Trainer Dhariwal sported an extremely elated look on Saturday afternoon, after Siachen (Burden Of Proof-Indian Mission) demolished the opposition in The HDIL Bangalore 1000 Guineas (Grade II). The winner of The Fillies Trial Stakes during Bangalore Summer, Siachen made a perfect re-appearance on a race track after a longish gap of over five months. During the interim, she overcame a serious problem of sore shins that she had developed after her previous start. Although she had been tested in a mock race alongside Aristos and Carla this season, there were doubts about her complete recovery.

She dispelled all of them by running what could perhaps be called the best race of her career. Siachen displayed a cool temperament and an amazing turn of foot by running away from her nine opponents. Even the most ardent amongst her numerous admirers were happily surprised by this performance. A large portion of the credit for this success goes to the team of doctors at the Kunigal Stud Farm, who were responsible for nursing her back to peak fitness. Her astute trainer sharpened her nicely and the filly did the rest to give Chris Hayes a smooth ride to victory.

Ten of the best fillies stationed at this centre accepted to face the starter. String Along, Couleur Rouge and Balmoral Castle had finished one-two-three in the Mysore 1000 Guineas. The presence of the three of them alongside the well-performed pair of One Life To Love and Eagle Claws ensured a fairly representative line-up. By virtue of having won five times, including a Classic, String Along was the highest rated amongst this lot. However, Siachen occupied the pride of place as the course favourite. She was steadily supported at 11/10 to bag this first Classic of the Winter Season.

The fact that she had beaten Moonlight Romance, the eventual winner of The Kingfisher Derby, made her an obvious choice for those looking to back a winner. Her latest track trials showed that she was back in form, and one look at her in the paddock was enough to supplement that opinion. The field took off to a level start, but for Eagle Claws, who ducked-in and lost a fair bit of ground at the start. Kirtling, Yas Marina and Balmoral Castle took them along at a brisk pace as they made their way through the backstretch and reached the rising ground near the half-way marker.

String Along was nicely tucked-in on the rails while Siachen was content to canter along as they made their way towards the home turn. One Life To Love and Spark Of Desire were seen gracing the rear. Yas Marina led into the straight but her dominance was short-lived. She was soon challenged by String Along on her inside, while the others led by Siachen were looming towards the centre of the track. Chris Hayes asked Siachen to quicken at this stage and the response was immediate.

The free-striding favourite swept past the leaders and lengthened her strides to romp home in splendid fashion. One Life to Love came flying from the rear, but ran out of gas in the final furlong. Spark Of Desire finished purposefully to take a close third spot behind String Along. For the records, Nessie got the better of One Life To Love to fill the last berth on the frame. A delighted Chris Hayes waved jubilantly as he returned to a standing ovation from a knowledgeable crowd present at the race course. Siachen had shown that she was the best at this centre. The exceptionally talented filly had displayed both speed and stamina. Her main forte is the ability to quicken.

This is bound to help in the tougher tests that await her in the next few months. It is learnt that Siachen will next run in The Bangalore Oaks before leaving for Mahalakshmi, where she will take on the best in The Indian Derby. Trainer Dhariwal has a lot of experience in shaping the destiny of top-class performers. Siachen looks set to achieve greater heights during the Winter months, and her connections will hope that she remains in good health during this period. The afternoon was dominated by the colours of Dr Vijay Mallya, as they won three races apart from losing a couple of them in close finishes.

Trainer Dhariwal too had a treble for the day. The day started with the running of the second "baby" race of the season. Padmanabhan's Celebrity was a hot order in this race. The Burden Of Proof -Littleover filly looked the part in the paddock and appeared like a winner till the final stages of this race. She set the pace from the start and kicked-on in the straight. However, Celebrity started sending distress signals near the distance post, which allowed another of Dr Mallya's horses to come charging from behind. In the hands of Vinod Shinde, the Dhariwal-trained Cortina (Brave Act-Corsicana) came with fluent strides and nailed Celebrity on wire.

