Even as his full brother Mystical was stamping his class and proving to be the best among his contemporaries in India with a breath-taking win in the Gr.1 Indian 2000 Guineas, Randsberg has been making belated progress as evidenced by his fluent win in the 2000 metres Stewards Trophy, a race for the horses rated 40 and above, which featured Saturday’s Bangalore races. The big made four-year old gelding Randsberg is a study in contrast with Mystical who is more compact and blessed with a blinding turn of foot whereas the former’s inability to achieve any great heights is because he lacks this decisive quality. He has all along been hopelessly one-paced but now that the big made gelding appears to be well filled and strengthened and showing vast improvement, he can be expected to make as mark in graded races if he lives up to the promise of this win. Randsberg simply left the field stranded after doing all the running and cut a good timing. Randsberg has been consistent without being spectacular. Just two wins have taken him to the highest class. He went into the Stewards Trophy at cramped odds. Jockey Suraj Narredu had him in front and though Baffert continuously paced with him and never allowed him to relax, Randsberg relished the same as he changed gears at the final bend and then sped away for an effortless win by a widening margin of over eight lengths. The Zamindar finished on to snatch the runner up spot from Staranzano and Assessed who were no match for the eventual winner. Trainer Ganapathy’s horses seemed to be in earnest and were inclined to run to merit. Full brother to Rainier, Bold Faith showed plenty of speed and checked in well clear of the field in the 1200 metres Dharwar Plate, a race for juveniles. Chiquittia who came from behind to finish second, should prove her mettle when she runs next and asked to cover more ground. Winner No 2 came through Star Force, full brother to the celebrated Southern Regent, who finally obliged, with a start to finish dash over seven furlongs. Whisper City, who was well supported, did not get a clear run early on and dropped back to the rear of the field and then was finishing on when the race was in the safe keeping of the front-runner. It seemed to be a day for horses whose full brothers were in the news in the recent past. Stride to Glory whose three-year old brother Psychic Strength recently won the Gr.1 Mysore Derby, won the race over seven furlongs though she was showing visible signs of distress under pressure. But Stride To Glory’s win was made easy by jockey Silva Storai who rolled on to the rails from outside, completely squeezing out Sneak Preview who was about to get into full flow. Fioredoro finished second but the resultant objection by jockey Appu against Silva was upheld by the Stewards and Sneak Preview was awarded the second spot. But what was surprising was that Silva was let off with a fine of Rs.5,000 for her dangerous/careless riding when the rules state suspension as the punishment for these infringements. But then nicety for consistency, fair play is not something that the highly opinionated Stewards of BTC comprehend. It was double disaster for punters in the 1200 metres Kehelan Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 45, where the two market fancies Itsmyday and Amatol were in no mood to gallop and performed poorly to finish off the frame. Rank outsider Alla Famiglia put his best foot forward to thwart Demanding close home to give a rude jolt to the punters. Zooming had let down badly as a firm favourite but this time out, at nourishing odds, the son of Major Impact readily obliged. Distributor too came in for support and though the Brave Hunter progeny ran well to finish third, his poor coat did not inspire confidence. Tina’s Triumph came from the rear to snatch the runner up spot in the dying moments of the race. Caramel came in for good support but made no show. The flop of the day was Madam Marina who was backed to the exclusion of his rivals but the favourite found foot when the race was in the safe keeping of Reach Out who finally hit the winning post ahead of the rest after a couple of controversies and jockeys incurring the wrath of the Stewards. Fabuleux Dancer could have won but the filly was hanging in badly and these days jockey Prakash wins only when everything is in his favour. A jockey of his capabilities is surely expected to add some contribution to the success of a horse on his own.