Trainer Sharat Kumar's perseverance with six-year-old Atlantus (Juniper – Admiration) paid rich dividends, when the game galloper stormed home to a thrilling victory in The Dharmaprakasha LS Venkaji Rao Memorial Cup at the Bangalore races on Saturday. In a small group of seven, he came from the tail end of a closely packed field and won near the winning post. After making heavy weather of winning a maiden race rather late in his career, it was the fourth time that Atlantus was winning in top-class company. For a modestly bred horse, this was a praiseworthy performance. The presence of Shotgunn and Red Renegade saw most of the money flowing in the direction of these two contenders. Arjun Mangalorkar's Shotgunn had won a similar race during the early part of the winter season, and this had enthused the trainer to take him to Mumbai. After a couple of listless performances, Shotgunn returned back to his parent centre and was given a much needed break. He was running over his favourite trip today. On the other hand, the sparingly raced Red Renegade had been working rather well, and his camp was confident about his chances in the day's feature. The two of them started as joint favourites, while Tanzanite and Atlantus had stray support in the betting rings.

Kingdomofdreams set the early pace and showed the way to Red Renegade, Tanzanite and Shotgunn, while the others were strung out in single file as the seven runners made their way towards the final turn. Jockey Christopher decided to bide his time at the back, and held Atlantus on a tight leash as they straightened for home. A few things happened at this stage. Shotgunn faltered under his heavy impost and started dropping through the pack. Red Renegade shot his bolt and retired from the fray. Tanzanite came alongside Kingdomofdreams and seemed to have the best chance at that stage. However, it was Atlantus who appeared menacingly on the wide outside. He devoured ground and began to pick up a bunch of tired horses. His momentum carried him towards the winning post. With those around him beginning to tire, it was Shotgunn who rallied from behind and came within striking distance of Atlantus. In a four-way finish, Atlantus landed the prize ahead of Shotgunn, Tanzanite and Silken Thomas.

The rest of the afternoon belonged to the talented pair of Noel Callow and Srinath. The two jockeys rode powerfully to overcome tricky underfoot conditions, and scored emphatic victories astride a couple of winners. Noel Callow rode a brace for Suleiman Attaolahi. While his victory astride Shoot Out (Adler – Superestrella) was achieved on expected lines, the one on Argentum (Sunday Doubt – Arristo) was sensational. The gray filly was running for the first time in her career. She was meeting an experienced group led by Sunday Storm, Mad About You and Hill Rising. They had placed during the winter months, and it was expected to be a fight between the three of them. The fancied runners got straight down to business and charged away from the rest of them. They set a strong pace in the backstretch and were abreast at the top of the straight. Sunday Storm emerged from this group and set sail for home. He opened up a nice gap in the final furlong and it seemed as though he had things under control. However, that was not to be. While a tired Sunday Storm began shortening his strides, the pair of Argentum and Mi Amor moved strongly from the rear. Weaving her way through a tired lot of horses, Argentum got stronger at the wire. She beat Mi Amor and Sunday Storm near the winning post. She is bound to improve after this run and it may be worthwhile supporting her again in the future. Mi Amor was distinctly unlucky to have met with an interference at a crucial juncture of this race. After dropping completely out of contention at the top of the straight, the filly rallied brilliantly to finish a very close second.

Shoot Out gave Callow an armchair ride to victory. The chestnut gelding was prominent for most of the way, and was seen racing well within himself till they reached the final furlong. The moment the jockey popped the question, the race was over. The three-year-old shot away to register his maiden victory over Hockenheim and Hillstone. The last-named carried the public purse in this race. He was given a fairly ordinary ride by an inexperienced jockey. South African KG Steyn rode for the first time on the local track on Saturday, and was a bundle of nerves throughout the afternoon. He kept looking sideways for imaginary dangers and rode out his mounts only when he had an absolutely clear passage. Since the handicapping is very tight at Bangalore, the runners are closely matched. Trainer Irfan Ghatala will have to find an exceptional runner, who is much too good for the opposition, to give Steyn his first winner.

Jockey Srinath drove a couple of three-year-olds to smashing victories. Dominic-trained Severstahl (Diffident – Suave Star) showed his liking for an extended trip by quickening nicely from the back in a mile race for horses in Class III. Srinath played the waiting game by allowing Cristiano and Capote to lead till the top of the straight. He brought Severstahl with a flourish through the middle and sailed away from a late-finishing Sunny Express. The last-named needed this outing as he was looking slightly underdone in the paddock. Severstahl will next be targeted at the Summer Classics. For the second time in two weeks, course favourite Preordained dropped her rider on the way to the starting gates and ran riderless on the race track.

Laxman Singh's well-bred Vijays Conquer (Placerville – Queen To Conquer) gave Srinath an opportunity to complete his double. The big-made colt was opposing hot favourite Araceli. The latter played up on the way to the start and was led riderless to the gates. Araceli struggled throughout the race and was totally tired by the end of it. On the other hand, Vijays Conquer overtook early leader Notredame in the final furlong and was ridden out to score ahead of Lad Diva and Royal Nature. The winner is a good type, and much shall be heard of him after his return to Hyderabad. He looks to have matured after his hard-fought maiden success at that centre.

Padmanabhan's Con Artiste (Hurricane State – Its A Steal) scored an upset victory in The Speaker's Cup on Saturday. The filly seems to have struck a fine partnership with apprentice Ganesh. She had won her last start of the winter season at the bottom of class II in the hands of the same jockey. Con Artiste made light of her winning penalty and put it across a fancied group of runners led by Far From Over, Yas Marina and Sunstone. Ganesh brought Con Artiste into contention and joined Yas Marina near the bend. After a brief duel, the winner got the better of Yas Marina and maintained her advantage till the finish. Riding hands and heels, the youngster showed a lot of maturity to guide her across the wire. One Life To Love and Sunstone rallied from behind to figure on the result boards. One Life To Love must improve after today's experience, and the filly can be noted for an early success.

On a day when most favourites took a back seat, Amit Caddy's Bounty Hunter (Mr Mellon – Lucky Cherokee) obliged his supporters with a narrow victory in the lowest category. It was expected to be a match race between Bounty Hunter and Sukanti, but with the odds against the latter expanding at race time, there was a surge of money on the former. Bounty Hunter opened at 6/4 but was soon backed down to odds-on favouritism. After chasing Spark Of Diablo in the early stages, Valdir De Souza decided to hit the front. He alerted Bounty Hunter to his task and made free use of his whip. But this one-paced horse refused to quicken and began sending distress signals. Allegro and Sachimore made rapid ground from the rear and the three runners got set to fight a close finish. To the delight of his numerous backers, Bounty Hunter lasted out to score by the shortest of margins. Sachimore will be too good to miss the day he is raced over a slightly shorter trip.