After Sir Cecil, the racing buffs were eager to watch Star Superior in action. The classic hopeful on Friday provided them joy winning the Youngsters Million in emphatic fashion. The two will square-off next in the Colts Championship Stakes and that is one race that the railbirds are now looking forward to this summer season.

The Rajesh Narredu schooled Star Superior after proving his mettle in Mumbai was seen consistently producing heartwarming performances on the trial track and that’s one big reason why the bookies chose to retain him as the overwhelming on-money favourite despite a couple of outstation trainers fancying their wards to upset the applecart of the favourite. But that did not happen and the star performer in the hands of Suraj Narredu put the issue beyond doubt two furlongs from home.

The Hyderabad hopeful Super Dart set a good pace followed closely by the Mumbai challenger Pioneer and Star Superior for most part of the seven furlongs trip. The moment Suraj negotiated the final curve he setalight the public choice and the top colt powered through to score in resplendent style. Rikki Tikki Tavi ran on well towards the close to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Athenaeus. Pioneer, it is learnt burst his blood vessels and finished in the ruck.

The moment Velocidad from trainer Pradeep Annaiah’s yard was withdrawn at the starting gates, the Arjun Mangalorkar-trained Mea Culpa garnered good support and she provided her supporters a reason to smile edging out the lesser fancied The Invader by the shortest of margins in the Prince Khartoum Trophy run over a sprint. Most Welcome finished third ahead of Gerontocrat who is likely to earn his winning bracket soon.

Prasanna Kumar schooled Corybantic proved too good in the V T Velu Memorial Trophy run over a mile. The five to one shot tracked Cantabria all through the back-stretch before Jockey Kuldeep Singh reminded him of the task ahead at the top of the straight and the winner responding gamely to Kuldeep’s call stormed through to score in convincing fashion. The second in demand at the betting ring, Nitromax only could finish second while Fresh Start earned place money for his few supporters.

Neil Devaney’s San Bernardino produced a fine effort in the upper division of the Mamma’s Mink Plate. The winner who was seen improving at every stage of the sprint trip raced past the heavily backed Spirit Of London in the final furlong to make his owners proud.

Lesser fancied Country`s Bloom, from the stables of Faraz Arshad won the lower division of the race thanks to the shoddy effort of jockey J Pradeep astride Amaethon. Smile of Peace led from the word go before Country`s Bloom stole a march at the distance post. Amaethon, who was seen gracing the wrong end of the field, his jockey Pradeep content and happy, flew the moment Pradeep shook him up half-heartedly and gained the runner-up berth, a `neck’ separating him from the winner. Pradeep’s effort on the runner-up calls for an explanation, but knowing that the stipes at this centre don’t pull up the offenders never mind punters losing out, Pradeep may get the benefit of doubt. 

Sharat Kumar-trained Irish Prince who had his fair share of supporters came out trumps in the upper division of the Belmont Park Plate. The punters were finding where the favourite Find was the moment 11 contestants came under the starter’s flag. The public choice for more reasons than one lost five to six lengths at the start and with that all his chances to score.

The Arvind Ganapathy-trained Tudor Prince hit the front and was going nicely till he went phut like a pricked balloon approaching the distance post. Irish Prince at this juncture produced a winning gallop to edge out Incitatus and retire home a deserving winner. White Snowdrops finished third and it will not be long before this grey earns her cornbill this season.