You got to doff your hat to champion Mysore trainer Rakesh. The gutsy pro loves to stake his claim at the bigger centres and his results have provided hope to other trainers from Mysore, while Rakesh has established himself as one of the best in business, picking up plums at premier centres. This season Rakesh brought two youngsters to Guindy and both returned home winners. Brave Trooper on Saturday was fancied most in the Red Mills Million. The talented youngster who had impressed most in his debut, finishing second behind stablemate Swagatham at his home centre garnered the maximum support, the Rakesh camp strongly fancying him to score despite the fact that Miss Allure from Deepesh Narredu's yard and Swarga from the stables of Sebastian had the credentials to make a mark. But the two local hopefuls failed to match strides with the Mysore raider and Rakesh  was again standing tall at the podium, winning his second million for juveniles at this centre after his success on Land Of Gold. On the strength of his sublime effort, Brave Trooper, it is clear is a goodtype of youngster and more will be heard of this son of Hot Streak  in the weeks ahead. Well all credit to Rakesh for regularly obtaining the desired results and he is one who will make his presence felt against the best if he gets the support of some good owners who pick up good stock from the leading stud farms.

The on -money favourites Leopard Rock proved too good in the plum event, the South India Sprinters Trial Stakes. The in-form sprinter after comfortably beating the Bangalore challenger Siege Perilous in his last essay over a seven furlongs trip looked outstanding in the relatively small field of six runners and Yash Narredu only had to guide him to register his second straight success. The Bangalore challenger The Sovereign Orb from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard gained the runner-up berth, while O Hansini from Rakesh's yard after her hat-trick at her parent centre appeared a trifle gross and had to rest content with the third spot. Leopard Rock is in rousing forn and is set to complete a hat-trick of wins, when saddled next.

After his success on Leopard Rock, Yash astride the lesser fancied Succession made every post a winning one. Gold Kite from Adhirajsingh Jodha's yard partnered by veteran jockey Dashrath Singh was hotly tipped to score in the concluding event run over a sprint, but to the disappointment of her supporters, the `Kite' failed to fly high and at end finished a tame third behind the second placed Augusta.

Earlier, the four to one shot Three Of A Kind who looked a winner at the paddock proved too good in the opening event, the Alexandria Handicap romping home by more than four lengths. Lady Zeen from Fahad Khan's yard followed the winner from the stables of Parmar home, while the Anil Kumar-trained Kikata, who was strongly fancied to score by the insiders and right connections failed to raise a winning gallop and failed to even save money in place.

After the strongly fancied favourite Zucard piloted by the promising `Knight' Saqlain was withdrawn at the starting gates, the five to one shot Great Spirit from Deepesh's yard produced her best in the hands of Bhaskar to edge out Chaposa Springs in a thriller. Palsy Walsy who attempted to make every post a winning one stayed on to take the third spot ahead of Sinatra who topped the betting board after Zucardi and Aad Riti were withdrawn.

Ayur Shakti was one other from Anil Kumar's yard who failed to justify favouritism. Partnered by promising five-kilo claimer Inayat, Ayur Shakthi tracked the leader Illustrious Ruler from Robert Foley's yard all through the seven furlongs trip, but never could put his nose in front, the Robert ward piloted by the more experienced apprentice Sah Farid Ansari kicking on gamely at end to record his second straight success in less than seven days. Night Hunt, it appears is slowly, yet surely regaining the fitness and form to strike at this level and his third behind Ayur Shakthi only confirms that the Ramanathan ward will soon earn his cornbill.