After Arjun Manglorkar made sure that he will emerge the champion this summer last week, champion saddle artiste S John who had tied with Sandesh, now has established a clear three point lead over the top Mumbai pro and taking into account that the winter champion is riding like one possessed, converting half chances, he is the firm favourite to wear the champion jockey crown.

John produced another exemplary effort on Saturday booting home four winners. The top drawer performance was an object lesson to the many young hopefuls looking to successfully don silks in this gallop to fame game.  

John opened his account through the favourite Irish Prince in the opening event.  The top gun was under no pressure even though Imran Khan astride Campfire had built a sizeable lead before negotiating the final curve. He knew he had a ton in hand and the moment he setalight the public choice, the Sharath Kumar ward sped through and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong.

After Sandesh again equalled the score packing punch on the Nithyanand schooled Shan Ben Aari in the Commanche Trophy, John was at his best on Coldstream in the upper division of the Tippu Sultan Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs.  The Lieutenant, Dazzling Bay and Havelock Prince cornered fair support in what was out an out an open race. Havelock Prince impressed most in the paddock parade while The Lieutenant looked a trifle gross.  Havelock Prince held the edge when the race came on a boil, The Lieutenant out of it and Dazzling Bay too failing to make an impression. Quick on the drawn to grab the half chance on offer John got into Coldstream and boy it did pay off, the Arjun ward shifting gear to edge out Havelock Prince close home. Dazzling Bay finished a tame third while The Lieutenant finished in the ruck.

Back on the highly rated Sheryl, another from Arjun’s yard who is striking at will, the close in fielders posing no problem to the man in form, a confident John judged the pace to a  nicety, before timing his final challenge in the Bangalore Summer Million, the plum event run over a mile. This is Sheryl’s third straight success after the disaster on debut and she is now in the reckoning for the champion horse of the season title along with stablemate Quaker Ridge and New Prince.  

After the treble, John missed out on the public rage Kapalua in the Galilee Plate, the on-money favourite failing to match strides with Atlantis who made every post a winning one in the hands of Kiran Naidu.

In the concluding event, John astride the five to one shot Bonfire from Mohd.Khan’s yard produced another stellar effort to down the Sandesh  partnered Sans Peur from trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard.  Sandesh it was clear was under pressure in this event. The Mumbai pro knowing that he was  two behind in his effort to bridge the gap went a little too fast and played it straight into the hands of John who drove Bonfire relentlessly in the final furlong to sign off in style. Kingston Town finished a fair third but the one who impressed most was Zodiac from Neil Darashah’s yard who will canter home when next saddled.

Earlier the ten to one shot I’ve Got Clout produced a winning gallop at the distance post to win the Yeravada Stud Plate. The winner appeared to have sported wings today after finishing down the field in his last essay.  How can a horse improve by more than 10-15 lengths in three weeks defies logic.  This stunning reversal of forms are killing followers of form and the stipes at this centre appear to have no knowledge or they simply are not doing the homework.  While the stipes at Mysore have done a commendable job fearlessly booking and punishing the offenders for form reversals, the BTC stipes it appears are too happy to let go the game planners and gamble makers scot free. It is time the stewards crack a whip before the punters run riot demanding better vigilance and clean racing.

The runner-up Frizbee too like I’ve Got Cloat appears to have changed his legs and that left the supporters of the favourite Vicious Circle thinking how vicious the people can be and how vicious the game has turned.