Trainer Padmanabhan was delighted with the improvement shown by Classerville within three weeks of his first career start, when the rangy three year old won the Karnataka Racehorse Owner's Association Trophy on Friday at Bangalore. In a richly endowed race for first season runners, winner's of an earlier start were set to concede four Kilos to the maidens.The big guns from most of the leading stables were entered in this event. Though the field was small, there was enough quality to signify the importance of this race, as also the keen competition expected on the track. Classerville, Vivacity and Mystic Quest were the obvious frontline contenders in this sprint over 1200 metres. While Vivacity had made a fine impression when winning her only start, Classerville had got up on the last stride to nail an experienced Mystic Quest while notching up his victory. The scales were tilted in the latters favour today, and her supporters were excited about her chances in the day's feature. The betting was restricted to the three of them, with stray support for the others. The paddock parade was impressive, with most of the runners raring to go. The big made Classerville (Placerville-Pleasure Hunt) had shed a fair amount of weight since his last appearance, and was looking fitter this afternoon. David Allan made full use of his innermost draw, and took Classerville to the front in the early stages of the race. They were soon joined and passed by Mystic Quest, while Cayenne and Hatsuhaana raced in close order. Vivacity, Tanzanite and Rule Of Attraction were finding it difficult to keep pace with the field and were seen to be rolling around under pressure in the rear. Despite the strong urgings of Vinod Shinde ,and the four kilo weight advantage that she enjoyed, Mystic Quest was unable to skip away from Classerville. After a brief duel at the top of the straight, the big made chestnut seized the advantage once again. David Allan gave him a couple of taps at this stage, and he responded brilliantly. The duo went past the winning post a length clear of a late finishing Hatsuhaana. This effort from the runner-up was eyecatching, and was indicative of a bright future in the coming months. Mystic Quest was a similar distance behind in third. Vivacity ran a very dull race ,while Cayenne pulled up lame near the distance post. Classerville is a rangy youngster who is blessed with a fine temperament. His trainer is known to race his youngsters sparingly. Padmanabhan's decision to race him within three weeks of his first start, and the victory today, confirm the fact that Classerville has taken kindly to his masters training. Padmanabhan informed "Indiarace" that the gelding is now headed for Western India, where his next target shall be The Poonawalla Multimillion. The day's programme started with the two divisions of a juvenile event. A nice looking got-abroad filly called Gloriosa (Honour And Glory-Tarnished Lady) from Darius Byramji's yard cornered a lot of support in the opener, and made a fine impression while winning this race. She chased a runaway Native Talent, and took her time to warm up. She ran a bit green before lengthening her strides in the last furlong of this race. Suraj Narredu had to bring her on an even keel before asking her for an effort. She was growing stronger at the finish , indicating her liking for a trip beyond today's 1100 metres. Impressively bred Blue Dew was the best of the rest , but she too will take a lot of time to enter the winner's enclosure. Social Climber won the other one with a pillar to post effort in the hands of Chris Hayes. This youngster had run a nice race in her first start when she had finished a fair fourth behind horses who had come out and won their next starts. She was quoted at half-money for most of the morning ,before the bookmakers decided to offer even money against her at race time. A strong rumour about Social Climber suffering from sore shins seemed to be the reason for their generosity. There was no such problem, as the favourite raced well within herself and romped home in effortless fashion. Classic Charge ran a respectable second ,while the fancied pair of Ruby Legend and Kingdomofdreams languished in the rear. An interesting finish was witnessed in The Vijaynagar Trophy, a long distance race for horses in Class III. Most of the runners were handling the eleven furlong trip for the first time in their careers.Sunny Colours had good staying credentials, and was expected to run a big race. Samuel Fargeat decided to keep the grey filly at the rear end of the field till well into the straight. Top weighted Saptashwa had made all the running and was refusing to give up. He was collared by The Last Samurai near the distance post. The scene changed thereafter, as four runners were almost abreast in the last fifty metres of the race. The Last Samurai, Saptashwa, Sunny Colours and Sarmaidar came charging down the straight. It was Sarmaidar who finished the strongest of the lot and won from a hard ridden The Last Samurai. The winner started his racing career this season, and this was his third victory in five starts. He has never been off the board and this horse from Arjun's yard has further scope for improvement. Warren Singh's India Shining had advertized his fitness by running a brave race in his last start, when he had missed narrowly behind a runaway Panchakshari. He made ample amends today by coming with a steady gallop through the middle and assuming command in the final stages of the race.Christopher rode a powerful finish on this seven year old. India Shining was able to hold a belated challenge from El Gordo, who was the fastest finishing horse at the end. The winner was supposed to be suspect over seven furlongs, but there seemed to be no such problem today. Crackerjack plodded on to save place money ahead of favourite Mac. A peculiar decision by the officials at the starting gates, saw a lot of punter's money go down the drain in the seventh race of the day. Paint Me Red in the hands of Samuel Fargeat was backed down to firm favouritism. The horse was the last to be loaded and reared up immediately. Fargeat took evasive action and jumped towards the rear of the gates. The horse got entangled and it took a lot of time for Paint Me Red to be pulled out of the gates. The brilliant veterinary doctor of the BTC saw no external and obvious damage to the body of the horse,and consequently, certified it fit to race. Paint Me Red was in such distress that he refused to gallop and finished more than a furlong behind the winner. Spanish Crown won a close affair from Royal Hero, Gara Fluid and Black Splendour. It is the duty of the officials to safeguard public money, and it is time that they learn a lesson by taking a look at what happens in similar circumstances at racing centres accross the country and all over the world. Suraj Narredu and Faraz Arshad completed their respective double's for the day, when the heavily backed Redford came with a strong gallop in the last race ,and got the better of Scramjet near the winning post. Scramjet had opened up a comfortable lead near the bend ,and the supporters of the favourite had reason to panic at this stage. The effort seemed to tell on the leader as he began to shorten his strides. Redford responded well to Suraj's urgings and romped home to a popular victory. Voice Of India ran a close third.