Leading trainer Arjun Manglorkar and the in-form `Knight' Antony Raj loved it. A treble on a classic day including a victory in third classic of the season, the Wolf 777 Bangalore Oaks provided the two top pros a big reason to smile, while the famed Usha Stud Farm added one more classic win to its highly distinguished list, Mirra producing a classic effort to emerge the best of her age and sex. The classy filly after a lackadaisical stint in Mysore was back into her own, finishing third in a humdinger in the 1000 Guineas and in the `Ladies Derby' she produced her best to storm back into the elite classic circle. All credit to Arjun Manglorkar for providing unflinching support to the filly, who went off the boil  in Mysore, and the classy daughter of Speaking Of Which made her trainer and breeder Ameeta Mehra proud, galloping home  in resplendent style to wear the coveted Oaks sash. Antony Raj was at his best on the classic day and the top saddle artiste uncorked a champagne effort on the winner before the bubbly flowed and the racing fraternity raised a toast to the Usha Stud farm. 

After their last head-to-head clash in the 1000 Guineas over a mile, Mirra was fancied ahead of arch rival Philosophy on the sole count that the bred in the purple star performer would stay the mile-and half trip, while Philosophy was a trifle suspect and at end it was clear that the Padmanabhan ward found the classic journey beyond her compass. 

Philosophy's stablemate La Reina hit the front and soon set a decent pace all through the backstretch. Tough Cookie followed the leader ahead of Philosophy while Antony Raj chose to track Philosophy in the classic test. La Reina kicked on gamely at the top of the straight and it was clear at the distance post that Philosophy lacked the gas to stay in contention. At this juncture Antony setalight Mirra and the Arjun Manglorkar ward responding gamely to her master's call stormed up to quickly seize the initiative and put the race to bed in the final furlong. Arjun was on top of the moon and so too Antony Raj. The two played a stellar role in Mirra's Hall Of Fame endeavour and a delighted and most satisfied Ameeta was all smiles discussing and planning with her trainer, Mirra's next target, Bangalore Winter Derby on Republic Day or the Indian Derby on the first Sunday of February at Mahalaxmi. 

Earlier, Arjun and Antony combined to score in the principal added attraction, the Chief Minister's Trophy run over a distance of 2000 metres. Silvarius another from Usha Stud Farm made every post a winning one easily beating the on-money favourite Speedster from Warren Singh's yard and the topweighted Automatic, who appeared to have lost his galloping shoes even before he negotiated the final curve.

In the second event, the lower division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs, Antony astride the favourite Capriati from Arjun's yard stole a march on the rails in the run-up to the line and cruised home in emphatic fashion. Advantageously placed in at the scales, Baroness gained the runner-up berth ahead of Beldona, while Impiana from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard, who was backed down from (8/1) to (3/1) flopped badly and failed to even save money in place. 

Sulaiman's supporters, however, quickly recouped their losses on Stellantis, who made a smashing winning debut in the Master Key Plate for juveniles.The second in demand at the betting ring hit the front soon after the eight youngsters came under the starter's flag for the 1100M dash and never let the initiative slip in the hands of top gun Trevor Patel. Seeking The Stars from Dominic's yard did well to finish second ahead of the on-money favourite Invincible from Darius Byramji's stable. The winner appears a goodtype and his progress this season will evoke interest. 

After the public rage Invincible failed to justify his top billing, Artemis Ignacia floored the followers of form finishing a poor third in the Dharmaprakasha L S Venkaji Rao Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The best performed contestant from Neil Darashah's yard after being favourably placed at the top of the straight failed to quicken and had to rest content with the third spot much to the disappointment of all the big bettors who punted big on the Neil ward partnered by Sandesh. The ten to one long shot Anakin helped Saqlain make a winning comeback pegging back the belated effort of Queen Spirit. 

On the strength of his pleasing performances in the morning trials, Santorino making a belated debut garnered the maximum support in the upper division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs and the overwhelming favourite without unduly extending himself romped home in the hands of the much improved apprentice Rozario. The three-kilo claimer later packed punch on the Pradeep Annaiah schooled Chisox, who upset the applecart of Panama from Azhar Ali's yard, who was medium of a big gamble which failed to come good, the 12 to one shot Chisox pipping the strongly backed Panama at the shadow of the winning post in the upper division of the Indira Sagar Plate. The Strength from Sharath Kumar's yard, who was fancied sweetly in place by the insiders and the right connections did well to finish third while the other fancied contestant Chain Of Thoughts performed below par. 

In the upper division, the eight to one shot Gold Gray piloted by Sai Kiran edged out the top fancy Ultimate Striker by the shortest of margins in the opening event and this pushed the punters back to the wall before Capriati put them back on the high road in the next event.