The 2011-12 edition of The Bangalore 2000 Guineas was expectedly annexed by the Padmanabhan trained Field Marshal on Saturday. The brave chestnut repeated his performances in The Mysore 2000 Guineas and The Poonawalla Mysore Derby, while carrying the public purse to victory. Over a period of three months, he has displayed consistent form to complete a hat-trick of Classic victories. The ten horse field in the second classic of the Winter Season had some good performers. Apart from Field Marshal, who had the best credentials, the others that merited consideration were Hill Dioro, Maddox and Star Marquess. Hill Dioro had beaten Field Marshal in a maiden's event during summer, and had progressed nicely thereafter.

His second to Speed Six earlier this season was a fair effort. Despite looking a bit soft in the paddock that day, he had run true to form. Maddox had made a fine impression while winning a couple of races at Pune, but his run in The Pune Derby was uninspiring. The connections chose to relocate him to Bangalore and entrusted him to Neil Darashah. A longish rest had apparently done him a world of good, and after a decent barrier trial sometime back, Maddox's new trainer expected him to run a "big" race on Saturday. Star Marquess had started as a first favourite in The Kingfisher Derby in July, but his connections were unable to fathom a reason for his poor performance. They tested him in top class company this season, and Star Marquess had done well to end a fair fifth behind Sprint Star. Even though he was known to relish a longer course, the camp was fairly optimistic about his chances. Based on all available evidence, Field Marshall was sent to the post as an odds-on choice to lift this trophy.

A huge roar greeted the start of this race. While Field Marshal had taken a good jump and gone to the front, second favourite Hill Dioro was stuck in the gates. By the time Suraj managed to get him out, the other nine were many lengths ahead of him. Field Marshal led at a steady pace from Casanova,Maddox and Lad Ability. Star Marquess got stuck towards the inner rails, while the others were under pressure to keep pace with the leaders. Even though he trailed the pack, Hill Dioro was seen improving his position. Field Marshal and Maddox skipped clear of the pack, as the runners entered the straight. Hill Dioro showed a lot of sparkle while making his move on the wide outside, while Star Marquess was improving along the rails. The four of them started to go away from the rest. With Martin Dwyer making free use of his whalebone, Field Marshal retained his grip over the race. He snuffed-out a challenge from Maddox and scored with a measure of comfort. Hill Dioro got tired in the final stages and surrendered the third spot to a heavily whipped Star Marquess. There is no doubt, that had Hill Dioro taken a level jump, we could have witnessed a much closer finish. The same horses are going to clash next in the Bangalore Derby on Republic Day.

A brilliant piece of riding by leading professional PS Chouhan enabled Dominic's Love Conquers All to lift the Shantiniketan Cup. The seven furlong handicap for horses in the highest class was considered to be a three-way fight between Accurate, Love Conquers All and Gazaki. On the basis of their relative weights, as compared to an earlier clash, Accurate had the best chance. Suraj took a smart jump from an extreme draw, and raced prominently behind Red Renegade, Dance N Celebrate and Arts. Love Conquers All got hemmed-up towards the inner rails and Chouhan had no option but to stay where he was. The group was tightly bunched as they entered the straight. Suraj brought Accurate with a nice looking run on the wide outside and hit the front. His mount took a while to get onto an even keel, and this allowed Firezone to get closer. Just as the two of them were fighting for supremacy, Love Conquers All saw daylight. Under some relentless goading from Chouhan, he carried the heavy impost to a thrilling victory. He was able to beat Accurate by a "long neck" at the finish. Firezone ran a much improved race to end a very close third. Love Conquers All has struck a purple patch in his career, and it will be interesting to see how he handles  "Graded " company in future.

Trainer Ganapathy and jockey Sreekanth stole the day's honours by scoring a fairly comfortable treble. The young and talented jockey has been making full use of the opportunities being offered to him by this stable. They started the day by winning a two-year-old race on offer. Southern Opinion was a rank outsider behind Borsalino, Cecil, Point Taken and Impressive Bolt. Since a majority of them were running for the first time in their careers, it was difficult to make a choice. Impressive Bolt took a good jump, but was soon joined by Southern Opinion and Borsalino. Point Taken and Cecil raced close behind, while the others faded out of contention. Soon after entering the straight, Sreekanth took Southern Opinion to the front and charged towards the finishing line. Borsalino and Martin Dwyer  tried their best to get closer, but it wasn't good enough. Responding maturely to Sreekanth's whipping, Southern Opinion lasted out to record a comfortable victory. Cecil grew stronger in the last furlong to finish ahead of Point Taken and Impressive Bolt.

