And they’re off ! Horse racing resumes at BTF today

Irfan Ghatala-trained Salazaar fancy for Ashoka Chakra Cup

By Ikram Khan

Bengaluru: After three long weeks, winter racing is set to resume on Thursday. The rains which lashed the city this month had put a halt to the new season and now that the rains have paused relatively, and the sun is back, the railbirds are delighted with the prospect that the thunder of hooves at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) will provide a lyrical tale while the horses will start to parade their talent in their effort to corner glory at this premier centre.In the plum event, the Ashoka Chakra Cup on Thursday, the Irfan Ghatala -trained Salazaar to be piloted by John appeals most in a relatively small but yet a competitive field of five runners.

The Suleiman Attaollahi schooled Lagarde who is tuned to the minute with the event in view and point to prove from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard pose a definite threat to the versatile Salazaar. But taking into account that the Irfan ward is in good nick the top fancy is tipped to score from Lagarde in what on cards promises to be an intense struggle for supremacy.

The talented Christopher Wren from Neil Darashah’s yard, who performed below par in his last essay, competing in the Dabbe Falls Plate is well poised to make a winning comeback on the strength of his notable performances on the trial track and is recommended as the day’s best betting proposition.