You got to doff your hat to leading trainer Sebastian. The top pro led in four winners including the winner of the first classic of the season, the Nilgiris 1000 Guineas on the classic day at the Blue Mountains on Friday. 

On a day punters delivered seven knock out blows to floor the bookmakers, Sebastian and leading 'Knight' Sai Kumar combined effectively to record a hat-trick after top gun Umesh booted home Swarga from Sebastian's yard in the upper division of the Mumtaz Mahal Handicap run over a sprint. 

A smart last start winner, Glorious Grace was strongly fancied to provide an encore competing in the upper division of the Tamil New Year Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs and the public choice emerged a lucky winner, the favourite powerfully piloted by Sai Kumar hanging on to peg back the belated effort of Windermere from the stables of Adhirajsingh Jodha by the shortest of margins.

Pleased gaining the humdinger,  Sai Kumar had it easy in the lower division of the event astride the even-money favourite Supreme Dance. The winner who impressed most in his last essay during the Invitation Cup week-end at Bengaluru, finishing a game third in  superior company was fancied sweetly, the big bettors investing big on the Sebastian ward, who it must be mentioned looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. The public choice readily produced his best and to the delight of his supporters galloped home in resplendent style. Second in demand at the betting ring, Albinus was expected to run Supreme Dance close by the James McKeown camp, but that was not to be, the in-form public choice romping home without really working up a sweat. Albinus finished second ahead of Karadeniz, who caught the eye, and it will not be long before this Fahad Khan trainee earns his cornbill. 

In line for a treble in the big one, the Nilgiris 1000 Guineas, Sai Kumar astride the overwhelming favourite Something Royal, who looked the best filly on parade after her resounding victory on this track in her last essay, produced a stellar effort judging the pace to a nicety in the seven furlongs classic exercise to help Something Royal emerge the best of her age and sex in emphatic fashion. Neziah from McKeown's yard, who stole a march at the top of the straight found the winner too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-spot. Bertha finished a game third, while Royal Icon completed the classic frame. 

The on-money favourite Rubirosa who went down fighting to Glorious Grace, who again won today was considered a 'cinch' in the lower division of the Pretty Polly Handicap and the public rage in the hands of Umesh, who shared the riding honours with Sai Kumar recording a treble, donkey-licked her nine rivals without really extending himself. Rubirosa on the strength of this heartwarming performance is set to again stand tall at the podium, when saddled next.

On her impressive effort, good second behind Romualdo in her last start. Augusta garnered good support in the concluding event, the lower division of the Pretty Polly Handicap and the top choice in the hands of Hindu Singh produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to zoom past Winning Legacy to score in style. The second in demand at the betting ring, Amber Lightning flashed home late on the scene to finish second, edging out Winning Legacy close home. 

Trainer B Suresh who proudly led in Augusta earlier struck in the opening event, the speedy Speculation making every post a winning one in the opening event. It is good to see Suresh back in the winners's circle after he hit a bad-patch in the Chennai season.