The leading Chennai trainer B Suresh, the gutsy Cavallo Veloce from his yard and the trusted pilot Imran Khan added another plum to their list, the game galloper coming up trumps in the H H Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy on Wednesday. You like it or not ,Cavallo Veloce has always produced his best when he is pitted against the best. He, it appears loves a challenge and up against Knotty Ash from trainer Prasanna Kumar's yard, who registered a splendid  hat-trick in the Bangalore summer season and Tutankhamun a top of the line performer, Cavallo Veloce in the hands of Imran Khan produced another stellar effort to floor the followers of form. The lesser fancied contestant after tracking the fancied duo Knotty Ash and Tutankhamun for most part of the seven furlongs unleashed a brilliant turn of foot to romp home a deserving winner. The top favourite Knotty Ash in his customary start to finish effort found the B Suresh ward too hot to handle in the final furlong and had to rest content with the runner-up berth while Tutankhamun came home third ahead of the last start winner Merlot. Cavallo Veloce's effort, it is needless to mention pleased Suresh most and more importantly provided a shot in-the-arm for Chennai trainers who now can dare to travel to other centres provided they have quality performers under their care. 

The principal added attraction, the H H Sri Chamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy was claimed by another lesser fancied winner Aeisir from Pradeep Annaiah's yard. The winner powerfully piloted by the talented Darshan streaked ahead close home and pegged back the overwhelming favourite Master Of Universe who reportedly came back lame. Areca Legend who made all the early running did well to hang on to the third spot ahead of the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Courage who looked good and will prove to be a different proposition next time out. 

The upper division of the J F Foley Memorial Trophy saw rankoutsider Nikka from Vishal Yadav's yard partnered by apprentice jockey Akshay lose out in the stewards room following a successful objection by another apprentice Azfar Syed who had finished third astride Mint. Azfar protested that Nikka alarmingly shifted out in the final furlong and badly interfered with his progress and that this cost him dear.The stewards rightly upheld the protest and the winner Nikka was placed third behind Mint while the runner-up Lord Isley, was declared the winner. The favourite Super Success in this event raced in patches and it was clear even before the race came on a boil that the public choice was never really in the hunt. 

The lower division of the event was claimed by the public rage Turf Magic from trainer S Ganapathy's yard. The winner who looked head and shoulders above her 11 rivals justified the confidence of her supporters while the top pro Srinath guided the mare nice and easy all through the sprint trip. Spirit Of London finished a creditable second and is one for the note book.

In a pulse-pounding finish, Trevor Patel guiding the fortunes of the on-money favourite Streaming Gold from Arjun Manglorkar's yard edged out long shot Dreams United by the proverbial whisker in the Kumaradhara Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs. The top fancy after confidently striding ahead at the top of the straight was in a spot of bother the moment Dreams United stormed up to challenge the leader and after a ding-dong battle in the final furlong gained the day to the delight of the big bettors. A trifle unlucky Dreams United is certain to enter the winners' circle when saddled next. Track Striker finished third ahead of rare Rhythm who appears to have improved after a couple of listless efforts. 

After surviving a real scare on Steaming Gold, Trevor lost out on another on-money favourite Punjabi Girl from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard in the P Shanker Memorial Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The `girl' who had failed to earn her cornbill all summer was fancied most to resume her winning ways taking into account that she was up against mediocre opposition. But the short-priced favourite flopped badly and took a lot of good and big money down the drain. The 20 to one shot Star Of Thea from Poorna Tejeswi's yard dropped a bombshell cantering home in the hands of apprentice Md Mushraf. Rafa from the stables of Dominic who was strongly fancied in place finished second ahead of Punjabi Girl while New Moon filled the frame. 

It appeared that the well-backed Perfect Legacy had no challengers in the final event, the Paddock Plate run over a sprint. Not one among the dozen contestants it was clear was not interested to lock swords with Perfect Legacy and this made the task of John simple, assuming command at the distance post before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Ascendancy finished second ahead of Celtic Mist who caught the eye with a late burst and it will not be long before this Bobby ward stands tall at the podium. 

The judiciously prepared Star Binder won the opening event, the Eclipse Plate in the hands of Umesh. The winner from the stables of Rakesh is on top of his game and is set to provide an encore. Even Money who finished a game second too has improved most and it will pay to follow the two in the weeks ahead.