It rained all through the week and the going without a doubt was heavy. But the managing committee of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) decided to play bold and conduct the eight-event program framed for Saturday. Looking at the conditions it was not a bad decision and BTC must be lauded though it must be mentioned that the deliberate exercise to scale down the real penetrometer reading and to top it all declaring that the going is good was bit of a joke.

Well towards the end the going got sticky with intermittent drizzle and a light shower after the fourth race but the jockeys braved the conditions and went through the drill and the change in the approach and attitude of the jockeys was commendable taking into account that the men donning the silks in the past have cried out in far better conditions. The pros must understand that this is a tough sport and like soccer moderate rain and soft underfoot conditions should not pose a threat.

The Dallas Todywalla-trianed Sydney Harbour who impressed most finishing second behind Arvak in her last essay made every post a winning one in the Juvenile Sprinters’ Million. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring but surprisingly the price offered on her drifted out a trifle and that was largely due to the fact that the connections of Emidio fancied him strongly. Zervan grabbed pole the moment the 10 runners came under the starter’s flag and never let the initiative slip cruising home in effortless style. Emidio followed the winner while the Hyderabad hopeful Aswa Raftar did himself proud taking the third spot ahead of Fabulous Touch.

The principal added attraction, the Chaitanya Chakram Trophy was claimed by another public choice Flamboyance from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard. The winner was piloted in copybook fashion by leading pro Pradeep Chouhan. Torch Bearer found his foot late and again finished second. The Ganapathy schooled Dazzling Bay in his maiden appearance this season caught the eye and is one for the notebook.  Captain Cook and Zucchero, it appeared didn’t really enjoy the underfoot conditions and their efforts in this event are best ignored.

The Deshmukh schooled Et Viola made a smashing debut winning the upper division of the Red Divine Plate in resplendent style. The moment the good type of youngster stormed up and streaked ahead at the top of the straight it was all over bar the shouting.  Et Viola has tremendous scope for improvement and is certain to provide an encore when saddled next. The favourite Antananarivo from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard finished a tame third behind Zafrina confirming that he is just an average type and will need to improve to get into the winners’ circle.

The Sulaiman schooled Duke Of Clarence won the lower division of the event in the hands of Zervan. The winner on the strength of his pleasing performances on the trial track was backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals and he justified the confidence of the turf hawks without really extending himself. Kings Baron finished second ahead of Country’s Bloom who will prove a different proposition after this essay.

James Mckeown’s I Told You Know was the top fancy in the Ich Dien Plate. But little did his master and his supporters know that he is only a below average son of Whatsthescript. The topweighted Burnished Gold from Padmanabhan’s yard won the event snuffing out the challenge of Amazing Skill while I Told You Know gained the third spot only because the three others in the fray were not really in the hunt.

A smart last start winner, Native Elements from Satish Narredu’s yard recorded his second straight success in the upper division of the R S Nagendra Kumar Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The Satish Narredu camp quietly fancied the winner and they had good reason to do that considering the fact that he had won in lower class without really exerting himself. Mariko finished a game second ahead of the favourite Akha Teej while another last start winner Youre Ashwashakthi found this company too hot to handle.

Veteran trainer Samar Singh who is enjoying a good summer led in Lovely Dancer, the hot favourite in the Bhishma Plate. The sticky conditions posed no problem to the public choice who justified his top billing in style to help Samar add one more to the three in his kitty. Rigelray who stood out in the paddock parade and Top Star were withdrawn at the starting gates, in no mood to get into their respective boxes.

The topweighted Possimpossible garnered the maximum support in the concluding event but the favourite raced in patches and finished a poor fourth. The Inayathullah-trained Wise Guy fresh from his success in his last essay produced another fine effort in the hands of the Mumbai apprentice S J Sunil to post his second win pegging back the effort of the second in demand at the betting ring Topaz. Colour Of Gold did well to take the third spot and it will not be long before this Amit Caddy ward earns his cornbill this summer.