early, stayed on for third after surrendering the lead 300 metres from home.
Fortis Outguns Thessalian
The upper division of the Pendragon Plate saw Fortis, from Sulaiman Attaollahi’s stables, notch up a second straight success. Piloted by Shreyas Singh, Fortis engaged in a head-to-head duel with Thessalian and gained the upper hand near the distance post to win comfortably. Thessalian, who had scored smartly at Guindy, faded rapidly once headed and failed to even make the frame. Sienna Princess, backed strongly for a place, ran a solid second, while True Punch, finishing third, hinted at better things to come in upcoming runs.
Shroff’s Odysseus Clinches a Tight Finish
The VT Velu Memorial Trophy produced a thrilling climax, with Odysseus from Pesi Shroff’s yard landing the spoils. Neeraj Rawal timed his finish perfectly, guiding the 5/1 shot to a narrow win over Rock Bank and Storm Shadow in a three-way finish. Favourite Eagle Day, from the same stable as the winner and ridden by Prakash, travelled prominently before fading out of contention in the final furlong, disappointing his backers.
Night Raider Pulls Off Major Upset
A stunning late burst by Night Raider caught everyone off guard in a fast-run 1100-metre sprint. Trained by Irfan Ghatala and ridden by Arvind Kumar, the 15/1 shot unleashed a powerful gallop close home to beat Konkrah and the heavily backed favourite Quebec. At one stage, Night Raider appeared out of it, but a determined ride saw him surge past in the nick of time. Contessina, another fancied runner from Satish Narredu’s yard, failed to fire, adding to the joy of bookmakers.
Joyful Spirit Starts the Day in Style
The opener, Moonlight Romance Plate, saw Joyful Spirit justify the strong market move, being backed down from 9/4 to 13/10. Ridden by Sai Kiran, the filly travelled sweetly and won with authority. Sacred Creator, who went unconsidered in the market, followed in second, while Chinky Pinky took third. Early favourite Sea Diamond, trained by Umar Shariff, was backed early but drifted in the market and eventually finished out of contention.
📝 Punters’ Notebook – Horses to Follow
- Moonstar – Strong finish; can repeat in similar class.
- Flash – Impressive return; will improve further with run benefit.
- Spirit Dancer – Effective front-runner; suited to sprints.
- Prana – Eye-catching late run; follow in longer trips.
- True Punch – Finished well; needs tracking next time out.
- Storm Shadow – Consistent placer; knocking on the door.
- Sienna Princess – Honest trier; deserves another chance.
- Joyful Spirit – Effortless win; likely to deliver again soon.
