Essaying an early move even before the top of the relatively short Bangalore straight, In the Spotlight (Alnasr Alwasheek–Radiate) became the fiftieth winner of the Grade I Indian Turf Invitation Cup, sponsored this year by AKK Entertainment, here on Sunday afternoon.
In more or less a repeat of the McDowell Signature Indian Derby run at Mahalakshmi four weeks earlier, the chestnut filly simply ran away from her rivals in the closing stages, giving rider Martin Dwyer his second — and trainer S. Padmanabhan his fourth — victory in the richly-endowed event.
For sporting owner Capt. Jamshed Appoo, this was his first ever success in the country's premier invitational race. Runner-up at Mumbai, Smashing was not disgraced in finishing in the same spot here, followed by Southern Bay and the late-finishing Toroloco.
With no specialist pacemaker in the field, Southern Bay made the initial running, just ahead of the Indian Derby winner, who started at odds-on. Following them was Smashing with the rest positioned further back.
Dwyer brought In The Spotlight smoothly into contention fully 700m out, and even by then it was clear that Southern Bay would not be adorning the winner's sash. Smashing briefly challenged the leader, but the public choice would not be denied.
In a pulsating finish, In The Spotlight easily held on by two and a half lengths from Smashing.
The winner is a product of the Pune-based Poonawalla Group, whose runners have been “cleaning up” this season. The time of 2:32.10 was somewhat slower than expected.
Earlier, Cardinal (Placerville-Haunting Beauty), sent out by Pesi Shroff, gained a bloodless verdict in the Grade I Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup.
The colt's victory was spotted a long way from home and in the capable hands of B. Prakash, he sauntered clear from Alma Mater and Sprint Star. Like last year's winner of this race, Cardinal sports the silks of Vijay Shirke.
