The new year started on a  delightful  note  for the three owners, Marthand Mahindra and the Rai brothers, Muthappa Rai and Chandrashekar Rai.  Marthand  a trifle disappointed with the performances of Pentagram and Hendrix in their last essay,  after the two talented colts had impressed most  chalking out facile victories in their earlier efforts was all smiles, Pentagram making ample amends winning the Karnataka Police Trophy  in a `common canter’ and  Nimfea romping home in the principal added attraction, the Topmost Cup. 

Marthand,  who had disclosed before the season that  Pentagram, Nimfea and Hendrix would make him proud  was delighted  that  Pentagram  registered his second success this season and  is poised to add to his kitty when next saddled.

“I have now decided to keep only a few and sell the rest and I was confident that  the stock I had chosen to retain  would  make their presence felt this season,” said Marthand  pointing out that to start the new year on a winning note was most satisfying.

Suffering from a tendon issue, Power Of Time, make no mistake is a quality performer.  Full marks to trainer Amit Caddy for providing him adequate rest  and nursing his tendon before asking  him to parade his skills  over a sprint in the Native Chieftan  Plate.  The on-money favourite who was backed to the exclusion of his 11 runners provided jockey Imran Khan an arm-chair ride to success and on the strength of this victory is set to provide an encore when next saddled. Spurred by the success of Power Of Time,  Chandrashekar  Rai revealed that  he was most pleased  that  Power Of Time had  overcome the tendon problem and that his horse will climb the ladder in the weeks ahead.

“I  also need to laud the effort of Imran Khan who  provided time and space for Power Of Time to display his potential.  Imran’s entry into our yard has helped and the boy is  happy to don our silks,” said Chandrashekar Rai.

After the success of  Power Of Time, Imran astride Wild Wild Angels who had impressed most while entering the winners’ circle in his maiden effort this season  produced a copybook effort,  gaining a striking position before he setalight the Dominic ward  in the final furlong and the winner readily  assumed command to put the issue beyond doubt  in the concluding event run over a distance of seven furlongs.

The Prithviraj-trained Hello Boss garnered the maximum support in the event. The connections of Hello Boss chose to ignore the credentials of Wild Wild Angels and  took a big punt on the  last start winner  only  to  see the real big boss pull out an ace.  And this shattered the aspirations  of the connections of Hello Boss, who it must be mentioned  paid the penalty,  overestimating the potential of their ward who  eventually finished a poor fourth.

It was good to see jockey Ramu back plying the whip and the promising jockey  made good  use of the stick while packing punch on the public choice Zulu Fantasy to gain the day from What A Wonder in the  lower division of the Ghataprabha Plate.

Most  owners  at this centre  are of the view that the unassuming trainer Prasanna  is only good with older horses and that the youngsters  under his care  take a lot of time to find their bearing. Well the trainer proved them all wrong, fancying Tronada strongly in the Sriharikota Plate. The winner despite gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the six furlongs trip raised a brilliant gallop to snuff out the challenge of the favourite Able Friend  to the delight of the trainer and owner Gautam Makhija who confidently  chose to engage the Delhi pro Ranjeet  to partner Tronada.

The on-money favourite She’s Stunning looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and on looks alone she looked a winner of the lower division of the Ranganathittu Plate. The beautiful grey stormed home the moment Suraj eased his grip on the Narayan Gowda  filly who is at her best and it will pay again to follow her when she steps out to contest this season.

After a couple of hot fancies bit the dust from his yard,  the friendless Talentburst  shocked  Arjun Manglorkar and the  followers of form producing a winning gallop in the hands of Ryan Marshall to claim the upper division of the Ghataprabha Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The on-money favourite Tuscano  raced in patches and found the winner  who returned Rs 544 on a tenner at the tote window too hot to handle at end.

Wings Of Fortune who had failed to justify favouritism in his last effort again was the overwhelming favourite in the Kanchanganga Plate and he again took a  lot of good  money down the drain finishing third in a blanket finish. The five to one shot Jackie Oh from Hidayat Khan’s yard thanks to the powerful finish of Chouhan edged out Ace Lexington and Wings Of Fortune who was seen finishing on fastest at end.