The promising apprentice jockey Saqlain hogged the headlines recording a grand treble. The talented youngster, who has been booting home winners at most premier centres is on fire and many knowledgeable and most old hats in the game made no secret of their opinion that the most sought after apprentice has the required poise and grit to make the big league in the years ahead. Blessed with big match temperament, Saqlain has the skills and all he needs to do is to keep his head down and gain the experience required to walk the talk on the high road. Saqlain opened his account in the opening event, the Belur Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Astride Sea Blush, from Warren Singh's yard, who garnered the maximum support, Saqlain to the delight of followers of form produced a heartwarming effort. After the second in demand at the betting ring, Article Fifteen piloted by Nazer-Ul-Alam had stolen a march at the top of the straight, Saqlain packed punch on Sea Blush and the public choice responding gamely to her master's call produced an astounding gallop in the final furlong to snuff out the challenge of the leader and power home in emphatic fashion. Dawn Rising finished third and this filly from Darius Byramji's yard lacks the willingness to successfully compete and hence she will take time even to earn a winning bracket in the lowest category.

Next, guiding the fortunes of the public rage Siege Perilous in the Chief Minister's Trophy, Saqlain had it easy on the Prasanna Kumar ward, who donkey-licked his seven rivals without raising a sweat. The winner, it is needless to mention is on top of his game and is set to provide an encore when next saddled. Coorg Regiment finished second ahead of Aberlour from Vishal Yadav's yard, while Cavarozzi completed the frame.

In line for a hat-trick, Saqlain partnering the well-backed public choice Del Mar in the concluding event, the Karapur Plate produced his best to help the Pradeep Annaiah ward enter the winners' circle. After streaking ahead at the top of the straight, Del Mar started to drift out and Saqlain was in a spot of bother. The young lad determined to get Del Mar back on even keel did his best, but the overwhelming favourite continued to shift out before Saqlain in a never-say-die effort drove him out, hands and wheels, to edge out Extraordinary at the shadow of the winning post. Donna Bella who called the shots early on in the race hung on to save place money and it will pay to follow this mare from Irfan Ghatala's yard in the weeks ahead.

Trainer Girinath and Bengaluru pro Prithviraj struck it rich on a day five firm favourites nailed bold colours to the mast. Girinath was `sweet' on Perfect Empress. And the filly competing in the principal added attraction, the Hotel RRR Trophy produced a sparkling gallop in the hands of Kiran Rai to justify the confidence of her supporters. Antony Raj partnering Coyote Girl from Pratap Kamath's yard had drawn clear approaching the distance post and just when his supporters started to count their winnings, Kiran setalight Perfect Empress and the public choice stormed through to overhaul the leader close home. Parker who had failed to justify favouritism in his last essay finished third and is one for the notebook. Now that Perfect Empress has tasted success, it will pay to follow her over a mile and beyond  campaigns in the month ahead.

Skyfire was backed to the exclusion of his 13 rivals in the Mandya Plate run over a sprint. Promising apprentice Vivek who cornered glory in the Bangalore Winter season pushed the strongly fancied favourite to the front the moment the big field came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip cruising home without unduly extending the winner. The second in demand at the betting ring, Anakin, who had finished a good second behind Clever Hans, another from the stables of Prithviraj last week, again found this Prithviraj ward too hot to handle and hopefully it will prove third time lucky for this Lokanath ward when saddled next. Embosom who finished a creditable third will benefit most with this run under her belt. Skyfire is in fine nick and will be hard to down in higher category too.

Prince Corporate from champion trainer Rakesh's yard was strongly fancied to score in the Lokapavani Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The punters went bang-bang in the betting ring despite the fact that H G Rathod was listed to partner the `Prince'. Rathod pushed the on-money favourite to the front soon after the nine contestants came under the starter's flag and stayed right there till the final furlong. At this juncture the friendless Viva La Diva from Feroz Khan's yard piloted by Zeeshan challenged the piping hot favourite and after a brief duel streaked ahead to stun the followers of form. The winner paid a rich dividend of Rs, 607 on a tenner at the tote window. The second in demand at the betting ring Highland Park finished third ahead of Percivale who it must be mentioned was never in the hunt.

In the next event, the Dupont Plate, it was the turn of the well fancied Drusilla to bite the dust. The last start winner from Monnappa's yard piloted by Ashhad Asbar was left standing at the gates at the start of seven furlongs trip and though she did cover lost ground before negotiating the final curve, Drusilla was on a empty tank when the race came on a boil and eventually finished last. Lesser fancied Sparkles from Michael Eshwer's yard confidently piloted by Arul reigned supreme edging out Imperius while Achook came home third.