Bar the one bad day at the office, the highest rated filly Eternal Flame from trainer S Ganapathy’s yard  had the best credentials among the 16 contestants in the fray for the Fillies Championship Stakes, the first classic of the summer season.  The classy daughter of freshman sire Arazan  from the Poonawalla Stud Farm who had recorded a hat-trick in  Mumbai before her below par effort in her maiden start this season looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and that was enough for the knowledgeable and the good students of the game to place their investments on the Dr M A M Ramaswamy owned star performer and the leading light from Ganapathy’s yard  left the rest for dead even before the race came on a boil to emerge the best of her age and sex in resplendent style.

Ganapathy delighted with the performance of the `Queen’ filly disclosed that Eternal  Flame’s quick recovery after the dismal effort was most heartening. “She started to do what she did best in a couple of days and that was a confidence booster. Sandesh,  trifle disappointed at first was enjoying working with her and she only got better before she proved her mettle,” said Ganapathy pointing out that Sandesh  produced a near-perfect performance on the champion, biding his time before timing his final challenge to a nicety.

“She is very talented and she was ready for this. I really didn’t do much. I just guided her and she did the rest,” said Sandesh.

It was good to see the Mysore hopeful Star Formation from Bipin Salvi’s yard finish second ahead of Nostalgic Memories while Tronada took the fourth spot. Bipin impressed with Star Formation’s campaign in Mysore was positive that the daughter of China Visit under his care would make her presence felt against the best in Bengaluru and Star Formation justified the confidence of her trainer beating  many fancied hopefuls in the mile long classic journey.

Conspicuous, who first opened favourite before the Eternal Flame supporters made sure that the winner was the top fancy, it was clear found the trip beyond her compass while the Mumbai mainhope Myrtlewood and Angel Dust  lacked the potential to make a mark in the classic exercise.

Eternal Flame will next compete in the blue riband of the season, the Kingfisher Derby next month and Ganapathy, it is needless to mention will be watching the Colts Championship with a `third eye’ next week.

 The Fillies day was good from the punters point of view, six firm favourites and one well supported second choice Shideh coming through in the nine-event card.

 In the opening event, the on-money favourite Cameron from Suleiman’s yard looked beat after the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Downton Abbey looked  good before she went lame and that helped the public rage scamper home to the delight of the big bettors.

Despite the six-month lay-off, the Puttanna schooled Garuda was the overwhelming favourite in the upper division of the Majesty Plate and the strongly fancied public choice in a catch me if you can mission powered through to shed his maiden status in style. Stevalena from Kolkata finished second and is one for the notebook.

The Neil Darashah-trained Dancing Princess was backed to the exclusion of her nine rivals in the Mahalakshmi Plate run over  a mile but the favourite surrendered the moment the race took a serious turn. Dancing Laurie stole a march  before the six to one shot Love Is Life gained the day close home.

Trainer Padmanabhan and jockey Zervan  who are having a rough time, finally combined successfully to score in the Cape Dance Plate, the favourite Heaven Is Here after a lethargic start finishing on strongly to help Zervan record his ,maiden success this season. Native Elements impressed most while finishing a game second and it will pay to follow him when next saddled. Q’E’D  it was clear needed this exercise and will be a different proposition next time out.

Most punters were floored in the Justice P Medapa Memorial Cup, the two hot fancies Persian Prince from Pesi Shroff’s yard and the Ganapathy schooled Light Of Magic, a smart winner last time out failed to finish in the money. The eight to one shot The Lieutenant piloted by Suraj cantered home an impressive winner.

On the strength of his impressive showing in his last essay, finishing third behind the classy Alexandra Mills who won the Civil Service Cup without working up sweat on Saturday, the Nithyanand-trained New Emperor garnered the maximum support in the Elusive Pimpernel Trophy.  The fact that the `Emperor’ is a speedy customer and that he gained the number one draw  in this sprint trip boosted the confidence of the followers of form. They punted big on the Nithya ward and the moment the `Emperor’ hit the front it was all over bar the shouting.  Eragon did well to gain the runner-up berth and it will not be long before this Padmanabhan’s ward enters’ the winners’ circle.

 Like New Emperor, another strong favourite First In Command from Karthik Ganapathy’s yard proved too good for his nine rivals making every post a winning one in the Star Supreme Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner, another son of Arazan, it appears  will enjoy longer trips and his progress is certain to evoke interest in the months ahead.

Another small trainer Punna struck it rich after Imtiaz’s Love Is Life kept the ball rolling for the small men in the game. Shideh in the hands of Imran Chisty produced a winning gallop in the concluding event. The Hyderabad hopeful Vallee Secrete  finished a game second while Mr Big Shot  confirmed that he is no hot shot.