Three-year-old Ace Blood (Tejano-Ace Venture) displayed a remarkable turn of foot in the final furlong to get the better of a more experienced Mad About You in The Karnataka Racehorse Owners' Association Trophy on Friday at Bangalore. It was another feather in the cap of leading trainer Dhariwal, who has saddled many juveniles this season to win on debut. This reasonably big-made filly looked well in the paddock. She was set to take on three rivals in this well-endowed event. Since most races meant for maiden three-year-olds this season have seen packed fields, it was strange to see a small group of four accepting to face the starter. Three of them were competing after having run earlier in the season, while the eventual winner was testing race grass for the first time in her career. Relative non-performers like Starista and Free Styler faced a mature Mad About You, who had already placed second in both her starts. This Darius-trainee had emerged from a traffic problem to finish behind the talented Tiberius on New Year's day. The last-named was an obvious choice of the punters, and she was accordingly installed at the top of the betting boards. A steady flow of money in the direction of Ace Blood and Free Styler saw the price against the favourite expanding at race time.

Suraj Narredu eased Mad About You into an early lead ahead of Ace Blood, Starista and Free Styler. He slowed down the pace in front, which allowed Chris Hayes and Ace Blood to loom on his haunches. The other two were struggling to keep in touch with the leaders, and it was apparent that they were out of depth in this company. Only a length separated the two leaders as they entered the straight. Suraj was the first to make his move near the two-furlong marker, and Mad About You skipped clear of Ace Blood at this stage. However, Chris was still biding his time. He allowed Ace Blood to get into rhythm before touching her with his whip. She bounded forward and began to chip away at the lead. Ace Blood was seen to be travelling the better of the two, and it was only a matter of time before she would head the leader. This happened near the distance post. Ace Blood came with big strides to put her neck in front, and it was a pleasure to see both the jockeys in full motion. For the third time in a row, Mad About You had to remain content with the runner-up berth. Being a daughter of Tejano, Ace Blood will certainly relish a longer trip.

Apart from this loss in the day's feature, Suraj dominated the rest of the afternoon. The leading jockey added another four points to his tally, and skipped clear of his colleagues in the seasonal championships. He assisted his father Satish Narredu in scoring a popular double through Showers Of Luck and Amiable Lady, in addition to his victories astride Prithviraj's money-back favourite Sirono and Irfan Ghatala's Fiorucci. Both Showers Of Luck and Amiable Lady were even-money choices today. Showers Of Luck (Diffident-Brooklet) faced a modest bunch of horses in the lowest class, with Kalyan being the only one with some form. The fact that the latter burst his blood vessels and finished off the frame, made the winner's job much easier. He was held back in third spot till the bend and shown daylight only in the straight. Showers Of Luck lengthened his strides to post an authoritative win over Jewel Lady and Son Of The Son. The winner loves it longer, and seems to be in good form to pick up another race over a longer trip. The speedy Amiable Lady (Sir Bordeaux-Northern Flower) had advertised her fitness by running second to Valahak. She was running against horses in her own age group today, and looked poised to register an overdue victory. She ran on expected lines in this race. Amiable Lady led from the start, quickened nicely in the straight and won by a widening margin from Your Destiny and Enduring Speed.

The hugely talented Sirono (Emerald Cat-Sahara Street) was making her debut in the highest class. Running in The Daria Daulat Cup, a sprint handicap for horses rated 80 and above, she attracted one-sided support to start as the shortest priced runner this winter. She was attempting to win for the fourth time in succession, and most racegoers expected her to score a bloodless victory. However that was not to be, as she had to work hard to make it happen. Prithviraj's Sirono was receiving a lot of weight from her eight opponents. Suraj decided to keep her in third spot behind Successor and Classic Charge, and asked her for an effort in the straight. She took time to find her rhythm, and got stronger in the final furlong to assert her superiority. The handicapper has apparently caught-up with this filly as her victory wasn't all that impressive. She received a couple of kilos from Successor and Classic Charge and beat them by an equal number of lengths. Sirono will need to improve further to score in "Graded" company.

The champion jockey reserved his best for the last. Suraj's tactical ride astride Irfan's Fiorucci (Itaquere Power-Fiorenzza) came in for a lot of acclaim. The small-made filly was fancied behind Neil Darashah's Flame Back, and the two of them were supported to the exclusion of their rivals. A huge factor in favour of Fiorucci was the seven kilos that she was receiving from her adversary. Suraj and Fiorucci led at the start, before the pair of them settled down to take the box seat behind Not Not Seven and Flame Back. The three of them started to pull away from the rest of the runners as they took the rising ground and entered the straight. PS Chouhan drove Not Not Seven into a marginal lead ahead of the Paul Mulrennan-ridden Flame Back, and the pair of them were a couple of lengths clear of Fiorucci as they entered the final furlong. It was at this stage that Suraj made his charge. He pulled Fiorucci towards the centre of the track, gave her a couple of back-handers and pushed her with all his might. The game filly responded bravely, came alongside the leaders and won in a three-way finish from Flame Back and Not Not Seven. Suraj was elated with his efforts, and was happy to wave his whip while acknowledging the cheers from the stands.

Trainer Neil Darashah's lean run this season came to an end when he saddled Hatsuhana and Mighty Heart to win back-to-back events this afternoon. After a lengthy absence from a race track, Hatsuhana (Burden Of Proof-Sabre Dance) had reappeared earlier this month to finish a creditable second. The connections expected her to improve on that effort, and backed her with confidence. The five-year-old ran a settled race and came with a powerful run to lead into the straight. She got a freight when the top-weighted Lowndes Square appeared on the wide outside, and managed to put his head in front. Jockey Mulrennan refused to give up and managed to rouse the mare. Hatsuhana rallied along the rails, and the two of them were locked together at the wire. The digital camera confirmed that Hatsuhana had won by the proverbial whisker.

M Mark drove Mighty Heart (Juniper-Sound Insight) to an unexpected victory in a seven-furlong handicap for horses in Class II. It was an open event with Captain's Lover, What A Friend and Lock And Load heading the betting charts. Lock And Load, Mighty Heart and Bucephalas were at the helm of affairs from the very beginning, and the three of them dominated the finish. Mighty Heart led inside the final furlong, and began responding to Mark's whip. The six-year-old increased his lead thereafter, and won easily from the other two. Lock And Load managed to retain the second spot ahead of Bucephalas and a late-finishing What A Friend.

The other professional to complete a double for the day was Dhariwal. After the victories of Hatsuhana and Ace Blood, it was the turn of another Kunigal-bred to score today. The sparingly raced Saddle Queen (Brave Act-Queen’s Rule) displayed a lot of resolution while making her debut this season. Vinod Shinde settled her comfortably behind Misty Moonlight and The Senator till the bend, and made his move only in the final furlong. Saddle Queen gained momentum and was soon at the helm of affairs. She won untroubled from a hard-ridden The Senator and a late-finishing Lester. The last-named showed promise by finishing powerfully from the rear, and confirmed that he has it in him to win a similar event before the end of this season. Saddle Queen will improve from her present mark, and the mare may not wait too long before re-entering the winners’ enclosure.