Their third winner came in the form of Crown Empress. This well-bred filly was still a maiden, but had run on board in all her starts. The three-year-old had been accordingly handicapped in Class III. Chris Hayes adopted start-to-finish tactics astride this favourite and led into the straight. She came under pressure at that stage and lost steam. The brilliant jockey managed to extricate that bit extra from her and helped her reach the winning post. In the process, he marginally hampered the progress of second-placed Mark Of Genious. Heavily gambled Sun Dawn came flying from an impossible position to figure alongside the leaders. Mark Of Genious's jockey Chouhan raised the expected objection, but the same was overruled by the Stewards. Dhariwal-trained Oban won The Ashok Chakra Cup, the added attraction in a card of eight events framed for the day.

This small-made filly showed immense resolution while galloping from the rear of the pack, and putting it across her more experienced opponents. She made a successful debut in Class I. Irfan Ghatala's Criminal Lawyer was an odds-on choice in this race. His close second behind Immense over a mile was an exceptional effort. In the hands of Suraj Narredu, Criminal Lawyer was expected to be too strong for his eight rivals. While Cielo Rey and Topkapi set a strong gallop in front, it was very apparent that the favourite wasn't winning today. He was finding it difficult to keep in touch with the leaders. Despite Suraj's urgings, Criminal Lawyer refused to come off the rails and was content to plod along in fifth place. It was clear that it would need someone from behind to come and nail the leader.

Both Oban and Spearhead made their moves at the same juncture. Under the stronger handling< of Sylvester Desouza, Oban made full use of her light impost and got the better of the Ryan Marshall ridden Spearhead. Cielo Rey wasn't disgraced while ending a close third. The Brazilian jockey continued his good work by riding another double today. His win astride the Attaolahi-trained Delacroix was more exciting. This unraced three-year-old was running over seven furlongs in open company. The manner in which he was supported by those in the know was indicative of his capabilities.

Desouza took him to the front and lasted out to hold the strong challenge of Hard To Pin Down. The latter ran green in the straight and it may be a good idea to try him with blinkers in his next start. Suraj tried his best to get him on an even keel, but the big-made horse veered out at a crucial stage of the race. The final verdict was only a fraction of a length. Hard To Pin Down definitely has the ability to win a similar race in< the near future. Suraj won a latter event, when he rode a winner for his father. Accurate was an odds- on favourite in a seven-furlong race for horses in Class IV.

The three-year-old had run an unextended third in a maidens event at the beginning of this season. He had been ridden by an apprentice who wasn't allowed to claim an allowance in that race. Accurate looked nice in the parade ring and ran accordingly. He led from the start and wasn't unduly pressed while containing the challenge from a hard-ridden pair of Emerald and Sun Gold. Accurate may repeat on promotion. The only other race in the day's card was won by Irfan Ghatala's Sun Control. This filly was attempting to win her third consecutive start. After back-to-back victories during Summer, Sun Control had been rested.

She had been pushed up the scales and was meeting some seasoned campaigners. These included the strongly fancied Strategic Change (Ex Foreign Exchange) and Love Conquers All. The former had changed stables and had now come under the charge of Padmanabhan. His winning effort in a mock race had caught the attention of the punters. On the other hand, Love Conquers All had run well in a terms race on the opening day of the Winter Season. While strategic Change was an even-money choice, one could back love Conquers All at 7/2. You could literally write your own card on the others who were available at 10's and over. Supremacy led from the start and faded out in the straight to end third. Love Conquers All trailed the field till the bend before making his move on the wide outside.

All he could do was to finish a fair second. Strategic Change ran like a dud to finish off the frame. He never raised a gallop and jockey David Allan struggled throughout the race to keep him going. In the hands of B Paswan, Sun Control accelerated from her third spot and cantered away with this race. She is sure to improve from her present mark and can be supported on promotion.