CORFE CASTLE BENEFITS FROM OTHERS FOLLY TO WIN THE SPRINTERS’ CUP, GR.1

Talk about the uncertainties of racing and the reality of it stared at you in the face the moment the top speed specialists took off in the Bangalore Turf Club Sprinters’ Cup, Gr.1 which was the first Group One race run on the weekend. Bangalore challenger and on-money favourite Multifacted was touted to be ready to make this a one horse race despite the next in demand and formidable challenger Iron Age from Western India set to make things difficult.

At the off, Multifacted was hampered a bit but was intent on matching strides with Iron Age who in customary style took the lead. Forced to keep with the pace set by these two fancied runners was Knotty Ash and Mauritania running abreast, fighting to keep with the pace were St Petersburg, Areca Legend and Intense Stylist. A couple of lengths behind were the trio of Coorg Regiment, Star Baron and last of all was Corfe Castle coming widest of all. At his stage almost 10 lengths separated the leader form the last horse. The front two runners ran as if they had to only contend with each other, tearing down the straight relentlessly. The distance between the leaders started diminishing and one could see them running out of steam. Gaining momentum, the L D Silva-trained Corfe Castle (Excellent Art-Miss Danehill) took the turn almost ten wide before straightening up for the challenge. As they approached the 300m marker the opposition came in for the kill realising that the top two sprinters in the country had run themselves off their feet, a folly their riders will never forget easily. Knotty Ash took the fastest way on the rails with Intense Stylist and Mauritania coming from the outside. But their efforts could not compare with the powerful challenge of Corfe Castle who thundered to the line and had 1¾ length to spare at the line to Mauritania who finished ½ a length in front of Intense Stylist. The favourite Multifaceted finished in sixth with the Mumbai challenger Iron Age last of ten. The last to first effort in the Group 1 race was completed in record time of 1:08.79s.

This full brother of the champion mare Ruffina has followed in her footsteps winning the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million in 2018 which he did in 1:21.94s and now the Sprinters’ Cup. The property of Mr Zavaray S Poonawalla & Mrs Simone Poonawalla Pandole, Mr M Ramakrishna Reddy & Mr Tinder S Ahluwalia has won eight of eighteen races including six Group races: two Group 1 races; one Group 2 and three Group 3 races with total career earnings of Rs 2,06, 63, 724.