Juliette was never interested in paying the king's ransom. In the big fight, she mercilessly lowered the sword and extended the `Queen's' rule in The Royal Arion Club Indian Turf Invitation Cup, the most coveted event in the Indian racing calendar. The classy grey mare, winner of this prestigious event in Guindy (Chennai) last year, provided a stylish encore on Super Sunday, confirming that she is the best horse on the Indian racing circuit and that no `Romeo' can steal the thunder from this wonderful Juliette.

The favourite simply looked half her age and grabbed most eye-balls in the parade ring. The top diva from the racing world was ready for the big battle against many young classic winners, who were almost half her age. She knew she had it in her, the capability and the ability to beat this lot and she did that in resplendent style. It simply was an outstanding effort from a seven-year-old on the big stage and `Paisa Vasool' it was for the railbirds who punted big and the many first timers, who turned up to only watch the star performer gallop to fame. Her master Karthik Ganapathy was over the moon. He knew he was just a race away from walking into the champions league and in precisely 2:28.4 seconds Juliette put her trainer and her pilot, Chotu Singh Jodha in the elite list. Karthik a couple of days before had disclosed that the champion after her two straight victories in Mumbai this season was on top of her game and that she is the one they all have to beat. Well none could do that. King's Ransom posed a threat and did essay a fairly good challenge, while the rest were totally outclassed in the mega event.

"She simply is the best and she loves performing on the big stage. She did it again in style and you can't ask for more," said a delighted Karthik Ganapathy adding that Chotu Singh Jodha too produced an exemplary effort. "It was a team effort, the support staff at the stables did a good job and she looked great in the paddock before she made all of us proud on the big day," said Karthik.

Though most racing pundits favoured her to come out on top, many were of the view that she would find it difficult to attain optimum level in her maiden appearance on this testing Bengaluru track, but the moment the classy performer assumed control, it was clear that the new track posed no challenge and the opposition held no real threat and that her critics had got it all wrong. "She simply went out to prove a point that she is the best and it proved to be a stroll in the park for the hall of famer," said Karthik.

Earlier, leading pro Pradeep Chouhan who stole the limelight in the two-day racing extravaganza booting home five winners guided home the lesser fancied Northern Lights from Pesi Shroff's yard in the Maj. P K Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup. Chouhan pushed the gutsy grey to the front soon after the nine runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip to the delight of the Pesi camp. The strongly supported favourite Ahead Of My Time, who had finished behind Northern Lights in their last head-to-head clash in Mumbai, again failed to make an impression and only finished a tame third behind Once You Go Black.

Astride the fancied All Attractive in the Suresh Mahindra Multi-Million which was a very open affair, Chouhan had it easy, the Prithviraj ward producing a sparkling gallop at the top of the straight to outclass his dozen rivals without really raising a sweat. Imperial Blue in the hands of Antony Raj hung on gamely to gain the runner-up berth ahead of the topweighted Ashwa Bravo, while Moon's Blessings completed the frame. The winner has touched peak form and it will pay to again support All Attractive when saddled next.     

The `Magnificent Seven' in their flying machine enjoyed another fast and furious ride. The seven-member owners syndicate shouted, screamed and pumped their fists the moment the best juvenile at the BTC campus, Knotty Charmer assumed command and quickly put the race to bed in the final furlong. The winner in line for a hat-trick was surprisingly offered at (4/1), money pouring in on the Irfan Ghatala youngster Del Pico, who had made a smashing debut and that he was in receipt of three kilos from Knotty Charmer. But the winner partnered by leading pro Akshay Kumar proved that he is in the classic mould and Insha Allah will maintain his winning streak at the Blue Mountains in the months ahead.

The two half-money favourites, Isnt She Beautiful and Synthesis proved too good in the first two events. The former from the stables of Padmanabhan partnered by Neeraj Rawal cantered home in the opening event, the Foster's Million, while Synthesis from Rajesh Narredu's yard piloted by brother Suraj made a winning debut in the Sans Craintes Stud Juvenile Million run over a sprint. The bred in purple juvenile appears a goodtype of youngster and it will pay to follow his progress in summer.

A facile last start winner, Stellar Gold chalked out her second straight success winning the Delhi Race Club Million in a thrilling finish. The winner from Ganapathy's yard was freely available at (5/1), Silver Canyon from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard garnering maximum support in the nine furlongs event. A confident Darshan astride the winner,  hit the front at the top of the straight and then kicked on gamely to peg back the belated effort of My Vision, who was seen finishing on fastest at end. The favourite raced in patches and much to the chagrin of her large following finished a tame third. Pleased with Stellar Gold's second straight success, Ganapathy was more importantly looking at Juliette to come out tops in the big one and the moment she galloped to fame it was time for song and dance all night long in the Ganapathy camp.

Another last start winner Amreli from Pradeep Annaiah's yard reigned supreme in the concluding event, the Japan Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner piloted by leading pro Srinath, who produced his best to help My Opinion come out tops in the Stayers' Cup, produced a good turn of foot in the final furlong to zoom past  the second in demand at the betting ring, Artemis Ignacia to romp home a deserving winner.    

Mention must be made that  BTC played good hosts and the two-day racing carnival was a big success. All the committee members spearheaded by chairman Shivkumar Kheny played a stellar role and BTC secretary Kiran and his team too stuck to the task and tirelessly worked to obtain the desired results.