Ganapathy trained Celtic Princess who is in rousing form, completed the formalities in the1200 metres Krishna raja Wadiyar Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the highlight of penultimate day’s Bangalore Summer Races on Thursday. Coming the shortest way home, Celtic Princess surged clear of her opponents, with Aura only bridging the gap towards the close but without making any impression on the front-runner.

Three-year old Celtic Princess has been in good form this season and the daughter of Placerville was taking on horses that had only past glory to recommend their credentials. Tribal Fantasy, Taurian and Laguna Blue have had their days and have not done anything worthwhile in recent times to merit their claims. Only Aura had some semblance of form and it was no surprise that she took the second spot. Jockey Chisty brought Celtic Princess along the rails and the favourite quickened in a trice to go clear of the field. Aura was second ahead of Tribal Fantasy and Linette who with some drop in weight, can be in the winner’s circle if campaigned at Mysore.

Ganapathy’s another ward Moon Forest who took a long while to come out of the maidens ranks, appears to be a late bloomer going by the ease with which he won the 1400 metres Mayor’s Trophy. Moon Forest had finished second on two occasions, before recording a stylish win over a shorter trip, much against the belief that he would relish longer trips. Now campaigned over a longer trip, Moon Forest tracked runaway leader Asiaticus before taking charge in the final furlong and winning with a great deal of comfort from Game Fighter who surprisingly came in for spirited support. Asiaticus has been somewhat of an enigma; not always fulfilling the expectations because a good performance is not always backed another one. Trust trainer Samar Singh to pull off a long shot when least expected. Imtiaz Sait trained Skywards had everything going over him despite a stiff penalty for the runaway win recorded last time out.

Apollo Crown won against the run of expectations, resolutely staving off the late bid of Skywards who lost by a whisker. Skywards picked up momentum and had to travel wide because of the false rails and though he finished with a flourish, the winning post came to the rescue of the long shot. Bullet Proof had let down often enough for the trainer to dub him as unreliable during an enquiry early in the season when the horse failed as a favourite. In his last essay, he seemed to have sported fresh wings when he recorded a smashing win. Bullet Proof once again proved that he is as reliable as any when he recorded an encore, safely keeping the challenge of Astro Chief to record his second successive win in the Littleover Stakes (Div I).

Havana was another Rashid Byramji horse not to have obliged as a favourite last time out but sporting blinkers now, the progeny of Alnasr Alwasheek bolted to the front and kept going away from the opposition to chalk out an impressive win. Imtiaz Sait trained Beyond Belief recorded a smashing win in the Rare Gem Stakes (Div I). The progeny of Warrshan was not the best supported of the runners as money came in the direction of Beckham. In the event, Beyond Belief proved beyond the reach of the other runners, winning with a great deal of comfort. Favourite Beckham was in futile chase of the winner. Yantai ran on to finish third. However, the lower division of the same race went the way of favourite Satin Wood who ran true to the market expectations.

There were two races for the lowest class of horses. Global Agenda, who got spirited support, ran as per the script to win in a tight finish from Rosalinee. In the day’s other action, Simply Glorious recorded a hard-fought win over Algebra.