Punters loved the action on Saturday. A whopping six favourites entered the winners' circle in the seven event card and it must be mentioned that the bookmalkers, for a change took a beating, form playing true under the cool winter season. 

The first classic of the season, the 1000 Guineas sponsored by horse owner P Arun Kumar produced an absorbing finish, on-money favourite Jamari, lesser fancied Tehani and the most improved Madam Rich locked in a grim battle before the public choice to the delight of the railbirds maintained her classic winning streak at this centre. Jamari in the summer won the Fillies Championship Stakes before winning the Derby in resplendent style in July.

Satisfied with her effort champion trainer Pesi Shroff revealed that the classy filly after her success in the summer Derby suffered a setback in training before she was campaigned in the Pune Derby. The filly back after the setback was not at her best and finished second behind the winner Enabler. Understanding that the filly loved the Bangalore track and the climatic conditions at this premier centre, Pesi wisely chose to provide the star performer a run at her favourite venue and Jamari produced another stellar effort to register her third straight classic success at this centre. All credit to Pesi and Trevor Patel who produced an exemplary effort on the champion filly, packing punch at the all-important end to peg back the belated effort of Tehani, a `neck' separating the two at the wire. Tehani in turn finished a `neck' ahead of Madam Rich piloted by Saqlain.

The stablemate of the winner, Nirvana partnered by Pradeep Chouhan set a decent pace all through the mile long classic trip. Auspicious Queen and  Madam Rich tracked the winner with Jamari in close attendance, while Akshay not too far away chose to play the waiting game on the second favourite Tehani. Auspicious Queen shot her bolt at the top of the straight and the Prithviraj schooled Madam Rich streaked ahead approaching the distance post, while Trevor got busy on Jamari and Akshay setalight the Sulaiman schooled Tehani on the rails. The three fought every inch of the ground before the public choice gained the day in a humdinger. Pesi disclosed that the filly will continue to stay in Bangalore and her next likely target is the winter Derby on Republic Day.

Another on-money favourite Siege Courageous from Prasanna Kumar's yard justified his top billing in the Managing Committee Trophy run over a sprint. The winner who had finished second behind Imperial Blue in his last effort over a distance of seven furlongs proved too good for his four rivals over a sprint he enjoys, cruising home without unduly extending himself. Galactical followed the winner home ahead of Eternal Princess, while the Mysore challenger Brave Trooper performed below par and finished last in the small five-horse field. Prasanna pleased with Siege Courageous'  effort revealed that he is in fine form but his best is yet to come. 

Prasanna earlier led in a smart juvenile winner Rieko in the opening event, the Makybe Diva Plate run over a sprint. Leading pro Antony Raj produced a copybook effort on the debut winner who was strongly supported to come out on top in his first start. El Asesino from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard was also sweetly fancied, but he found Rieko too hot to handle and finished second ahead of the Darius Byramji schooled Tesorino, gaining the verdict by the shortest of margins. All three appear to be goodtype of youngsters and  more will be heard of them in the months ahead. 

Top saddle artiste Srinath shared the professional honours with Prasanna and Faraz Arshad recording a double. Astride the top fancy Magnus in the Almatti Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs Srinath produced a neat finish to outwit the lesser fancied contestant Snowpiercer in a close finish. The runner-up, it is clear will benefit most from this testing run under her belt and is likely to earn her cornbill when saddled next. Super Marvella finished third ahead of the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Ebotse who appears to have improved after a couple of listless performances in the summer season. 

In the next event, the lower division of the Tungabhadra Plate, Srinath guiding the fortunes of the favourite Cinco De Mayo from Neil Devaney's yard produced another stellar effort to come out on top to the delight of his supporters. While Srinath excelled on the public choice, Hindu Singh astride the second in demand at the betting ring, High Opinion failed to produce his best and this cost the topweighted contestant dear. The Pradeep ward would have gone much closer had Hindu Singh alerted High Opinion a little earlier. Baltimore managed to save money in place, while Embosom completed the frame. 

The well-backed Chul Bul Rani proved too good in the upper division of the event. Four-kilo claimer Tousif Khan who partnered Chul Bul Rani in the opening event of the season  did well to guide the public choice home, the `Rani' bolting in to help Faraz record a popular double. This Faraz trainee is in good heart and is set to provide an encore.Ultimate Striker gained the runner-up spot edging out Ultimate Chance by the proverbial whisker, while Sekhmet piloted by Akshay Kumar, who was gracing the wrong end of the field covered acres of ground in the `run in' home to finish an eye-catching fourth. 

It happened again and it was almost a repeat of what we got to see on Friday. An objection was lodged in the concluding event, the Narmada Plate and here again the rider of the second placed Apollo Light, who was the favourite protested that Rajesh Kumar astride the winner Perfect Halo had shifted out from the rails and taken him out and as a result he could not fully ride out his mount in the final stages which cost him the race. On Friday Prophecy like Perfect Halo shifted out and the only difference was that the Imtiaz ward had bumped Art Gallery before winning by three lengths. On Saturday bar the bump, Perfect Halo did exactly the same, shifting and taking Apollo Light out, while winning by a margin of only one length. The stewards this time mercifully chose to go with the ruling and understanding of the stipes and rightly overruled the protest. No rule book was required and referred to and more importantly the decision makers, it was clear, came into the room with a free and not a fixed mind set.