After being fried on the Chennai Derby day, all favourites playing truant, the punters got roasted at the Bangalore winter races on Friday, a solitary public choice Bernardini justifying his top billing in the nine-event card. The in-form Irfan Ghatala ward, who had completed a hat-trick of wins in his last essay maintained his winning streak registering his fourth straight win in the Kempe Gowda Cup, the plum event run over a mile.

On the strength of his hat-trick and the fact that he was getting better with each run, Bernardini was fancied most in the feature event. Mystic Flame from trainer Parvati Byramji’s yard too had his share of followers. But the moment Umesh guiding the fortunes of the favourite pushed Bernardini to the front and dictated the pace, it was clear that the public choice enjoying the front running role would be hard to down and that’s exactly what Bernardini did, cruising home without unduly being extended. Mystic Flame did well to gain the runner-up spot ahead of Velocidad, while Into The Groove filled the frame. The winner is in rousing form and is in line for the Horse Of The Season crown this winter.

Irfan earlier led in Show Girl who appears to have struck a good partnership with Vaibhav recording her second straight success. From no show to winning twice, this `Girl’ has produced her best in the hands of Vaibhav and could well complete a hat-trick of wins if her connections judiciously place her in the higher class. The favourite Adela from trainer Neil Darashah’s yard who found Show Girl too hot to handle gained the runner-up berth ahead of Winx while Zala Princess came home fourth.

Leading trainer Padmanabhan combined effectively with his top pilot David Allan to record a nourishing double through Rani Jindan and Royal Resolution. The former won the juvenile event, the Black Caviar Plate on her debut, pegging back the strongly fancied Sherwin from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard. Nisus from Prasanna Kumar’s yard raced in patches to take the third spot ahead of Jack Ryan. Nisus with the benefit of this run under his belt will prove to be a different proposition next time out.

After failing to justify favouritism in his last essay, Royal Resolution made every post a winning one in the upper division of the Makybe Diva Trophy run over a sprint. The winner is in fine nick and it will pay to follow this Padmanabhan ward again next time out. The Prithviraj schooled Secretsuperstar who was fancied most tracked the winner for most part of the trip before she ran out of gas and only managed to make the board. Aceros finished second ahead of Wings Of Desire who is finding it tough to get into the winners’ circle in this class.

Samar Singh was one other trainer who recorded a double through two long shots, Dallas and Singhsaab. The former surprised most chalking out a facile victory in the lower division of the Premium Spirit Plate run over a sprint. Apprentice jockey Arvind Kumar produced a promising effort on the winner who after a brief duel with Smile Of Peace powered home to the delight of the young apprentice. The on-money favourite Zehnaseeb from trainer Kishan Thomas’ yard who had caught the eye in her last effort while finishing a creditable third failed to improve on that effort and as a result ended up taking a lot of good money down the drain.

After Dallas, Samar Singh led in Singhsaab, a shock winner of the Gadag Plate. The Dominic-trained Silver Swift and Mrs Thatcher opened favourites before the latter drifted out, offered at (4/1) while Silver Swift gained good support. But the fancied `Jodi’ to the delight of the bookmakers, who happily took many pink sacks home this week, went out of the window. Singhsaab piloted by Naveen came up tops edging out Estella while the public choice Silver Swift after prominently racing till the top of the straight flopped and eventually finished in the ruck.

The Prasanna Kumar-trained Corona Del Corsa claimed the Dharwad Plate in the hands of Hyderabad ace Akshay Kumar. The winner snuffed out the challenge of Excellent Sorrento from Azhar Ali’s yard in convincing style. Akita Pro saved money in place while the topweighted  Ashwa Raftar, who had finished a suggestive second in his last effort failed to reproduce that effort and only managed to make the board, much to the disappointment of his supporters who had strongly fancied him to score in this moderate set.

The lower division of the Makybe Diva Trophy saw Yerwazan from Pradeep Anniah’s yard garner the maximum support. The Prithviraj camp who had lost big on Secretsuperstar pinned their hopes on Candlelightqueen to recoup their losses. Again the `Jodi’ went out, this time through the big door, both fancied runners failing to even save money in place. The ten to one shot Benediction from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard partnered by Imran Chisty made every post a winning one comfortably beating Simone who was in line for a hat-trick. Princeazeem did well to finish third ahead of Yerwazan.

On the strength of her impressive victory in her last essay, She’s Innocent was backed to the exclusion of her 10 rivals in the concluding event, the upper division of the Premium Spirit Plate run over a sprint. The Azhar Ali ward who opened (18/10) was hammered down to even-money before the 11 runners came under the starter’s flag. John astride the top choice failed to gain a favourable position early on in the event and this cost She’s Innocent dear at end, the public choice finishing a close second from a belated effort. Unfancied Look Out in the hands of Kiran Rai gained the day while Amazonite from Irfan’s yard who bolted to the front from the word go held on to take the third spot ahead of Chula Vista.