Top trainer Arjun Manglorkar and his trusted general S John produced a par excellence effort on Saturday, combining successfully to win four races in style. The sublime effort helped Arjun streak clear of his main rival S Padmanabhan in the championship race for the top trainer’s title while John is back in the reckoning to rock Sandesh’s boat for the top jockey crown.

The duo opened their account through the on-money favourite Fabulous in the Borsalino Plate before recording a hat-trick through the seven to one shot Storm Ahead and Antananaviro and back in the final event, the double-barell gun fired down one more, another on-money favourite Pallas justifying the top billing to the delight of the followers of form in the Brave Dancer Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs.

This is one summer to remember for Arjun Manglorkar. The top gun won the Fillies Championship Stakes on Commonwealth and Aster Rose, a classy filly from his yard finished second behind Serjeant At Arms in the blue riband of the season, the Kingfisher Ultra Derby. Add to it the 25 winners, Arjun, it is needless to mention will be delighted with his effort this season.

After failing to emerge on top on a couple of occasions, this was one big chance and Arjun geared up for the final challenge shut out his rivals, going for the jugular and settling the issue in emphatic fashion.

This is one moment Arjun will cherish most. He along with Sulaiman Attaollahi and Neil Darashah were looking and working hard to change the top order. And this summer, Arjun and Sulaiman emerged the best, the former on top while Sulaiman recorded a classic double through Serjeant At Arms.

“Well I missed out closely on a couple of occasions, and I’m happy that my horses and my jockey did it this time,” said Arjun while lauding the effort of John.

Arjun and the top young brigade apart who have done well to walk the talk this summer, the Mysore trainer G Srinivas Babu struck through Flash Drive the six-year-old son of Sedgefield winning the Smart Chieftan Trophy run over a mile.

The plum event was an open affair, more than six contestants in the dozen-horse field in with a chance. And it was good to see three apprentice riders finish in top three.  Flash Drive won from Aayan who in fact had beaten Quaker Ridge in Guindy before the Arjun ward recorded a hat-trick this summer and is in line to emerge the champion horse of the season. Ambitious Reward finished third ahead of Torch Bearer.

Coming back to Arjun’s sweetly timed boundary, Fabulous after disappointing big following in his last essay was again backed to the exclusion of his nine rivals. This time out Fabulous had no problem shedding his maiden status in convincing fashion from Inter Flora and Sterling Role. 

Antananarivo was another who made ample amends for his poor run last time out. Debutant Fine Example was also fancied most before he was withdrawn, in no mood to enter the box, but the fact remains that this Prasanna ward would have found it difficult to beat the winner who produced his best on this day. Masada caught the eye while finishing second ahead of Daisy Duke.

Padmanabhan- trained Balian was expected to improve on his last start second and score over the extended mile long trip in the Sans Craintes Stud Plate. Here again John spoilt the party of the favourite producing a late dash to snuff out the challenge of Montenegro and Balian.

Neil Darashah trained Escala recorded an encore winning the Camineto Plate. The public choice Racing Fire never raised a winning gallop and finished in the ruck.  Blue Blazer showed out first at the top of the straight but failed to sustain the challenge of Escala. Lunar Storm did well to grab the second position.

In the Confucious Plate Export Quality opened favourite before Imperial Verse and Perfectebony also came in for some betting. Vivek took the Pradeep Annaiah schooled Perfectebony to the front and the progeny of Mull of Kintyre stayed put in front and held off the strong challenge of Shivalik Girl.

Md Khan trained Scorching got up in time to snuff out the pillar to post attempt of the well backed favourite Desert Gold in the opening event.  New Era covered lot of ground in the end to save place money and with better saddle assistance will earn his cornbill before the curtains are drawn this summer.