The Scottish pro David Allan did it. He booted home the Padmanabhan-trained Mauritania to register his 23rd classic success in India and with that bettered the existing record of 22 in the name of all-time great Sandy Barclay. Mauritania made every post a winning one in the second classic of the season, the Shapoorji Pallonji Oil And Gas 2000 Guineas and the result, it is needless to mention did bring cheer to the Poonawalla farm, the first season sire Excellent Art's maiden classic success. 

While David produced a top effort on the winner, Suraj who like David is enjoying a fine winter just couldn't get everything right while partnering the favourite Tutankhamun on the big day. May be the change in equipment on the public choice too may have made the task of Tutankhamun and Suraj difficult and that's simply because Tutankhamun didn't seem to enjoy his classic journey and it was clear that he was not at his best. But that should not take the credit away from David, Mauritania and Padmanabhan who had done their homework well and stole the race, setting his own pace and outwitting the others in the straight. The Irfan Ghatala ward Automatic did well to finish second ahead of the favourite while Capo De Capi and Botswana Bolt too produced gallant efforts.    

Shining Magic brought the smile back on the face of trainer Sharath Kumar who is going through a bad patch. The 15 to one shot won the Hoysala Plate in convincing style much to the chagrin of the followers of form who pinned their hopes on Justice Angel. The overwhelming favourite tracked the leader Mickey Mouse for most part of the sprint trip before she went phut like a pricked balloon at the top of the straight and shockingly finished off the frame. Suraj astride the public choice, it is learnt accidently was kicked by Antananarivo and he appeared to be in pain before he got up and felt good enough to ride. But the `Angel' didn't help and Suraj opted out from partnering another public choice Shivalik Crown in the concluding event. 

Most punters after the result of the Hoysala Plate were upset that the horse was not withdrawn after the jockey had a traumatic blow to his leg. But the decision makers at the starting gate to say the least viewed all this with a blind eye. The fact that the rider was hurt and in pain and that Justice Angel was carrying bags of money was reason enough for the men to withdraw the top fancy. But that didn't happen and the poor punters ended up losing out big.

Malawi is one horse in Sulaiman's yard who has made it a habit of performing below par each time she is fancied to score. She did it again in the Dr K T B Menon Memorial Trophy. The favourite struggled to gain a favourable position early on in the sprint event and only plodded in to take the fourth spot. Dont  Dilly Dally was also fancied most in this event but he could only finish second behind Noahs Ark who was tipped to score by the insiders and right connections in the Neil Devaney camp.

In the upper division of the Ranganathittu Plate money came pouring in on Shivalik Crown and he looked set to score before the finishing brilliance of four-year-old Dazzling Beauty spoilt his party. 

Satish Narredu trained Dynamism won the lower division of the event at nourishing odds of (8/1) with a well-timed run down the final furlong.The favourite Dancing Dragon flopped, another to bit the dust in the long list of fancied horses who have failed to enter the winners' circle in the hands of Prashanth Dhebe this week. 

Prasanna Kumar-trained Allsettogo just about managed to justify her top billing in the opening event snuffing out the belated effort of Shivalik Boy. Prince ran on to finish third ahead of Smile of Courage.