Zareer Darashah trained Joe The Pro has this habit of springing a surprise when least expected. The Razeen-Divine Colours five-year old gelding Joe The Pro's win was not exactly out of turn but his win came in fortuitous circumstances in the 1200 metres H B Gundappa Gowda Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above, which featured Saturday's programme. Fancied Soviet Song and Sensational News did not have a smooth run and Joe The Pro on whom Appu saved ground by coming the shortest way home, seized the initiative inside the final 100 metres which proved decisive as he held on by a neck from a fast-finishing seven-year old Sensational News who devoured ground with each stride. Bountiful Gesture and Soviet Song dead-heated for the third spot.

The race had a open look about it, with half a dozen runners in the race, having a realistic chance of landing the spoils though as usual, the bookmakers differed in their perception while making Soviet Song as the firm favourite. In a fast run race, Bountiful Gesture and Joe The Pro were handily placed in the front group with Soviet Song in the mid-bunch while Sensational News, lacking in initial pace, was in the rear end. Jockey Satish Narredu improved the position of Sensational News at around the 700 metres marker and in doing so, took Soviet Song who was already racing six horses wide, further out. The duo was left with the difficult task of covering a lot of leeway on the front-runners. Jockey Appu switched Joe The Pro to the outside of Bountiful Gesture and the Razeen progeny responded well to go clear and held on to win by a fast diminishing margin of a neck. A mere neck separated the first three placed runners. Artwork ran a suggestive race and was hampered for a clear run at a crucial stage. Now that Artwork has shown some form, the five-year old race mare should strike before long.

Easily one of the most exciting finishes of the season was seen in the 1400 metres Manitou Plate, a race for maiden three-year olds. Michael Eshwer trained Zidane who had served notice of his imminent success in a mock race and Ganapthy's My Treasure who had been sharpened up in like manner were the market fancies. Zidane had the first run on My Treasure but with the latter coming up with a good burst of speed to snatch to the lead, the defeat for the favourite was imminent. However, once jockey Gallagher, perhaps reconciling to defeat, put his stick away, Zidane suddenly picked up momentum to quicken past his adversary. The half a length margin at the finish suggested that Zidane would relish extended trips and with time, he will go places. The daughter of Turtle Island, My Treasure was done in by the superior fitness of hr conqueror. Altosax was a noteworthy third ahead of first-timer Aide De Memoire.

Punters could not help regretting that they could have well saved three coins had they not ventured to wager on the Sydney Moses ward in the Royal Tern Plate (Div I). Three Coins who was blazing the track and Padmanabhan trained Kisunugntly who has been plagued by physical problems, were the market fancies, with Jai Bharath being quietly fancied by the people in the know. Kisunugntly had all the chances but failed to quicken at the all-important end while Three Coins was never in with a chance. Jai Bharath who was a handy second at the top of the straight, went clear in the hands of jockey Shakti Singh, to win with a measure of comfort from top-weighted Annodomini.

However, trainer Habib Khan whose ward Annodomini finished second best in the upper division, had a runaway winner in the lower division, through another top-weight Ambermatic who won as he pleased. Ambermatic received inspired support in the betting ring while ante-post favourite Danzor drifted out in the betting ring. The race ran true to expectations of market forces as Danzor came in home last. Moonlight Rays who finished second, should strip fit after this run and make amends.

Arjun Mangalorkar's Ma Baker ran everybody off their feet when winning the Kumararajah M A M Muthiah Cup in taking style. Ma Baker who was unfortunate to loose to Our Ambition last time out, was taken on a start to finish mission though for a brief while Lady Gibraltor enjoyed that position. Ma Baker came into the straight a couple of lengths clear of the opposition and then stretched away when asked for an effort to provide jockey Gallagher a good double for the day. Jockey C Alford who is definitely out of depth at this center, kept Appleby too far behind in the early part of the race and gave the Razeen progeny too much ground to cover in the run in for home. Appleby finished second ahead of Star Splendour and Arristo. Argyle Gold who had run a blinder of a race when finishing behind Mr Belvedere, ran below par.

Campanero was unfortunate to loose last time out as the luck of the race was against the No Louder progeny. This time out, the Darius Byramji ward Companero who was a handy third while turning for home, quickened nicely when Pesi Shroff put him in top gear and left the field for dead long way from home. Fighting Brave, who posed a challenge for a brief while, was a good second ahead of Blue Gardenia who has been pretty consistent but not good enough to win.

Tapatio was blazing the track and the Pradeep Annaih ward justified the strong support in the betting ring, by wearing down the challenge of another market fancy Trillennium. Nothing seems to be going right for trainer Abdullah whose fancied runners have been biting the dust with a shocking regularity.

Trainer Samar Singh who was going through a bad patch, has been perhaps energized by his success at Mysore which has given him a fresh lease of life. His wards too, of late, have been seen in different light. Sheer Blossoms won the day's opener, in a close tussle from Splendid Ally and Forest Emperor.