Cool. Whomakestherules. I’m a horse and the rest are mules. That’s exactly the message the Mallesh Narredu ward sent out to his dozen rivals in the first million of the season the Karnataka Juvenile Million, run over a distance of seven furlongs.

The fact that Whomakestherules was rated high by his trainer and that his pilot Suraj Narredu was bullish about his chances and more importantly that the classy son of Multidimensional out of Pricewise from the Usha Stud Farm had chalked out two straight victories in Mumbai failed to inspire the railbirds who chose to go big on the Padmanabhan ward Ice Glacier, Whomakestherules offered at the nourishing odds of (11/2).  

After tracking the favourite Ice Glacier and the nohoper Turf Striker for most part of the journey, Suraj setalight Whomakestherules at the top of the straight and the top colt uncorked a champagne performance while donkey-licking his rivals in effortless style.  It was a superb effort which had the knowledgeable stand up and  provide a standing ovation to the winner, who next will compete in the Colts Championship Stakes and on the strength of this performance, the Mallesh ward is certain to start the favourite in the second classic though it must be mentioned that  Serjeant At Arms  who is back in work  after recovering from a bout of fever has the style and substance to push Whomakestherules who after his effort on Sunday appears  the best youngster on view at this campus.

After the `duck’  kept chasing young Arvind Ganapathy in his Ooty campaign and Krieger flopped suffering from a testicle problem on Saturday,  Pearl Secret who joined his yard this summer brought the smile back on the face of the unassuming pro. The six to one shot piloted by French saddle artiste David Breux streaked ahead at  the top of the straight and then successfully snuffed out the challenge of another long shot Super Queen to take home the Dharmaprakasha L S Venkaji Rao Memorial Cup. It was David’s maiden victory at this centre and he may add a couple more to his list taking into account that Karthik Ganapathy under his care has a couple of good horses.

The favourite Spirit And Truth from Neil Darashah’s yard posed a few problems to the top pro Sandesh who found it tough to settle the public choice for most part of the trip before finishing third.

On a day the big bettors lost their shirt, not a single public choice including a couple of on-money favourites  biting the dust, the big daddy Rashid Byramji dropped the biggest bombshell, the ten to one shot Erstklassig edging out the Kolkata challenger Running Hand close home in the upper division of the Ministerial Trophy. The even money favourite African Emperor  who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring was withdrawn at the starting stalls. Suraj  produced his best on the winner who has good scope for improvement and it will pay to follow this Rashid Byramji ward again when saddled next.

The lower division of the event was claimed by another lesser fancied winner Sang Royal from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard who produced his best in the final furlong to beat River Dance who was touted as a `moral certainty’ by most track reporters and the Mumbai brigade. Sang Royal like Erstklassig will improve most and the Padmanabhan ward in the months ahead will shape up to be decent performer.

A big gamble on the B Puttanna schooled Nagarjuna  failed in the opening event, the heavily backed contestant finishing a tame third much to the disappointment of his connections who were of the view that Nagarjuna would romp home without  extending himself. Well the seven to one shot Red Admiral nosed out Scorching in the Amazing Grace Plate providing Narayan Gowda another winner this season.

The Zavaray Poonawalla owned Arabelle  garnered top billing in the Poonawalla Stud Plate. The Hyderabad camp fancied Aika Aika Aika strongly and the Prithviraj schooled Emidio too had his fair share of supporters. AikA Aika Aika in the hands of John produced a sparkling gallop past the distance to put the issue beyond doubt. Racing Fire finished a game second ahead of Emidio while Arabelle performed below par.

In the final event, the Romantic Dancer Plate, another on-money favourite from Padmanbhan’s yard failed to justify the support of his connections, Burnished Gold finishing a tame third behind the winner Kapalua from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard and the Neil Darashah-trained Trojan who after dropping his rider and bolting on way to the starting gates produced a gallant effort which caught  the eye of the old hats who are of the view that this grey from Neil’s yard will fly home if campaigned over a seven furlongs trip.

Among the beaten brigade it will pay to follow the Karthik Ganapathy-trained Bold March who finished second behind Whomakestherules in the million and Running Hand from James McKeown’s yard  who looks certain to earn his cornbill if his trainer judiciously places him in his next start.