Padmanabhan trained Chase The Sun retired to the Kunigal Stud Farm on a winning note in the 1400 metres Srikantadatta NarasimhaRaja Wadiyar Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of the concluding day`s Bangalore Summer races on Friday. Trainer Padmanabhan had a double with his other winner being hat-tricker Spanish Cannon while trainer Sharat Kumar brought off three well backed gambles through Oriental King, Joanee`s Beauty and Atlas Power.

With classic winners and classic placed horse in the fray, it was difficult to pick the winner of the race. However, Turf Striker who was coming back in distance and Supreme Regime were considered to be the ones with the best chance. Supreme Regime came in for unprecedented betting despite the fact that the stable has fired duds during the season. Turf Striker lost all his chances at the gate itself by losing considerable ground. Horse of the Season Ethophian led the field with Port Blair, Chase The Sun and Supreme Regime racing within striking range of the front runner. Inside the final furlong, Ethophian battled on resolutely even as Supreme Regime and Chase The Sun joined the issue. The last named showed the spark of old as she quickened well to take control of the proceedings inside of the winning post. Ethophian held off Supreme Regime and Port Blair by a whisker to clinch the second spot. Ethophian truly deserved the Horse of the Season title having won four times and placed on three other occasions. It was a remarkable performance by the five year old who moved from a handicap rating of 28 at the beginning of the season to end up at 101. Such performance surely brings credit to those associated with the horse.

	Chase The Sun (A Sandesh up) winner of the Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy, being led in by trainer S Padmanabhan

Spanish Cannon completed a hat-trick of wins while getting the better of front running Potomac in the final stride of the 2000 metres Pratap Stud Stakes, a race for horses rated 60 and above. By virtue of his two impressive wins, Spanish Cannon was the strong favourite to win ahead of Ace Bucephalus who had never translated ability into winning performance. In a slow run race, Cool Approach did the front running followed by Potomac, Spanish Cannon, Ace Bucephalus and the rest. Potomac took charge on turning for home and held the till lead the final moment of the race Spanish Cannon was nearly undone by the slow pace and he took a long time to pick up his wonted acceleration. The driving finish of jockey Sandesh enabled the faovurite to get the nod in an exciting finish. Ace Bucephalus finished a tame third without giving hope at any stage of the homestretch.

Sharat Kumar trained Atlas Power thrashed the opposition in the 1400 metres Badami Stakes (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65 in impressive fashion. It is inconceivable as to how the trainer prevented the horse from winning for about 589 days. From an achieved rating of 79, the horse came down to 53 when he was tried with success last time out. Now with the penalty of 9 points, the horse won in spectacular fashion. The victory of Atlas Power raises many questions. How did the Stipes not notice the horse being given so many runs? How did the horse escape their critical scrutiny? Such horses come and win without as much as a forward run or noteworthy track work. The handicapper of course is helpless because these professionals keep running their horses week after week and he is forced drop sometime or the other. The best solution perhaps is when these horses win after a long break; the handicapper should restore it at once to the mark from which it was brought down. Like for example, if the horse is put back at 79 after the last win, there is a possibility such practices may come down. Not long ago, the same treatment was meted out to horses coming from Chennai which finally resulted in these horses ceasing to come for the season anymore. The handicapper should treat these runaway winners the way he treats a three year old. Horses should be analyzed from the perspective of ability and not considerations of age. The handicapper should give more consideration to those who try rather than those who give runs endlessly and force his hands to drop them.

One another belonging to similar category was Spanish Fly who had let down as a favourite a few times in the past. Now completely ignored in the betting ring because of soul mate Fioritta being the firm favourite, Spanish Fly sprouted a pair of wings to go storming clear along the rails to win the 1200 metres Gomos stakes (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, in runaway fashion. Fioritta picked up steam when the cause had been lost and finished third while Youre Rocking who did the front running took the second slot. The upper division of the race too saw Joanees Beauty who had been running listlessly run like a better class horse and win start to finish, leaving the rest stranded. Anfield was a suggestive second.

Sharat Kumar`s Oriental King had not shown any indication of sudden change in fortunes but like so many horses during the season, the four year old swamped the opposition in the 1600 metres Chamarajanagar Stakes, a race for lowest rated horses with lesser fancied Abba and Glamour Boy filling up the next two slots.

Pradeep Annaiah trained Topspot won the 1200 metres RWITC Cup, a race for three year olds, like a good type of a youngster. Topspot went sailing clear on straightening for home and won in great style from favourite Ontime who was flat footed. She`s Stunning was third a long way back.
Narayana Gowda`s Prom Queen who had won against the run of expectations last time out, was this time backed with confidence to win the 1400 metres Badami Stakes, (Div II), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Prom Queen gave no anxious moments to her supports by having the race in control form the word `go` and winning by a widening margin of four lengths over Jaanvi