The fourth day of the Bangalore Summer Meeting 2025 witnessed a nail-biting finish in the fifth race of the card, the V.T. Velu Memorial Trophy, as Odysseus edged out his rivals to capture victory in the 1600-meter handicap event. The race, scheduled at 3:30 pm, featured horses rated 40 to 65 and offered a total prize purse of ₹6,30,000.
Trained by the seasoned P. Shroff and guided confidently by top jockey Neeraj Rawal, Odysseus showcased tremendous grit in the final furlong to win in a photo-finish. The gelding’s well-timed burst in the straight left spectators at the Bangalore Turf Club on the edge of their seats, as the outcome remained uncertain until the final stride. The victory marks another significant milestone in the career of both the trainer and the jockey, reinforcing their winning combination.
Finishing a close second was Rock Bank, trained by Prasanna Kumar and ridden by Akshay Kumar, who put up a valiant effort in the closing stages but narrowly missed the top prize. Rock Bank had shown plenty of promise throughout the race and looked poised to clinch it before being overhauled at the wire.
Rounding off the top three was Storm Shadow, also from the stables of Prasanna Kumar, with Sah Farid Ansari in the saddle. The horse maintained a strong pace throughout and stayed competitive in a tightly contested field, ensuring a respectable finish for the connections.
As the excitement from the V.T. Velu Memorial Trophy settles, attention now shifts to the feature race of the day, the H.H. Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup, a prestigious 1400-meter contest slated for 4:00 pm. The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the Bangalore Summer Meeting.
