It was good to see sporting owner Ashok Ranpise back in Bengaluru, proudly leading in Agostini after he provided the in-form Trevor Patel an easy ride to success, winning the Chief Minister's Trophy, the plum event on Friday without unduly extending himself. The winner of the winter Derby last year, Agostini from the Kunigal Stud Farm had gone of the boil in summer before the young and talented Suleiman Attaollahi patiently worked  on the game galloper and the on-money favourite who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring justified the confidence of his connections romping home in style. Now that Agostini is back in the winners' circle, the star performer is certain to challenge the best in the weeks ahead. Booker Jones, who went down fighting to Bold Majesty in the 2000 Guineas again gave a good account of himself gaining the runner-up spot ahead of Windstream who appeared a trifle jaded and it is time his connections provide him the desired rest before he is asked to make his presence felt in this company. 

The young Arvind Ganapathy struck through Prince Academy in the opening event. The winner who impressed most in a mock race  last week, his pilot making sure not to expose the vastly improved Arvind ward, produced a good turn of speed at the all-important end to the delight of the MAM camp. The favourite Hostess from Neil Darashah's ward failed to make an impression in the lower division of the Bari Plate run over a sprint and eventually finished in the ruck. Tic Tac Toe finished second ahead of Bryonic who is back at the  winning mark and it will pay to follow him when next saddled.

On the strength of his impressive movements in the morning trials, the bred in the purple Authoritarian was rightly installed the first favourite in the January Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs before money came pouring in on the Ganapathy schooled Eternal Flame who had caught the eye while finishing second behind New Alliance in his debut. But the Ganapathy ward failed to reproduce his effort and that made the task of the son of Holy Roman Emperor easy. Angel Dust did well to finish second ahead of Eternal Flame. The favourite who failed to produce his best should be persisted with taking into account that this Ganapathy ward has the required potential to shed his maiden status this winter.

Trainer Narayan Gowda recorded a popular double through the two market leaders, Magnetize and Prize Finder who after failing to justify favouritism twice this season chose to put his best stride forward in the Gomos Plate in the hands of jockey Christopher. The talented pro earlier partnered Magnetize to a convincing victory in the upper division of the BARI Plate snuffing out the challenge of Cheddar Face.   

Most Track reporters and racing journalists recommended Scarlet Emperor from trainer Padmanabhan's yard as one safe bet in the eight-event card and the on-money favourite quickly proved them right cruising home in the K Rama Rao Memorial Trophy. Temujin appears to have improved most, finishing a game second and is one for the notebook. Bazinga like I mentioned earlier lacks the ability to challenge the best in this class.

To the credit of trainer Sharath Kumar it must be mentioned that he has got Smile Stone going for him while the rest in his yard are struggling to deliver the goods when fancied most. Nitin Singh who loves partnering  the winner was confident and so too Sharath. Smile Stone is in rousing form and it will not come as a surprise if he maintains his winning streak in his next essay. Chul Bul Pandy is slowly, yet, surely coming into his own and it will not be long before he earns his cornbill.

Valerian was rightly fancied in the lower division of the Dashmesh Stud Plate run over a sprint, but the Darius Byramji ward  who was touted as a `moral certainty' failed to display his true potential. The consistent King Julien in the hands of Ryan Marshall chalked up a deserving win while Amazing Redd was back in business after performing below par in the Mysore season.