`Nelson' is the ,much feared score of 111 made either by a team or an individual. in cricket. It's considered unlucky simply because 111 resembles three stumps without bails, which obviously equates to a dismissal. But 111 proved lucky for Kensington and Diamond Band Racing Syndicate represented by Shiven Surendranath, Haider Soomar, Kersi H Vachha and Sumit Mazumder. The classy Arjun Manglorkar ward had won the Deccan Colts Championship 111 days ago in Malakpet (Hyderabad) and 111 days after his last essay, Kensington won the Bangalore 2000 Guineas, his second classic success on Saturday. His next target  will be the winter Derby on the Republic Day. And that is not happening 111 days from Christmas, but for Kensington it could well be 111 on D-day, three straight classic victories and that again is posted as 111. 

The Padmanabhan-trained Ascoval garnered the maximum support in what appeared a very open classic affair. Obsidian from trainer Prasanna Kumar's yard and Kensington were quoted at (4/1), while Ascoval was offered at (11/4) in the betting ring before the eight top colts at this campus came under the starter's flag for the mile long second classic. Obsidian piloted by Sandesh hit the front and set a decent pace all through the backstretch. Irish `Knight' Shane Grey guiding the fortunes of Ascoval followed the leader ahead of Southern Dynasty and Imperial Blue, while the four others chose to play the waiting game. 

At the top of the straight, it appeared that Ascoval was travelling nice and easy, Grey in no hurry to assume command. But the moment he was challenged, first by Southern Dynasty and then by Evaldo and Kensington, Ascoval and Grey buckled under pressure and soon it was Kensington and Evaldo from Prasanna Kumar's yard who were locked in a classic battle before Kensington and Antony Raj gained the day, a `neck' separating the two at the wire. Southern Dynasty did well to hang on to the third spot ahead of Imperial Blue, while Ascoval and Obsidian failed to figure in the big classic picture frame. 

All credit to leading trainer Arjun Manglorkar and Antony Raj who has impressed most this season. The promising saddle artiste had partnered Kensington in his classic success at Hyderabad and back guiding the fortunes of the champion colt in the second classic at his home centre, Antony produced another stellar effort to the delight of the syndicate. The fact that Evaldo ran Kensington close was good consolation for the Prasanna camp, taking into account that the much fancied Obsidian clearly lacks the ability to make his presence felt on the big stage and the gelding is not running two races alike. Ascoval for more reasons than one has just not lived upto the debut promise. And most pundits are of the view that the mile is beyond his compass and that he will revel only over sprints. But considering the fact that pundits often jump the gun, it would be wise to give it sometime before arriving at conclusions, though it is clear that Ascoval now needs to climb a mountain to stay in classic contention. 

Like Evaldo provided some consolation for Prasanna, Setareh in the opener provided Padmanabhan joy winning the Buckpasser Plate for three-year-old maidens in style. Setareh who suffered a minor setback in training is back jumping out of his skin and this daughter of Win Legend is certain to make a big impression in the weeks ahead. Divine Blessings finished second ahead of Lords Of Legend while the favourite Measure Of Time performed below par. 

Acaster from Pradeep Annaiah's yard was fancied most in the next event, the Human Rights Day Plate run over a mile, but the public choice found the going tough against the impressive winner Capable and runner-up Dream Chaser and had to rest content with the third spot. The 15 to one shot Capable from Sharath Kumar's yard in the hands of M Naveen bolted in, much to the chagrin of the followers of form and on the strength of this performance is likely to provide an encore when saddled next. 

Many knowledgeable have forgotten how many times General Patton has flopped as a favourite in his career so far. This Arjun Manglorkar ward again was again fancied most in the lower division of the Shanti Falls Plate run over a sprint and the `General'  again performed worse than a foot soldier, finishing a tame third behind the lesser fancied winner Galactical and the runner-up Rightly Noble. Anne Boleyn in her effort to make every post a winning one lacked the gas in the tank to keep going in the final furlong and it is wise to ignore this Dominic ward till she starts to show some spark in her efforts in the months ahead. 

Spectacular was one other from the Padmanabhan camp who let down large following. The bred in the purple filly, who finished down the field in her last effort had impressed most in the morning trials indicating that all is well with her and soon she will enter the winners' circle. But sadly that didn't happen and Spectacular again took a lot of good money down the drain struggling to make the frame. Armory from Prasanna Kumar's yard won the Phar Lap Plate from Perfect Empress and Electric Blue. From the stables of Parvati Byramji, Electric Blue was seen covering good ground and finishing on strongest at the finish and it will surprise most if this Parvati filly failed to stand tall at the podium, in her next effort. 

Aachen from Irfan Ghatala's yard was the first favourite to score on the classic day after four had earlier taken a back seat. The winner piloted in copybook fashion by Umesh, who is booting home winners at all premier centres, produced a winning gallop the moment Umesh packed punch . Wings Of Desire did well to gain the runner-up spot ahead of the moody Starry Wind, while Alberetta, stablemate of Aachen is certain to earn his cornbill in the weeks ahead. 

Trainer Kishan Thomas brought off a successful coup on Secretsuperstar in the upper division of the Shanti Falls Plate run over a sprint. The strongly supported favourite piloted by Chetan Kalay produced a fine turn of foot in the final furlong to snuff out the challenge of Musterion who was posing like a winner at the distance post. Last start shock winner Gypsy again produced another good effort to snatch the third place from Baltimore at the shadow of the winning post. All credit to Kishan and his think-tank, who bravely planned and pulled off a good gamble on the big day. 

Two smart last start winners, Four Wheel Drive and Black Coffee were on parade in the concluding event, the Vani Vilas Sagara Plate run over a mile. The former from Dominic's yard partnered by leading pro Akshay Kumar was fancied most, but the strongly supported favourite failed in his mission to deliver the goods going down by a `neck' to Black Coffee which again tasted sweet and nice from his connections point of view. The decision of Antony Raj to send Black Coffee to the front and establish a long lead helped the Neil Darashah ward gain the day from Four Wheel Drive who lost a race which he certainly would have won had his rider been alert and improved the position of the public choice earlier in the race. The Dominic ward, it was clear was asked to scale a mountain in the straight. Though Four Wheel Drive gallantly did try he lost out at end for no fault of his and that proved to be the final nail which was hammered down on a day favourites took a back seat and outsiders dominated the Christmas waltz.