It pays to follow form and the followers of form pinned their hopes on the Padmanabhan-trained Mauritania in the Bangalore Turf Club, the plum event on Friday. Back at her parent-centre after chalking out two straight victories at Mysore, Mauritania piloted by Scottish professional David Allan fresh from his classic success at Kolkata hit the front and to the delight of his supporters 

made every post  a winning one. The second in demand at the betting ring, Tutankhamun past the distance post did pose a threat but Mauritania had enough in his tank to snuff out the challenge and romp home a deserving winner while registering a hat-trick. Last start winner Smile Stone produced another game effort to finish third ahead of Subah Ka Tara while Accolade continued to disappoint.

The principal added attraction, the Hoysala Salver was claimed by the top-weighted Mr.Handsome from Satish Narredu's yard. Suraj astride the winner rode a copybook race, biding his time before timing his final challenge to a nicety. The on-money favourite Angelino who had made a smashing debut called the shots and established a winning lead at the top of the straight, but the moment he came under pressure from the winner, the Sulaiman ward caved in and much to the chagrin of the railbirds finished second ahead of Set To Win. 

In the Ghataprabha Plate run over a sprint, the Prithviraj schooled Limato and Sheer Magic from the stables of Azhar Ali topped the betting board at the start before Nostradamus from Kishan Thomas' yard partnered by Darshan gained support. So did Fierce Fighter piloted by Srinath. But Nostradamus it was who produced his best to score from Majestic Rajkumari while Fierce Fighter saved place money edging out Sheer Magic to take the third spot. 

The concluding event, the lower division of the Kodagu Plate saw the eight to one shot Revan Star provide Kishan Thomas a big reason to smile, the trainer recording a profitable double having earlier led in Nostradamus. Starry Wind from trainer Darius Byramji's yard garnered the maximum support in the event, but the overwhelming favourite failed t o break level from the gates and eventually failed to make the frame. The lesser fancied San Bernardino who had fair share of supporters, briefly led the field in the final furlong before T S Jodha packed punch on Revan Star to assume command and peg back the belated effort of Wild Wild Angels. San Bernardino finished third ahead of Birchwood who in his effort to make every post a winning one lacked the gas in the final furlong and had to rest content with the fourth spot.      

Earlier, the favourite Fantastic App proved too good in the opening event, the Hebbe Falls Plate run over 1100M. The public choice piloted by the talented apprentice Antony Raj was confidently supported by most old hats in the game who opined that this Darius ward will be hard to down in this mediocre set. Kanthaka gained the runner-up spot ahead of Tudor Prince while Premier Premises came home fourth. The winner is in good nick and is set to provide an encore when saddled next in the higher class.

On the strength of his suggestive performance in his last essay, the Arjun Manglorkar-trained Casey started the favourite in the Horanadu Plate before money came pouring in on the Dheeraj Venkatswamy schooled Gold Mist. But Casey held his ground and justified favouritism in the hands of leading pro Srinath. Gold Mist finished second ahead of Princess Rumela and Ocean Park who dead-heated for the third spot.

Srinath in the next event, the upper division of the Kodagu Plate run over seven furlongs drove the lesser fancied Allsettogo from Prasanna Kumar's yard to a convincing victory. Touch Of Class from M R Singh's yard was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals in this event but the public choice performed like a dud and finished in the ruck. Piper Regina finished a creditable second ahead of last start winner Deepalika who could have run the first two close had he gained better and stronger assistance from the saddle.