Champion trainer Pesi Shroff did it again. After winning the fillies classic and the Derby on Setalight in 2005, the master struck it rich again this summer, the best filly in his yard Manifold emerging the best of her age in the Fillies Championship Stakes before proudly wearing the Derby sash on Sunday.

Shroff was confident that the bred in the purple filly from the famed Usha Stud Farm owned and bred by Ameeta Mehra had the ability to match strides with the nine best colts in the blue riband of the season.  “She had improved most after her maiden classic success and more importantly she was enjoying the climate and the conditions at this centre. She was in a good frame of mind and she was raring to go,” said the champion immensely pleased with the gutsy effort of the `Queen’ filly’ who produced her best to snuff out the pillar to post attempt of the favourite Castlebridge.

Shroff while lauding the effort of Neeraj Rawal who has shot to fame after joining Pesi Shroff’s camp  disclosed that the top `Knight’ is consistently producing stellar efforts in the big events and is enjoying his moments under the sun. Neeraj and Shroff combined successfully to win the Indian Turf Invitation Cup in March on Temerity and this season the classic double on Manifold is the icing on the cake. Bengaluru has proved lucky for the pair and the two would love to take home a portion of this track.

A delighted Ameeta Mehra revealed that she always thought that Manifold had star potential and she is happy that the top gun has vindicated her belief in the queen’s capabilities.

Trevor Patel who had chosen to guide the fortunes of the Colts Championship Stakes winner Castlebridge hit the front soon after the nine best colts and four classy fillies including Manifold came under the starter’s flag for the big showdown at sundown. Trevor and Castlebridge called the shots all through the backstretch and half the straight before Neeraj packed punch on Manifold and the plucky filly produced  a timely winning gallop to peg back the top colt close home. It really was a sublime effort from the champion and she richly deserved the Derby sash. Olympia Fields did well to gain the third spot ahead of Kangra while Perfect Star from Karthik Ganapathy’s yard who had impressed most while finishing an impressive second behind Castlebridge in the Colts failed to make the frame.

The Darius Byramji schooled Prevalent Force who was strongly fancied to score in the Chennai Cup justified the confidence of his supporters romping home in the hands of leading pro Srinath. Mygrator from Mallesh Narredu’s yard who also had a fair share of followers finished second ahead of Turf Magic.

Earlier and before the legendary trainer Rashid Byramji called it a day, his bahu Parvati Byramji led in her first winner, China One, who proved too good in the upper division of the Mumbai Cup. The Prithviraj-trained Miniver Rose on the strength of her facile win in her last essay was heavily backed to provide an encore but all that the filly managed was to dig deep holes in the pockets of her followers, finishing in the ruck. The lower division of the event was claimed by the public choice Vallee Sceptre from Hyderabad-based pro Faisal Hassan’s yard. Day Flower who failed to gain a favourable position early on in the race was seen finishing on fastest at end and is one for the notebook.

In the Mysore Cup, apart from Pinyada who pulled out in the morning, the two fancied contestants, Oslo Court and Antiquarian were withdrawn at the starting gates and this made the task of the favourite Don Dela Vega  simple at end, Prashanth Dhebe raising no sweat while booting home the Prasanna Kumar ward.

Another favourite Fabulous from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard won the Kolkata Cup run over nine furlongs in a thriller from Magistero and the topweighted Watchmyscript. The winner is in rousing form and is in line for a hat-trick.

The well supported Prize Finder from Lokanath Gowda’s yard came up tops in the Delhi Cup. The in-form apprentice Rayan Ahmed confidently piloted the winner. Freestyle finished second ahead of Wind Striker.

In the opening event, the Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled  Athena was touted a `moral certainty’ but she met a tartar in Dr.Logan who recorded his maiden success in style.