Despite the fact that he performed below par in his last essay over a seven furlongs trip, finishing a poor fourth in a event won by Abira, who finished a creditable second in her next essay in the 1000 Guineas won by Cosmic Ray, the connections of Northern Alliance from young Neil Devaney's yard fancied the colt to come good in the second classic of the season, the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club Mysore 2000 Guineas and the talented son of Gusto out of Allonia did just that to the delight of her owners, chalking out his maiden classic success even after he lost a couple of lengths at the start and then hung out and raced wide all through the final stretch, but yet managed to produce a sparkling gallop to romp home a deserving winner, edging out rankoutsider Malwa from the stables of Sulaiman Attaollahi close home. Suraj, who piloted the champion colt produced an exemplary effort on the winner, exercising control on his mount who was drifting out badly towards the sand track before packing punch in the final furlong to gain the day. Suraj last week guided home Cosmic Ray in the 1000 Guineas and that effectively puts him in line for the Grand Slam this season, his next target the blue riband of the season, the Derby next month. Now that he has partnered Cosmic Ray and Northern Alliance, Suraj may find it hard to decide between the colt and the filly and it is needless to mention that he will take time out before he makes his final choice after ascertaining the form a week before the mega event. Abira finished third ahead of Star Cavalry, while Southern Ruler who had the best credentials despite being a maiden, it was clear needed this run. 

The principal added attraction, the Mayor's Cup was claimed by the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Point To Prove who made every post a winning one over the mile long trip. Neeraj Rawal astride the winner pushed the favourite to the front soon after eight runners came under the starter's flag and Point To Prove never let the initiative slip romping home in effortless style. A facile last start winner, Mystic Flame from Parvati Byramji's yard finished second ahead of Striking Grey while Grand Tenton filled the frame. Now that Point To Prove has broken ice, he is certain to add a couple of more wins in the months ahead. 

Neeraj later booted home the five to one shot Decisive in the upper division of the Esquire Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner from the stables of Faraz Arshad, who led in Lousiana on Thursday had impressed most finishing second behind the talented Defender in his last essay over an identical trip, but the followers of form ignored this effort and chose to pin their hopes on the Arvind Ganapathy ward Musterion and Helenka who was strongly fancied by the Kishan Thomas camp. Helenka in this whipless event led briefly before she lost pace and it was clear that the mare was out of it even before the dozen horses negotiated the final curve. The topweighted Magic Stream who had shed her maiden status in her last start and the well supported Musterion engaged in a grim battle at the distance post before Decisive produced a good turn of foot to edge out Musterion close home. Magic Stream managed to only save place money. 

The Michael Eshwer-trained Butterfly opened the favourite in the Udhagamandalam Trophy run over a sprint before the price on the public choice quickly doubled suggesting that all was not well with this speedy filly. Cyclone was quietly and sweetly fancied by the Rakesh camp to upset the applecart of the Butterfly and he did just that cruising home in the hands of jockey Umesh. Rakesh and Umesh who recorded a fine double on the day of the first classic again recorded a double, with Cavarozzi and Cyclone again on a classic day.  Cyclone swaped the opposition in the Udhagamandalm Trophy after Umesh booted home Cavarozzi in the Sea Mist Plate run over a mile. The Rakesh and Umesh `Jodi' appears in great nick and all credit to Rakesh for maintaining the winning streak while taking on the higher rated horses from Bengaluru and their trainers who pose as big brothers when they come down to Mysore for the regular season. 

The Sharvanan schooled Ireland was backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals in the concluding event, the Hognekal Plate run over a sprint and the seven-year-old justified the confidence of his supporters donkey-licking his seven rivals in the hands of jockey Rajesh Kumar. Surprise Package surprised most gaining the runner-up berth ahead of At The Top. The second placed performer should benefit most from this run and it will pay to follow this Kamath ward in the weeks ahead. 

In the opening event, the lower division of the Esquire Plate, another public choice Great Celebration from Azhar Ali's yard registered his second straight success edging out lesser fancied Karadeniz by the shortest of margins on the final stride. The runner-up in his pillar to post attempt was seen tiring in the final 100 metres suggesting that the trips beyond six furlongs are a trifle beyond his compass. Admirable from Sharath Kumar's yard, who too had her fair share of supporters found the first two too hot to handle and had to rest content with the third spot.