Their next winner was Forever Glory. The three year old filly was recieving weight from her opponents in a nine furlong handicap for horses in Class II. Having finished close behind some really talented three year olds stationed at this centre, Forever Glory was tipped as the day's best betting proposition. Ignoring the over-weight being carried by Sreekanth, the punters backed her at all prices and sent her as a half-money favourite to the starting gates. Sreekanth rode a confident race astride this runner. Even though African Queen established a long lead into the straight, he wasn't perturbed. Forever Glory was popped the question after turning for home. In a matter of seconds, the race was over. She strode away from Rezoom to post the easiest win of the afternoon.

Moves Goodenough had been a consistent performer over the last many months, but a victory had been eluding this chestnut. After leading in most of her starts, she would tire in the straight. There were no such problems today. Moves Goodenough settled into a nice rhythm and showed the way to Jaldi and Captain's Lover. The last named had recieved strong support in the betting rings, and this Prithviraj trainee started as an even money choice of the punters.. The three leaders skipped clear of the others, and were almost abreast at the bend. A couple of things happened at this stage. Captain's Lover rolled sideways under pressure and went out of contention. Jaldi found the trip a bit too long for comfort, and was unable to catch the leader. In the midst of all this, Moves Goodenough continued her good work to race away for a long overdue victory. The winner gave Sreekanth and Ganapathy their third winner of the day.

The Prithviraj camp had a better result in the lower division of this race. Karisini had missed the jump a couple of times, and the authorities had asked the trainer to test her in a mock race. Prithviraj had done so last week, and not wanting to give her a long break, had chosen to run her immediately. She was fancied alongside last outing winner Sunstorm, who was carrying a penalty today. In the hands of apprentice Rajesh, Karisini took a good jump and settled comfortably behind Dance To The Tune, Take My Word and Beautiful Dancer. She improved gradually thereafter and took over the running. Even though she got a bit tired in the final furlong, the early lead helped her to maintain an advantage over a late finishing Sunstorm. Jockey BL Paswan tried to reverse the verdict in the Stewards Room. He contended that the winner had interfered with his mount near the nine hundred metre marker. Not finding any substance in his objection, the officials allowed the result to remain unaltered.

The two divisions of a seven furlong race for horses in Class IV were contested by a number of three year olds, who were still looking for their maiden victories.Having finished second behind Sunday Storm in a maiden's event a couple of weeks ago, Dominic's Bessie was fancied alongside Arjun Mangalorkar's The Situation and the Dhariwal trained Mi Amor. This race was run at a fairly decent pace, with the speedy Bessie showing the way to Blue Star, Royal Spirit and and The Situation. Mi Amor graced the wrong end of the pack, as the runners made their way towards the straight. PS Chouhan released his grip on Bessie and the pair of them established a nice looking lead in the final furlong. With those racing in close proximity of the leader getting tired, the race seemed to be in the safe keeping of Bessie. However, Mark Gallagher had other ideas. He roused Mi Amor at this stage and produced her on the wide outside. She raised an astounding gallop, made up acres of ground and got up on the last stride to beat Bessie on the post. Hill Rising and Blue Star finished tamely to fill the rest of the frame.

The lower division was run on expected lines. For those who like to pick up signals from the betting rings, there was enough evidence to indicate the winner. Padmanabhan's Enchanted Forest's odds expanded from even-money to 5/2, while there was much support for Irfan Ghatala's Cat Logan. After being available all morning at 7/2, he was an odds-on choice at the time of stalling. BL Paswan held him on a tight leash and was content to race in mid group for the first half of their journey. At about the same juncture, Martin Dwyer and Enchanted Forest were seen gracing the rear. Cat Logan  collared Sandhurst and Sayyonee near the distance post and skipped away from the pack. To the delight of his fans, he romped home to an easy victory. Enchanted Forest galloped strongly in the straight to take the second spot. On enquiring later in the evening, it was learnt that Enchanted Forest had injured herself during the running of this race.

A sprint, for horses four years old and over, witnessed a runaway victory for Satish Narredu's Showers Of Luck. The twelve horse field lacked quality, and the ultimate winner was the only one who had recent form. He was backed to the exclusion of his rivals. The even-money favourite was seen travelling easily in the back-stretch behind Surprisesucceeding, Son Of The Sun and Trillion Win. Suraj eased him into the lead near the bend and asked him to quicken. The five year old put his head down and strode away from the late finishing pair of Tribal Queen and Southern Gladiator. The last named dragged raw apprentice Ramu into third place, and gave an impression that he would be a different proposition when handled by a superior rider later in the season.