Following the footsteps of Shabelle who won the fillies championship defying the public’s perception last week, Bangalore challenger Salento snubbed several well-performed rivals to claim the Race2Win.com sponsored Deccan Colts Championship Stakes (Gr.3) on Sunday. The Arjun Mangalorkar trained Salento (Speaking Of Which – Peninsula) had raced four times till date and his best performance came a fortnight back when he finished runner up to Shamrock at Bangalore. The bay colt was now asked to take on the likes of three time winner Ahead Of My Time, Ashoka and stable-mate Tranquilo, who had two wins against their name. Not surprisingly, Salento was available at longer odds in the betting ring.

Entrusted to Anthony Raj, who has ridden his luck in many a big event, Salento showed good temperament in settling behind as jockey A Sandesh decided to call the shots with the favourite Ahead Of My Time over the mile journey. He had Ayr, Tranquilo and Ashoka for company all the way till the field turned for home. The favourite stretched out in his bid to pull away from his rivals but Ashoka began to close in on him and gained the upper hand at the 100m-marker. Salento meanwhile gave a swift response to Anthony’s call and unleashed a menacing run to collar Ashoka and deprive Trevor Patel a back-to-back classic double at Malakpet. Ahead Of My Time was well and truly beaten when finishing third ahead of Ashwa Yudhvir, who ran thereabouts.

There were as many as18 maiden juveniles facing the starter for the two divisions of the Mount Pleasant Plate but it was sans any competition as there were two candidates who were backed to the exclusion of their rivals. M Srinivas Reddy trained The Thunder (Declaration Of War – Days Of Thunder) was the half money favourite to win the first division and the filly was taken on a successful start to finish mission by Ashhad Asbar. Wind Sprite was in futile chase of the winner throughout. After running alongside The Thunder and Wind Sprite, City Cruise retired to finish fourth behind Sergeant Reckless.

Strauss (Multidimensional – Enchufla) was also quoted at half money and the KSV Prasad Raju schooled colt gave no anxious moments as Suraj Narredu drove him to a comfortable win. Earlier, Rovaniemi led the field into straight and handed over the baton to Strauss who warmed up as soon as Suraj alerted him to his task. Dyanoosh and Temptations, who followed the winner home, arrived on the scene only when the race was in safekeeping of Strauss. Avancia faded out to finish fourth after following Rovaniemi into the straight.

The Akhanda, a failed favourite last time out, who has the habit of veering out in the straight, was once again carrying the public’s purse in the opening event. The bay colt hailing from Srinivas Reddy’s yard was entrusted to Ashhad Asbar on this occasion. The Akhanda, who was the shortest priced runner of the day, looked poised to take the gap between Melting Ice and Quality Warrior before Asbar decided to switch lanes. The Akhanda drifted out from a straight course and no amount of whipping could get him to race on an even keel. L D’Silva groomed Quality Warrior (Declaration Of War – Firelight) seized the opportunity and was driven out by BR Kumar to achieve his maiden win. Philanthropist was seen covering ground on The Akhanda’s outside before Kiran Naidu suddenly decided to take him towards the inner rails for no apparent reason. He finished third ahead of Sweet Melody.

It’s not clear whether the stipendiary stewards have advised trainer Srinivas Reddy to take corrective measures to ensure that The Akhanda overcomes his habit of veering out in the straight. The Akhanda had reportedly played truant in all his three previous outings and it’s the punters who have had to pay the price for his errant behaviour.

Earlier in the day, Suraj partnered the Laxman Singh saddled Full Volume (Fast Company – Monysha Girl) to a fluent win. The joint favourite came from the widest draw to stay in close touch with the leaders headed by Gusty Note and showed a good turn of foot to go sailing past Amyra who failed to match strides with him. Top In Class came wide into the straight but covered good ground from the rear to finish a neck behind Amyra. Makhtoob ran a tame fourth.

The first win for trainer N Rawal came in the most unusual circumstances when Bedford (Phoenix Tower – Browning) pulled off a stunning victory in the hands of apprentice Santosh Raj NR. The mare, who had no recent form and was often withdrawn from the fray, took a smart jump from the gates to wrest control of the running and was never headed at any stage of the sprint. Bedford accelerated well when given her head in the home stretch and won pulling up in the end. Linewiler, N R I Blue and Theo’s Choice followed her home. Favourite Star Racer cut a sorry figure as he gave no response to Akshay Kumar’s desperate urgings in the straight and ended off the board.

Red Snaper (West Virginia – Shanghai Girl) was another longshot to score during the day. D’Silva nursed Red Snaper was hard-ridden by Afroz Khan as he pounced upon favourite Mark My Day who had taken charge from leader Different in the last furlong and half. Red Snaper just about managed to hold on from the fast-finishing N R I Sun, who graced the wrong end of the field till the turn and was brought 10 horses wide into the straight by lesser known rider Koushik. But for Koushik’s tender handling, N R I Sun would have definitely turned the tables on Red Snaper.