Padmanabhan-trained Big Sur produced his best when it mattered most. Competing in the Karnataka Mile Championship, the feature event on Friday, Big Sur who enjoyed a significant handicap advantage was fancied most and he readily justified the confidence of his connections setting his own pace before outwitting his arch rival Psychic Force comfortably.The Darius Byramji ward at one stage looked set to test the winner, but the Padmanabhan trainee kicked clear and proved too good in the end.

It appears that trainer Irfan Ghatala finally woke up after choosing to play Rip Van Winkle for most part of the summer season. Back after recording a good double on Thursday, Irfan added two more wins to his tally to the delight of his supporters. Palm Reader in the opening event, the Track Lightning Stakes was strongly fancied and Suraj Narredu guiding the fortunes of the public choice had it easy, the winner producing a good gallop to shed his maiden status in style. Palm Reader, it is needless to mention will improve most after this effort and it will pay to again follow the Irfan ward when saddled next.  

Darius Byramji’s in-form Cosmos completed a hat-trick winning the Jayant Shah Memorial Trophy run over a distance of nine furlongs. The Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled Angelino who topped the betting board in his attempt to make every post a winning one went out of gas in the final furlong and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. A smart last start winner Kirkwood from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard found the first two too hot handle and was satisfied with the third spot.
 
Leading trainer Prasanna Kumar brought off a successful gamble on Fictioneer in the  Treasure Girl Plate run over a sprint. Tiger Returns and Charmaine garnered good support at the start before the right connections started to place good sizeable bets on Fictioneer and the winner justified the confidence reposed in him cantering home to the delight of the Prasanna camp. Tiger Returns finished second while all Charmaine could do was to only save place money.

The lesser fancied Aerospeed reigned supreme in the whipless Bold Gesture Plate. Admirable from Sharath Kumar’s yard was backed down and closed a firm favourite while the odds on Himachali drifted out. Apprentice jockey Md Akram took the Samar Singh trainee to the front and successfully pegged back the challenge of Admirable. Himachali continued to disappoint and the grey is best left ignored until the Neil Devaney ward sheds the chicken-hearted attitude. 

The Dominic schooled Renegade who finished a game second after a controversial decision of the stipes who insisted to race the Dominic ward despite the trainer requesting to opt out gained the top billing in the Southern Regent Plate. Last start winner Winall who opened the overwhelming favourite was offered at lucrative price after money came pouring in on Renegaade. But it was the Irfan-trained Akita Pro who cut the `Jodi’ to size romping home a convincing winner.
 
The concluding event, the Epsom Plate saw the heavily supported favourite Silent Guardian from the stables of trainer Neil Darashah pull up lame a furlong from the start before he stopped galloping much to the chagrin of the followers of form. The second in demand at the betting ring No Opinion looked set to score before she veered out of a straight course which allowed long shot Red Indian to shoot through and record a shock win.