A blistering burst of speed from CREDENCE lit up the fourth race of the afternoon at Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) on May 24th, as the gelding stormed home to take top honors in the Col. Desraj Urs Trophy. The six-furlong sprint lived up to expectations, with Credence proving too swift for his rivals in a contest that was decided in the final 100 meters.
Trained by Shazaan Shah and expertly ridden by Ramswarup, Credence showed early intent, keeping a strong position through the bend before kicking away from the field in the final stretch. Clocking a sharp 1:12.71 for the 1200-meter trip, the gelding’s turn of foot was unmatched on the day, adding another prestigious win to the Shah yard.
Finishing second was the well-backed ART COLLECTOR, a promising contender trained by Aman Altaf Hussain. Guided by young jockey Mustakim Alam, Art Collector mounted a serious challenge in the straight but lacked the final acceleration to match Credence, crossing the wire in 1:13.06 — a performance that still bodes well for future engagements.
The third spot went to NEVER GIVE IN, who, true to his name, stayed on gamely under Antony Raj S.. Trained by Arjun Mangalorkar, the gelding posted a time of 1:13.68, holding off late challengers and showcasing grit in what was a tightly packed finish for minor honours.
With the Col. Desraj Urs Trophy now in the books, the action swiftly moves on to the eagerly awaited War Hammer Million — a feature race originally scheduled for day two of the season, now set to ignite further excitement on this extended Bangalore racing card.
