Trainer Mahesh's ward Splendid Surprise displayed an amazing turn of foot while winning The Bangalore Super Mile Trophy at the local races on Friday. He signalled a welcome return to winning form, when he responded to the urgings of Harish, and sailed past the early leaders to finally win with a measure of comfort. A small bunch of six horses accepted to participate in this rich event, with each one of them having the credentials to win the race. Fantastic Quest had run a couple of good races in the recent past, and based on those performances was supported with confidence. He was backed down to on-money favouritism, while the odds against Western Command and Splendid Surprise were rising with each passing moment. A majority of the racegoers thought that Western Command was better suited over a seven furlong trip, as also that Splendid Surprise had been running bland races this season. The recent run of the favourite in the Derby, behind Icebreaker and Abs Fabs, enthused many to go nap on him. At a moderate pace, Western Command was eased into the lead ahead of Green Bax, Fantastic Quest and Jet Fire. Splendid Surprise was ridden off the pace, while Lionheart graced the wrong end of the field. The race began to take a serious turn around the final bend. Prakash brought Fantastic Quest with a smooth run and joined issue with the leader. Green Bax began to tire along with Jet Fire, and the two of them faded away from the scene. Lionheart was given a few taps but he failed to show any sparkle. It was Splendid Surprise who started responding to the whip while picking up a tired bunch of horses. He came alongside Fantastic Quest, and after a brief duel, went past him to record a facile victory. Western Command plodded on to be a fair third. Splendid Surprise has repeatedly shown that he gets better after a run or two in the season. The stable can look forward to better things from their "Champion" in the near future. The day's highlight was another splendid performance from Suraj Narredu, who rode a treble and stormed back into the lead at the top of the jockey's seasonal championship. It is learnt that with this effort, Suraj has gone past the 800 winner marker in his short career in Indian racing. The outstanding feature of his riding on Friday was his ability to keep a couple of youngsters on an even keel, while landing the spoils in both the divisions of a maidens' event. Both won in tight finishes and found their neck's in front at the all important end. The day's opener saw Suraj taking Darius's ward Going For Gold to the front at the bend, and riding her out with confidence. While her early persuer's Oxford Vision and favourite Fleet Indian began to tire, it was Spring A Surprise who almost lived upto his name while coming with a powerful run in the closing stages of the race. The favourite Fleet Indian is a nice rangy horse who needs more time to mature and muscle up, before performing according to the expectations of the stable. The very next race saw a lot of money flowing in the direction of Superb Style. This colt had been impressive in his first start, when he was seen finishing powerfully from the rear while taking the third spot in the Winter Million. Suraj was riding this horse for his father, who had decided to run him over a longer trip of seven furlongs today. With no early pace in the race, Superb Style was taken to the front, and under hard riding from Suraj, was able to stave off a determined challenge from Noble Sacrifice. The latter was given a lacklustre ride by Rajesh, who was found wanting in the early stages of the race. Nox ran a nice race while finishing third, and can be placed to win if the stable decides to campaign him again during the remainder of the season. Flower Alley met with interference at a crucial juncture in this race, but for which, she would have finished much closer to the winner. Suraj's treble was achieved through another runner from Satish Narredu's stable called Flaming Lamborgini. After a fair effort in the highest class in his last start, Flaming Lamborgini was entered in The Varada Trophy, a sprint race for horses in class II. He was set to face horses of his own vintage, but the top weight of 62 kgs was a slight dampener for his supporters. Suraj rode him for eventual speed by holding him back in the early stages of the race. A nice opening appeared on the inside, and Flaming Lamborgini lost hardly any time in going through the slot. Suraj gave him a few taps, and the horse responded gamely. They sailed away for an easy victory ahead of a late finishing Fantabulous Prince, who took the second spot ahead of favourite The Contender. With this treble today, Suraj is back at the top of the jockey's championship table for the current season. He was briefly displaced from his position a couple of weeks ago by Chris Hayes, but with the latter having returned to his country, there seems to be no challenge to his supremacy. The lower division of The Varada Trophy was annexed by public choice Lush Foliage, who stormed to an easy victory over a much fancied Game Of Life. Jockey De Souza was content to wait on the rails till well into the straight, before bringing her into contention near the distance post. Lush Foliage got stronger thereafter and was eased up in the closing stages of the race. Game Of Life got up on the last stride to displace Raider's Sun from the second position. The concluding race saw public fancy Colonel Duff getting caught off guard, when he was given too much to do by his jockey in the straight. David Allan was content to hold him back as Money With Talent and Marianella set a fast pace in this race. De Souza was alert on Ever So Clever, as he was seen bridging the leeway well before they took the final bend. Ever So Clever assumed control thereafter and succeeded in holding on to his early advantage. Colonel Duff made up lots of ground in the straight but had to be content with the runner-up berth. It is often said that "A horse can give weight to his adversaries, but not distance". That was quite evident in Colonel Duff's defeat today. De Souza completed a well deserved double through this victory on Ever So Clever