A PUNISHING SUNDAY FOR FORM FOLLOWERS AT BANGALORE

Punters endured a bruising and disheartening afternoon at the Bangalore Turf Club on Sunday 25th May 2025, as only two public choices – Joyful Spirit and Meropi – managed to oblige, while the rest of the fancied contenders faltered in a manner that left seasoned racegoers and form analysts utterly baffled.

The day's proceedings began on a hopeful note, but the script soon veered off course. Four strongly fancied runners – Quebec, Basilica, Oxytocin, and Thessalian – all turned in below-par performances, with Quebec and Thessalian proving particularly disappointing. Both runners had impressed in their morning workouts and were expected to run prominent races, especially after dictating terms till the final turn. However, they surprisingly dropped back without offering any real resistance, which drew concern and criticism from the knowledgeable eye.

Basilica, to her credit, had a genuine excuse. She encountered interference midway through the race, which compromised her rhythm and possibly cost her the winning opportunity. Her loss, though disappointing to connections and followers, may be forgiven given the circumstances.

Meropi managed to scrape through the day’s feature as Prana gathered steam late and falling short by a couple of strides in the end.

Rosario, another much-touted contender, failed to justify his support. But his defeat may not be all that alarming, considering it was his first appearance on the Bangalore track. The experience should serve as a stepping stone for better performances in the near future.

However, it was the failure of Oxytocin – the day’s hot favourite – that truly left punters reeling. Backed down heavily in the markets, Oxytocin failed to even make the frame. The six year old mare appeared to struggle throughout the journey, unable to assert herself or unleash a meaningful challenge when it mattered most. Her lackluster run, devoid of spark, was among the most shocking outcomes of the day. Which demands a thorough interrogation

In one of the more intriguing contests of the day, Odysseus – a known fighter who prefers winning by slender margins – delivered a dogged performance to notch up his third career win. His more fancied stable companion Eagle Day, who had seen solid support in the betting ring with odds tumbling from 5/1 to 3/1, found himself trapped in traffic and couldn’t secure a clear passage when it mattered most. The Prasanna Kumar-trained pair  Rock Bank and Storm Shadow did their best but could not topple Odysseus, trained by Pesi Shroff, proved too resolute in the end.

If one professional truly stood tall on this chaotic day, it was Aravind Ganapathy, who saddled a magnificent treble that salvaged the card for a section of shrewd followers. His first strike came through Moon Star, who travelled much better than Rosario and stormed home to an impressive victory. Then came Flash, who lived up to her name with a blistering turn of foot that left her rivals toiling in her wake. Spirit Dancer completed the hat-trick for Ganapathy with a commanding start-to-finish display, showcasing both tactical speed and stamina.

In conclusion, the Sunday races at Bangalore turned out to be a stern test of temperament and discipline for punters. With only two favourites obliging and a string of puzzling performances from the well-fancied brigade, the day served as a brutal reminder of the sport’s uncertainties. However, for the observant few who spotted Ganapathy’s stable surge or kept faith in consistent performers like Odysseus, there were still moments of satisfaction in an otherwise turbulent afternoon.