Renowned for its competitive domestic racing programme and structured annual calendar, Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) will stage an eight-race fixture on Sunday, 24 May, featuring a balanced mixture of maiden contests, handicap races and feature events. The afternoon programme will begin at 2:00 PM and will conclude at 5:30 PM, with races scheduled across distances ranging from 1100m to 1600m and prize money distributed through multiple categories across the card.
The programme will bring together developing three-year-old runners and experienced campaigners, while several established jockeys will also take multiple rides through the afternoon. The feature attraction of the meeting will arrive in the form of the H.H. Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup.
The opening contest of the afternoon will be Race 1: The Beautiful Babe Plate (Maiden) over 1400m at 2:00 PM carrying total prize money of Rs.11,00,000. Restricted to three-year-old horses, the race will provide an opportunity for younger runners to establish themselves early in their careers. CONQUISTADOR will be partnered by Darshan R.N, IBADATH will have Suraj Narredu in the saddle and KNIGHTSBRIDGE will be ridden by A. Sandesh, while STUD POKER, BELLUCCI, SHUTTERFLY and VALOR QUEEN will complete the lineup.
The action will continue with Race 2: The Ministerial Plate (Maiden) at 2:30 PM over 1100m for a purse of Rs.11,00,000. The sprint contest will place emphasis on speed and early positioning among lightly raced horses. ARMINIIUS will be ridden by A. Sandesh, ATMAN will have Mukesh Kumar (HYD) aboard and NIMBUS SPEED will partner Suraj Narredu. EVERYNNE, FIRST CHOICE, GARZIAN, PORTIEUX and SAI PRINCESS will also take their places in the field.
Attention will then move towards Race 3: The Pendragon Plate Division II (Class IV) over 1200m at 3:00 PM, carrying prize money of Rs.5,10,000. ZEPHYRINE will be ridden by Pavan, BLIND FAITH will have A S Peter aboard and LG’S STAR will be partnered by V.R. Jagadeesh. PARADOXICAL, ANNABELLE, THE MAKE SURE, ALPHA LEGEND and HOLD YOUR BREATH will also line up in the sprint contest.
The middle stage of the programme will feature Race 4: The Alekona Plate (Class IV) at 3:30 PM over 1600m with a total stake of Rs.5,10,000. As the longest race of the afternoon, the event will place greater importance on stamina and finishing strength. STAR OF INDIA will be ridden by Aleemuddin, GLORIOUS STRIDES will have Suraj Narredu aboard and ABSOLUTE FORCE will partner Arul J H, while SHAHENSHAAH, SUNDANCE KID, STALINGRAD, AZALEA, SANTORIUS and GALLON OF MY LOVE will complete the field.
The competitive standard will rise further in Race 5: The V.T. Velu Memorial Trophy (Class III) at 4:00 PM over 1200m carrying Rs.6,30,000 in prize money. BEZAWADA SULTAN will be partnered by S. Sachin, AQUAMATIC will have Salman Khan aboard and BATTLE LASS will be ridden by Laxman Singh. SMALL DREAMS, WIN WIN, FORTIS, LA MCQUEEN and ETERNAL GLORY will complete the field.
The principal attraction of the afternoon will arrive with Race 6: The H.H. Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup at 4:30 PM over 1400m carrying total prize money of Rs.12,50,000. The feature contest will bring together experienced runners in one of the strongest fields on the programme. DUKE OF TUSCANY will be partnered by Yash Narredu, MANDARINO will have Arvind Kumar N aboard and KNOTTY CHARMER will be ridden by Antony Raj S. ZUCCARO, SIEGE COURAGEOUS, CROWN DRIVE, GALAHAD and KINGS GAMBIT will also join the lineup.
The penultimate event will be Race 7: The Commonwealth Day Plate (Class IV) at 5:00 PM over 1200m with a total stake of Rs.5,10,000. SOUTHERN FORCE will be ridden by Akshay Kumar, MYSTIKOS will have P. Trevor aboard and SASSY will be partnered by P. Kiran Rai. The remaining runners will include EBOTSE, SUPER KIND, GANDOLFINI, SPIRIT DANCER, BREEZE BLUSTER, CHISOX, STAR COMET, PERIDOT and RIGHTLY NOBLE.
The concluding event of the meeting will be Race 8: The Pendragon Plate Division I (Class IV) at 5:30 PM over 1200m carrying Rs.5,10,000 in prize money. GLORIOUSNESS will be ridden by Suraj Narredu, JADE MOUNTAIN will have P. Trevor aboard and OUT INTO SPOTLIGHT will be partnered by Antony Raj S, while ZAYANA, IMPERADOR, MNEMOSYNE, SCENT OF RAIN and XAILY will complete the closing field.
Several leading riders including Suraj Narredu, P. Trevor and A. Sandesh will have multiple scheduled rides across the programme, while the blend of maiden races, sprint contests and middle-distance events will provide variety throughout the afternoon fixture.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz