Ganapathy trained Southern Empire recorded his sixth straight win when claiming the Gr.1 Colts Trial Stakes which highlighted the crowded card of nine events held on Sunday. The win was in keeping with the expectations of his awesome superiority over the rest which was always to the point of beating the opposition pointless. However, Sunday’s win did not run true to the script as Southern Empire was hard-pressed to win from Running Bull, who was running for the first time this season, and only the second time in his life and the margin of victory was less than two lengths. While breeder and part-owner of Southern Empire Zavaray Poonawalla said that he was a little disappointed with the performance of the champion horse, trainer Padmanabhan had reason to feel elated that he has a horse which could come within the striking distance Southern Empire, given the invincible aura that surrounded the champion. Southern Empire went into the race as the shortest priced horse in the history of this race. It was not surprising because Southern Empire had won each of his outings in tremendous fashion which had inspired the commentator to compare him with the best cars in the world. The opposition was weak as only Running Bull who was running in a race for the first time after being gelded had shown promise in a mock race. The temperamental Running Bull who has settled down and is less prone to tantrums now, was expected to run well but not expected to make Southern Empire sweat it out. National Trust did the job of the pace-maker, with Running Bull settled in the third position ahead of Southern Empire. Approaching the final bend, National Trust was ready to surrender with Running Bull coming to take charge on the outside. Prakash was quick to realize the danger and had swiftly moved up on Southern Empire and the duo fought for a furlong before the champion asserted himself. Running Bull had to change course from the rails after Southern Empire rolled over to the rails. The fact that Running Bull ran so well and has the speed and the breeding to get longer trips should make for an interesting Derby next month. Super Speed ran on to finish third. Trainer Ganapathy is heading towards a new landmark in the number of winners that he is going to saddle during the Summer Season. The trainer, who has already saddled 22 winners even before the half-way mark, should more than double the tally by the time the season ends in the second week of August. Ganapathy had three winners for the day, as apart from Southern Empire, Mystical continued his winning streak and Smart N Excellent put daylight between himself and the opposition. The Gr.3 Chief Justice’s Cup had a classy field in the fray but with Mystical proving to be so superior to the opposition, the odds on the son of Alnasr Alwasheek were too cramped for comfort. This was so because Holding Court, who had beaten him in the Indian Derby when finishing second, was a jaded horse in his subsequent outings, was in the fray without the benefit of a race run. Gallagher kept Holding Court a handy second before taking charge at the final bend. He was strongly challenged by Mystical but contrary to expectations, the latter did not leave his opponent stranded. Instead, the duo were engaged in a battle but close home, Mystical got stronger and spared a length at the finish. Democraticus was a long way third ahead of Amazing Power. Now that Holding Court has bounced back to form, the Gr.2 Maharaja’s Cup in the first week of July should holds exciting possibilities if both these runners are entered for the fray. Trainer Padmanabhan has not yet struck the tally that he normally gets at this part of the season. He has had a dozen horses which have finished second and adding to the frustrating tally was Red Mustang who failed to collar Ciampino by a whisker. There was inspired support for first timer Corona Di Oro but the filly did not run to market expectations. Ciampino who led the field all the way, came perilously close to being overhauled by Red Mustang but the winning post was sighted a fraction earlier and the photo went in favour of the front-runner. The price on Smart N Excellent drifted out in the ring as Lava came in for support from the public though perhaps not from the right connections. But once the trend became clear, Smart N Excellent was backed to on-money favouritism and the son of Brave Hunter was not troubled by any of the other runners as he checked in well clear of the opposition. Jockey Krishnan on Lava went all over the place and finished third despite his best efforts. The Stewards, who ordered an enquiry into the riding of Krishnan, let him off with a suspension of one month. Exclusive Gesture recorded a hat-trick of wins when he gamely held on despite drifting out under pressure in the closing moments of the race. Premier Star was second ahead of Aura who was given too much to do in the homestretch despite which the Tirol progeny was an eye-catching third. Padmanabhan’s Perfect Rhythm faced no resistance in the concluding race of the day finishing well clear of Right Again and Cindy Girl. There was inspired support for Amazing Gem but the daughter of Steinbeck who will be better off tackling longer trips, was a faraway fourth. Storm Regent let down his followers badly in the 2000 metres Raja S R K Ranga Row Memorial Cup. Royal Flash was expected to run well but the way Gallagher set the pace, which would have done a sprinter proud, he was bound to pack up. Even Storm Regent, who took charge after turning for home, too ran out of steam and it was left to Amazing One and Sandokarn who found foot late, to fight for honours. The latter managed to prevail in the shadow of the post. The first two races of the day had fallen to favourites Stone of Destiny and Amorina who were backed to the exclusion of their rivals and won quite capably with the former giving Warren Singh the first winner of his new career as a trainer. In all, seven first favourites won in a card of nine events which is not exactly a sign of healthy, competitive sport.