The first crop of Arazan has provided the Poonawallas a big reason to smile. Two million events in Mumbai and on Friday in Bengaluru, another Arazan progeny Eternal Flame from the stables of S Ganapathy after failing to shed the maiden status from her two earlier starts produced her best in the Karnataka Racehorse Owners’ Association  Million  to the delight of Zavaray Poonawalla  and  owner Dr M A M Ramaswamy  who is looking forward to the Derby at this centre on Republic Day followed by the Indian Derby in Mumbai on the first Sunday of February.

On the strength of his smashing debut, Marino One from the stables of Neil Darashah  was the overwhelming favourite in the KROA event. The favourite looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring  but to the disappointment of his connections failed to break level from the gates and despite the Irish professional Colm O’Donoghue’s  effort only managed to finish third behind the Dominic schooled  Honour.  Well many pundits of the game are of the view that on this day the public choice would not have beaten Eternal Flame who in the hands of the in-form pro Trevor Patel romped home in style. Twice second from as many starts, Honour appears a good type and is certain to shed his maiden status when next saddled.

The principal added attraction, the Chatrapathi Cup was claimed by the Prithviraj-trained Eternal Desire who has proved to be a good gift cheque for trainer Prithviraj.  Fancied sweetly by his trainer against the on-money favourite Hendrix, Eternal Desire in the hands of Suraj Narredu justified the confidence of her trainer winning the principal added attraction in convincing style.  Hendrix again let down large following but it will pay to stick with the Suleiman ward again next time.

Prithviraj who is enjoying a good run this winter recorded a double, the well backed Igah Igah Igah winning the upper division of the Shivanasamudra Plate run over a sprint. The Prithviraj camp must consider themselves lucky in this event taking into account that Albertino who looked good to land the spoils broke a blood vessel in the final furlong and this helped Igah Igah Igah who was struggling hard to match strides with Albertino streak home ahead of Sun Glow while Albertino could only finish third.  Albertino it must be mentioned has now proved to be a chronic bleeder and hence is not a betting proposition.

The loss of Hendrix who he had beaten close home in his last essay did not bother the much improved Baracchus. The Padmanabhan ward who was tipped by the trainer as a good bet in the Kokkarebellur Plate provided the Scottish pro David Allan an easy ride t o success, settling down nice and easy all through the mile long trip before storming through to put the issue beyond doubt approaching the distance post. The favourite Charming Grey again found one better,  but it will not be long before this grey from Faraz Arshad’s yard  registers his second success this season.

 Despite the fact that the Arjun Manglorkar ward Admired  was making an appearance after a five-month layoff  and the filly had not impressed in the morning trials,  she  was surprisingly  elected as the first favourite in the upper division of the Flashing Star Plate. That helped the connections of Romeo who shifted base from Mumbai to  get a good price and the winner powerfully piloted by Pradeep Chouhan edged out Jingle Bells to score in emphatic fashion. Admired  did well to save the place money and with this benefit of a run will be a different proposition in her next start.

The Narayan Gowda-trained Cullinan was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals in the lower division of the Shivanasamudra Plate but the on-money favourite after assuming command  at the top of the straight was surprised by the long shot Deep Blue Storm close home.  

In the lower division of the Flashing Star Plate many old hats in the game were of the view that the `Jodi’  (Meherani and Secret Prayer)  is likely to fly out of the window.  It happened, the 15 to one Simply Clever edging out Secret Prayer at the shadow of the winning post before winning the race again in the stewards room following a objection lodged  by Rajesh Kumar, the rider of  Secret Prayer which was rightly overruled. Meherani finished a poor third.

In the opening event, Imperial Verse from Padmanabhan’s yard garnered the maximum support but failed in her mission to deliver the goods, Fortunate One from Sandhu’s yard shocking the followers of form.