After a couple of dismal seasons, Ganapathy started the winter with a bang.  Bold Command brilliantly piloted by top pro Y S Srinath winning the first plum of the season, the Rajyotsava Trophy in emphatic fashion.  The trainer, it is needless to mention was delighted.  He had fancied Bold Command most in his first attempt in the Mysore season when the game galloper lost out to Starlet before he finished of the frame in a race which Auriga won comfortably.

Disappointed, Ganapathy chose to provide the game galloper a break before he set Rajyotsava Trophy his first target. The first-day, first-show strike came as a big relief while providing hope for the rest of the season.  “He is a good horse. And I decided to lay him off after his below par effort at Mysore. He came into this race nice and fresh and that proved decisive,” said Ganapathy.  

The winner was available at  (5/1) in the betting ring simply because Bold Command  had only managed to take a lot of good money down the drain at Mysore and in his final essay in the Bangalore summer season. Srinath confidently guided Bold Command nice and easy all through the seven furlongs trip before he setalight the Ganapathy ward approaching the distance post to romp home a deserving winner. Ace Bucephalus from Irfan Ghatala’s yard finished a game second while the favourite Booker Jones failed to make the frame.

The upper division of the Garden City Trophy, the principal added attraction, was claimed by the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Downton Abbey piloted by leading pro S John. The second in demand at the betting ring was quietly fancied by the right connections and she justified the confidence of her supporters winning by a big five-length margin from Super Success and Trapezoid. The favourite Life Awaits jumped out with his rider Srinath standing at the gates and the Stewards after a needlessly long deliberation decided to declare the public choice a non starter after Srinath pointed out that he was not ready when the starter had downed the flag.  Super Success partnered by apprentice jockey Prashant, it appeared was more keen on getting a run under his belt rather than winning and the same applies to the Gregory Sandhu schooled Trapezoid who finished an eye-catching unextended third.

The lower division of the event also went in favour of the Arjun-John combination, the five to one shot Millrose showing a clean pair of heels to Mariko and I Smile. The public rage Akha Teej from Rashid Byramji’s yard, it appeared had lost his galloping shoes, not able to keep pace and eventually finishing in the ruck.

“After finishing on top this summer it feels good to start the winter with a double and hopefully the winning streak continues,” said Arjun.

The Irfan Ghatala group landed a good gamble on Watchmyscript in the Chickballapur Plate run over a mile. The winner opened at the nourishing odds of (5/1) before the connections went bang-bang in the betting ring and Watchmyscript was quoted at (3/1) before the nine runners came under the starter’s flag.  Zervan astride the much improved performer didn’t really need to raise a sweat, the Irfan ward making it a one-horse race even before the final furlong. The favourite Magistero from Ganapathy’s yard raced in patches and finished a poor fourth. Towering Heights finished second ahead of Reference and that makes it clear that the Darius ward is best suited only for sprints.

The Sab-Kla Plate was a straight two-horse affair, Szable from Sulaiman’s yard and Rare Rhythm from the stables of Prasanna garnering equal support before Szable gained the top billing minutes before the start. The favourite made every post a winning one comfortably pegging back the challenge of Rare Rhythm who appeared to have needed this run and will be hard to down when saddled next. Tamara dragged Deepak Patel to the third sport and it will not be long before this Dominic’s ward enters the winners’ circle.

The Inayathullah schooled Celestial Storm was the only unfancied winner in the eight-event card, winning the Dandeli Plate in the hands of Ashok Kumar. Luc Divine partnered by the Frenchman Cedric Segeon was the overwhelming public choice but the favourite failed to put the right stride ahead. Rock N Rolla back after his smashing win in Mysore looked set to record his second straight win before Celestial Storm spoilt the Rock N Roll party.

The opening event was claimed by the second in demand at the betting ring Siyouni from trainer Satish Narredu’s yard. Suraj piloted his dad’s ward to snuff out the challenge of the favourite Zafran. Call Me Maybe, it appeared was only testing the conditions and so too Tudor Prince who will prove to be a different proposition when saddled next.

After winning the first race, Suraj recorded a double through the well-backed even-money favourite Romantic Helen in the concluding event. Helen looked good at the paddock parade before she waltzed to victory without needing to produce her best. Now that the Samar Singh filly has registered her maiden success it will pay to watch `Helen’ sing and dance again in her next start.