Guess who at the moment is the man with the Midas Touch? This is really no brainer. It is James McKeown. The Englishman is saddling winners, left, right and centre at Mysuru and his parent-centre Chennai and it appears he has the magic lamp and the genie at his command. After a rich double at Chennai last week and Albinus powering home on Saturday, James proudly led in Trafalgar, the new Maharaja in the royal city. A joint favourite in the prestigious event run over a mile, Trafalgar strongly fancied by the James camp produced a winning gallop in the hands of leading pro Pradeep Chouhan at the all-important end to snuff out the challenge of front running `hare' Havelock Cruise and peg back the other fancied contestant Knotty Dancer with a measure of comfort. Chashni from Rakesh's yard did well to finish third, only a `neck'  behind the runner-up, who in his last effort in the Bangalore winter season had beaten the classy Miracle in the BTC Anniversary Cup. The fact that Chashni ran the Prasanna Kumar-trained Knotty Dancer close and beat Jake, who had finished ahead of her in their last head-to-head clash, out of sight only confirms that the horses under the care of Rakesh, top pro at this centre, are improving and making their presence felt against the best at the premier racing centres. 

The promising apprentice Saqlain, like James McKeown is enjoying a good run under the cool winter sun. After booting home the public choice Memoriter from young Azhar Ali's yard on Friday, Saqlain produced his best on the Warren Singh schooled High Opinion to come up trumps in the Mandakalli Plate run over a mile before guiding home the public rage Jabbar to an effortless victory in the Coorg Plate run over a 1100M dash. The former provided Warren Singh, the second winner of the week. And after the heavily gambled King NI brought off a successful coup on Friday, one noticed a spring in the walk of Warren. 

A well supported run-away winner after failing to hit the board in his last four starts, Jabbar from Bobby's yard on the strength of his resounding victory in his last essay was backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals and the on-money favourite again proved too good helping the talented apprentice to register a good double. Spiritual Force gained the runner-up berth ahead of Vijaya Miracle, who was fancied strongly in place by the insiders and right connections of Appachu's yard. Jabbar, it appears is in peak form and is likely to record a hat-trick of wins when saddled next. 

After Knotty Dancer failed to get the measure of Trafalgar in the Maharaja's Cup, the connections of Knotty Dancer confidently supported Knotty Woods in the concluding event, the upper division of the Jaganmohana Palace Plate. The winner piloted by Nazer-Ul-Alam was smashed down from (9/4) to (14/10) in the betting ring and the overwhelming favourite made every post a winning one to the delight of Prasanna Kumar and owners, Kamesh and Srikanth Badruka. Kushaq from Michael Eshwer's yard finished a creditable second ahead of Braxton, while Je Ne Sais Quoi from M R Singh's yard  partnered by Jagadeesh was taken on a conducted tour of Mysuru city. 

After leading in Memoriter on Friday, Azhar Ali fancied Michigan Melody from his yard to upset the applecart of the favourite O Hansini in the principal added attraction, the Dr. MAM Ramaswamy Trophy run over a sprint. And to the delight of Azhar, the five-year-old mare just did that. The winner who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring produced an astounding gallop in the hands of Kolkata-based Hindu Singh to edge out the top fancy close home. All credit to Azhar for sending out Michigan Melody spot on for the event.  Shamaz Shareef astride the runner-up O Hansini, it appeared was a trifle nervous. He needlessly was in a hurry to get O Hansini to the front instead of calmly settling the filly and the hurried injudicious effort of Shareef cost O Hansini dear. Wild Spell finished a game third ahead of last start winner Brunhild. 

The talented Wild Emperor from trainer Faraz Arshadf's yard, back after a two-month lay-off proved too good in the lower division of the Jaganmohana Palace Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The even-money favourite, who had consistently produced heart-warming performances in the morning trials hit the front in the hands of leading pro Srinath and never let the initiative slip, cruising home without unduly extending himself in the seven furlongs test. Mention must be made, that Faraz really worked hard to get the three-year-old back in the winners' enclosure after Wild Emperor had failed to justify his potential before his trainer decided to geld him and the result, it is needless to mention is most satisfying for Faraz. 

The opening event, the Nainital Plate was claimed by the Dominic schooled Capital Gain who donkey-licked her 11 rivals including the two top fancies I Can and Smile Around, who flopped badly and failed to even save money in place. Regal Force finished second ahead of Like My Daddy.