After the managing committee of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) did well to convince the government to provide the licence required to run racing operations at this premier centre, the club quickly framed a ten-event card for Friday and Saturday before announcing that two-extra day's racing will be conducted on Aug 18 & 19, which brought the smile back on the faces of the local owners, who had their backs to the wall, the moment the government stopped the licence and told the mandarins of the club to shift out from the existing premises. 

It is no secret that the government has provided relief with a couple of conditions and the onus is now on the decision makers and the members of the club to chalk out a deal following the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which the committee is set to convene this month. 

Back to racing. Form played true, five firm favourites and a couple of well supported contestants nailing bold colours to the mast in  the long drawn 10-event card on Friday. The overwhelming favourite Sling Shot from Lokanath's yard set the favourite trend, justifying the confidence of the followers of form in the opening event. The winner confidently piloted by the Delhi-based G Vivek comfortably pegged back the topweighted Konchiwa from Warren Singh's yard to the delight of the Lokanath camp, who had taken a big shot knowing that Sling Shot would prove too good in the lowest class. 

It was good to see veteran trainer Warren Singh sporting a fancy hat from his impressive hat collection leading in three fancied winners. And the former top saddle artsite, who made a mark riding for one of the big guns in the game, Zareer Darashah, deserved all the accolades. Warren first struck through the last start winner Sand Castles, who produced a good turn of foot in the final furlong to come up trumps in the Brave Dancer Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs. Hindu Singh, who partnered the winner in her last effort again produced a brilliant effort, judging the pace well before he timed his final challenge to a nicety. Elite Agent from Narayan Gowda's yard followed the leader home, while Raffles from the stables of Dominic in his attempt to make every post a winning ran out of gas in the final furlong, but  bravely hung on to save money in place. 

Like Sand Castles, the goodtype of youngster Leather Back registered his second straight victory, reigning supreme in the Lt.Gaunt Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The Rajesh Narredu-trained Fondness Of You was the top fancy in the competitive six-furlongs event, Clifford from Neil Darashah's yard and Leather Back too garnering good support from their respective camps. Leather Back hit the front soon after the eight runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip, Vivek packing punch in the final furlong to seal the deal. Clifford piloted by Trevor Patel after Zervan was unseated while guiding the fortunes of Rhapsody In Green in an earlier event, gained the runner-up berth, ahead of the favourite Fondness Of You. 

In line for a grand treble, Warren Singh sent out Acaster spot on in the Xisca Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner, who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring provided leading saddle artsite Srinath an-armchair ride to success, bolting in to the delight of Warren. Southern Power finished a game second ahead of Chisox, while the M R Singh schooled Antilope, who had his fair share of supporters shot his bolt at the top of the straight and eventually finished in the ruck. 

The Satish Narredu schooled Touch Of Grey, unbeaten from his last four starts and Auspicious Queen from the stables of Narayan Gowda who had finished a good second behind Jamari in the betway Summer Derby headed the betting board in the SKJ Infospaces Bangalore Summer Million run over a mile. But none of the two could stop the talented Prana from Prasanna Kumar's yard, who registered a impressive pillar to post victory in the hands of champion `Knight' Akshay Kumar.  Touch Of Grey in defeat was not disgraced and lives to fight another day, while Auspicious Queen performed below par much to the chagrin of her supporters. 

Earlier, the in -form All Attractive from Prithviraj's yard proved his mettle winning the Bangalore City Sprint Championship Gold Cup in emphatic fashion. The seasoned John pushed All Attractive to the front soon after the five runners came under the starter's flag and then drove him out to peg back the belated effort of the Kolkata hopeful Agnostic who was seen finishing on fastest at end. Star Glory finished third ahead of Siege Courageous who found this company too hot to handle.

Trevor who missed out on Agnostic, earlier booted home the on-money favourite Nyaya to a resounding victory in the Red Divine Plate run over a 1100 metres dash. The winner from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard flew out of the gates and in what appeared a `Fast And Furious' exercise sprinted through to stand tall at the podium in effortless style. Crosswater finished second ahead of Gimmler, while Rembrandt completed the frame. Nyaya appears a goodtype of a filly and more will be heard of her in winter. 

King Of War from Lokanath's yard was the only outsider who shocked the railbirds winning the Fantabulous King Plate run over a mile. All Attraction was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals, but all that the Prithviraj ward could do was to finish third and save money in place. King Of War in the hands of Vinod Shinde shot through at the distance post and gallantly snuffed out the belated effort of the lesser fancied Stormy Ocean. The topweighted Inyouwebelieve who had finished a good second behind Cyrenius in her last essay performed below par.

The Pradeep Annaiah schooled Irish Coffee and Bruce Almighty from the stables of Faraz Arshad were the two other winners in the long card. The former in the hands of the promising apprentice Inayat came good in the Chitradurga Stakes, while Bruce Almighty again partnered by Akshay Kumar recorded his second straight victory in the Honey Day Plate run over a mile.