Ganapathy trained Mystical was escorted to the winning post in the Gr.2 Bangalore St Leger, the last classic of the Bangalore Season on Sunday. The victory ensured a clean sweep for trainer Ganapathy who won all the four summer classics which is some record indeed.

There was no looking beyond Mystical as he had won the Indian St Leger in a record time, beating Holding Court The only reason why one could look beyond Mystical was the fact that Holding Court appeared to be in good nick as evidenced by his brilliant win in the Gr.2 Maharaja’s Cup and he had beaten the former in the Indian Derby. But in the event, Holding Court found himself unequal to the task and ended up finishing second best but he reversed his poor run in the Indian St.Leger by comfortably beating Flashing Star and running less than four lengths adrift of the winner.

Jockey Prakash was gifted with one more classic but at the end of the he may not rate among the top jockeys that one has seen in India. Prakash has got his success because he is astride a champion all the time against opposition, which is ineffective against the might of the stable, he represents. Is Prakash a great hero? A hero is one whom we can admire without an apology and Prakash does not belong to this category as he has too many blemishes to his record.

The real hero here is the horse called Mystical who is making the jockey look so good. Classics in India have long lost their relevance, as horses of one or two owners comprise the field. Barring Holding Court, all the other runners in the fray belonged to the gold and brown brigade and their job was to escort the champion to the winning post without any hiccup and to ensure that the opponent would have to overcome all the adversities possible. The horses went in a crawl when the starter dispatched the field for the gruelling 2800 metres trip, with Galloping Bay at the head of the field, with Star Hopeful, Mystical, Holding Court and Flashing Star in that order.

Jockey Gallagher continuously fought with Holding Court, as the son of Royal Kingdom was keen to be allowed a free run. Only at around 800 metres, Gallagher stepped up the pace and had Holding Court head for a brief while. But once Mystical came along the outside, the race ceased to be a contest as he smoothly went clear. Flashing Star finished from behind to take the third spot. The steep penalty or the opposition or the underfoot conditions did not stop Real Excellence from recording a facile win in the 1600 metres V G Saravanam Memorial Cup.

Real Excellence, who has the makings of a serious Oaks contender, sailed past the opposition in the final 350 metres to win as she pleased from Amorina who came in for some inspired support. Symbol of Speed, another market fancy, was never in the hunt. Real Excellence’s win served to highlight the fact that where there is a will, neither the underfoot condition nor the penalty will stop a good horse from winning again. Bold Faith was another who belonged to this category as she comfortably staved off the challenge of Le Reve to win the 1200 metres Chettinad Stud Plate.

Mesmerising was another from the gold and brown brigade to win on the day to make it four for trainer Ganapathy. Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar had a good double. After Three of Arts smashed the opposition in the day’s opener, Antenor won the 1200 metres Esquire Cup, a race for maiden three-year olds, in splendid fashion. The son of Royal Kingdom has all the makings of becoming a champion. Limeklins who had let down a couple of times, fought resolutely and won the Astronomic Plate (Div II), getting the better of Custer and Cincinnati.

Kandiate who had failed several times as a fancied runner, proved too good for the opposition in the upper division, comfortably winning from a late-finishing Senna. Favourite Belezza was not in the hunt.