WELL CONNECTED RELISHED THE RAIN SOAKED TRACK IN THE FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES, GR.1

Come rain or sunshine Well Connected has proved she is up to the task, winning her maiden race over 6f earlier in the season, before swooping past the field on a rain soaked track to win a Group I race on just her second outing. She cruised past the fancied runners, in the race that found them struggling to cope with the soft going.

The frequent thunderstorms did little to bring the temperature down, and for days dark clouds loomed threatening to explode. Only to be swept away, replaced with glorious sunsets. The rain chose the most appropriate moment to show its might coming down heavily about an hour prior to the running of the first Classic of the Bangalore.

Running against fancied runners, the unbeaten Anjeze, Hunt For Gold that had David Allan on board, especially flown in for the occasion, Missing You, the winner of the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million seemed a trifle difficult, but with all three finding it difficult on a track that did not appease them, the S Padmanabhan-trained Well Connected was brilliantly ridden by jockey Zervan to sweep past the field to win her first Group I by 1½ length from Thailand.

Anjeze, in her front running style led the field followed by Thailand and Princess Annabel with Well Connected (Arazan-Guest Connections) quickly into fourth. Missing You, Hunt For Gold and Cape Kidnapper followed with Cosmic Ray next and in the rear was Roll Call. As heads turned for home Anjeze still led the way, while Well Connected on the outside was being worked on by jockey Zervan to get her act going. Anjeze was still being held in check till Thailand and Well Connected made their challenge on her outside. Well Connected raced into the lead while Thailand who was squeezed for space between Anjeze and Well Connected had to come on the outside of the winner and succeeded in getting the better of Angeze by 1½ lengths. In fourth was Cosmic Ray. The two fancied runners Hunt For Gold and Missing You did not take the going well unable to live up to expectations. Timing of the race was 1.38.78s.

All eyes will be firmly on the Colts Championship Stakes run this weekend and only then will we be able to measure how the fillies will stand up against the colts in the Derby.