In the classic showdown at sundown, '`The Magnificent Seven" struck again. It was a classic strike and the racing buffs loved the gold heist the seven charmers pulled off through  their trusted soldier. The classy Knotty Charmer uncorked another champagne effort and the moment he emerged the best of his age and sex, winning the second classic of the summer season, the Colts Championship Stakes, the bubbly started to flow and it was time for song and dance all night long. It was no flash in the pan nor was it a fluke win. Knotty Charmer had the credentials to make the classic elite list. He missed out at the Nilgiris simply because he didn't like the track and the conditions at the Blue Mountains. Back at his parent-centre he was fit and ready for the big battle against the big boys from the East and West. And the knock-out punch he delivered on the big stage on Super Sunday only confirmed that the youngster in the classic mould had graduated into the champion league. 

It certainly was a gutsy effort from the star performer and all credit to champion trainer Prasanna Kumar, who always rated Knotty Charmer high and the champion justified the confidence of his master, making him proud, while the two along with the bubbly seven-member syndicate happily posed for the shutterbugs, standing tall at the classic podium.

You got to doff your hat to Prasanna. The unassuming pro never does blow his trumpet. His horses do it for him. War Hammer, Evaldo and now Knotty Charmer to mention a few. A delighted Prasanna disclosed that he always thought Knotty Charmer was in with a big chance the moment he started to do all the things right and the young Delhi-based `Knight' G Vivek provided the icing on the cake. It was a moment Prasanna will cherish most taking into account that the top trainer had to get him going quick and fast after his unhappy stint at Udhagamandalam. 

"We all knew he had it in him after he recorded a brilliant hat-trick in winter. He had the class to negotiate a mile and it was the class and consistency which brought home the desired result," said K Kamesh, leading member of the syndicate, while revealing that Prasanna has chosen to provide the "Charmer" the much needed rest before the big boy starts his campaign in the big Mysore season. "It was a good team effort and the new boy Vivek played his part keeping his cool when the horse under pressure drifted out a trifle towards the end before galloping into the "Hall Of Fame'.pointed out Kamesh.

Unbeaten from his three starts, the top gun from Mumbai Christofle from champion trainer Pesi Shroff's yard was fancied most in the colts classic. The local mainhope Elpenor, winner of the Poonawalla Multi-Million had his fair share of followers, while Knotty Charmer was surprisingly ignored in the betting ring, offered at (15/1), while Christofle was the overwhelming favourite quoted at (6/4). The winner tracked the nohoper Galahad for most part of the mile long classic journey before he streaked ahead at the top of the straight and quickened well to assume command before gallantly hanging on to peg back the spirited effort of the runner-up Synthesis from Rajesh Narredu's yard piloted by young Yash Narredu. Trevor astride the public choice could not turn on his magic as he did on Jamari in the first classic. Christofle was outclassed by the first two and had to rest content with the third spot. Destroyer from the stables of Patrick Quinn caught the eye while finishing a good fourth. Destroyer, it must be mentioned suffered a minor setback in training and as a result went into the race with a light mock race and understandably was not the fittest. His brave and laudable effort, finishing less than four lengths behind the winner puts him in the big mix on the leader board for the blue riband, the summer Derby scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 16.

On a day Knotty Charmer and Prasanna stole the limelight, Kalamitsi and Fire Power provided leading trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi a reason to smile. The latter came up tops in the principad added attraction, the Civil Service Cup run over a distance of 2000 metres, while Kalamitsi bounced back from a listless opening start to reign supreme in the Uppini Revanna Siddeheshwarappa Memorial Cup. Top saddle artiste Akshay Kumar was at his best on Fire Power, packing punch on the 15 to one long shot to overhaul the fancied leader Santorino in the final furlong before snuffing out the belated challenge of Ashwa Magadheera. The well supported second in demand at the betting ring Trevalius again failed to keep pace early on and quickly dropped back to grace the wrong end of the field and eventually finished in the ruck. 

Trevor gained a favourable position and settled Kalamitsi nice and easy in the front group and though the well supported public choice took a little while to get past stablemate Ruling Goddess, it was clear that Kalamitsi would gain the day and he did that in emphatic fashion. 

Magnus from Faraz Arshad's yard recorded a shock victory in the hands of leading pro Srinath, winning the Pronto Pronto Handicap run over a mile in convincing fashion. The winner, it is clear has improved most and smartly negotiated the mile long trip, while the overwhelming favourite River Of Gold from Parvati Byramji's yard, who was strongly fancied to score, flopped miserably and finished last in the eight-horse maidens field. The Hyderabad hopeful Shadow Of The Moon from the stables of Laxman Singh, who finished second behind Big Red over an identical distance in his last essay again finished a game second, while Julio managed to only save money in place. 

Earlier, Zervan who was very lucky to get-away with only a two-day suspension for his dangerous riding on Sea Eagle last week had it easy on the public rage Fort Nelson in the lower division of the Noble Prince Plate. The upper division of the event was claimed by the four to one shot Aldgate from Arjun Manglorkar's yard. A facile last start winner Spirit Of The Rose on the strength of her impressive showing in her last essay was backed to the exclusion of her seven rivals, but the Parvati ward much to the chagrin of her large following performed below par and finished a poor third behind the runner-up Forty Niner under the care of Dominic. 

Dominic led in Sunway Lagoon, who made ample amends of his costly last failure cantering home in the opening event, the Guindy Plate run over a sprint. The winner on the strength of what proved to be actually a walk in the park is certain to make his presence felt in the higher class in the weeks ahead. 

The lesser fancied Memorable Time powerfully piloted by Saqlain edged out the second favourite Rhapsody In Green  in the Bergamo Plate to help trainer Lokanath Gowda open his account. Bruce Almighty finished a fair third ahead of My Vision, while the favourite Lex Luthor from Neil Devaney's yard was never in the hunt.