Champion trainer Pesi Shroff at the draw of lots, a couple of days before the blue riband of the Summer season, the betway Bangalore Summer Derby, made no secret of his opinion that his colt Christofle, Synthesis from trainer Rajesh Narredu's yard and the Kolkata mainhope Destroyer from the stables of Patrick Quinn held the edge in the dozen-horse field for the mega event. The fact that Pesi didn't have his top filly Jamari, winner of the Fillies Championship Stakes in the shortlist only confirmed that the top trainer rated Christofle higher than Jamari. The filly had the credentials to stake her claim in the big event and Pesi knew that Jamari had every chance to gallop to fame. But the moment he provided his opinion, many old hats in the game and most leading pros shockingly struck out Jamari from the fancied runners list. The fact that Pesi decided to put Umesh on Jamari the moment he learnt that Pradeep Chouhan had chosen to prepare and partner Destroyer in the blue riband provided another strong reason for the pros and the railbirds to discount the chances of the top filly. 

Chouhan happy with the performances of Destroyer in the morning trials missed the bus following his decision to appeal and contest the four-day suspension in the Board Of Appeal (BOA). The BOA didn't provide any relief and infact stayed the four-day suspension and also increased the penalty. Now with little option left, Chouhan made a last ditch effort to convince the authorities to reasonably look at the case. It was a genuine case, but yet it went against the leading `Knight' simply because there was many a slip between the cup and the lip. The connections of Destroyer realising that they could end up without a good pilot, quickly engaged Imran Chisty, who partnered the classic hopeful in the Colts Championship. After all this drama, a day before the showdown at sundown Christofle suffered a setback in training and was forced to opt out. It was a big blow to the connections of the fancied colt and his trainer who was confident that Chistofle would make him proud on D-day. Now Trevor joined Chouhan, the two looking for a box seat in the stands to watch the Derby.  

Yash Narredu pushed Champions Way to the front after the 11 best performed contestants at this campus came under the starter's flag for the classic 2000 metres journey. Umesh astride Jamari chose to ride from the front and Jamari tracked the leader Champions Way, while Chisty settled Detroyer, nice and easy in third place for most part of the trip. The moment the 11-horse field negotiated the final curve, a confident Umesh pushed Jamari to the front and the filly responding in emphatic fashion established a winning lead. Destroyer did his best to bridge the gap, but found the filly too hot to handle on this day. Auspicious Queen apart, the rest were simply outclassed and the `Inayathullah ward powered through to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Destroyer, while the overwhelming favourite Synthesis from Rajesh Narredu's yard only managed to complete the frame. 

The fact that Jamari won by a whopping seven lengths confirmed that this champion filly is one of the best on the Indian racing circuit and Pesi immensely pleased with the top draw effort of his new heroine in this blockbuster lauded the effort of Umesh, who displayed good temperament while registering his first Derby success at this centre. Umesh revealed that Jamari was steadily getting better and better and enjoying the change in the climate before the extravaganza. "She was giving me a good feel and I was confident that she would test the best," said Umesh. Well Jamari really didn't test the best, she just pulled the plug and detonated all her 10 rivals. 

Earlier, another champion from the champion stable, Northern Lights recorded his sixth straight success, winning the added attraction, the Coromandel  Gromor BTC Anniversary Cup without really working up a sweat. And the Satish Narredu schooled Touch Of Grey chalked out his fourth straight success, coming up tops in the Hyderabad Salver run over a distance of seven furlongs. 

Among the professionals, Umesh and Pesi apart, Akshay Kumar and the talented Delhi-based G Vivek shared the honours recording a double. The former booted home the 10 to one long shot Booster Shot in the Sumangala TMT Million run over a mile and later guided home the second in demand at the betting ring, King Of War in the concluding event on D-day. 

Vivek first stretched every sinew to help the Prithviraj-trained All Attraction get the better of Mighty Zo in the TAI Trophy and astride the favourite Siege Courageous, he had it easy, the Prasanna Kumar ward sprinting away from his nine rivals the moment Vivek packed punch at the top of the straight in the Mumbai Cup. . 

Twice second from his last two starts, Leather Back from the stables of Warren Singh went one better, justifying the support and confidence of his supporters, easily winning the opening event, the Knotty Maiden Million run over a sprint.