The sixth day of the Bangalore Summer Meeting kicked off in style with The Strikingly delivering a commanding performance in The Prince Khartoum Plate, the opening event at Bangalore Turf Club (BTC). The five-year-old gelding, piloted confidently by K. Sai Kiran and trained by Joseph B Awale, outpaced the field to seize a well-deserved victory in the 1200-meter sprint for horses rated 20 to 45.
The race, exclusively for five-year-olds and above, offered a total prize purse of Rs. 5,10,000, with the winner earning Rs. 2,54,995. Breaking smartly from the gates, The Strikingly settled into a steady rhythm before accelerating through the final furlong to clinch the finish with authority.
Finishing second was Ebotse, guided by Antony Raj S. and trained by the accomplished Arjun Mangalorkar. Despite a determined chase, Ebotse could not match the final burst of the winner. Completing the trifecta was Mega Success, ridden by V. R. Jagadeesh and trained by S. Inayathulla, who stayed on well to secure third.
The victory marked a notable moment for trainer Joseph B Awale, whose patient conditioning of The Strikingly appears to be paying dividends early in the summer campaign. The veteran jockey Sai Kiran, too, showcased his tactical awareness, positioning his mount perfectly to capitalize when it mattered most.
The Bangalore Summer Meeting continues to draw enthusiastic crowds, and the day’s action is set to intensify with the running of The Endorsement Plate, scheduled for 2:30 PM. This 1600-meter race for three-year-old maidens offers a lucrative prize pool of Rs. 11,00,000 and promises a competitive lineup of emerging talent.
Stay tuned for more updates and results from BTC as the summer racing season picks up pace.
