It proved to be a red letter day for the talented young jockey G Vivek. The Delhi-based pro on a classic day at Guindy recorded a grand treble including a smashing victory on his favourite horse, Knotty Charmer, in the South India 2000 Guineas.

In line for a treble and in contention to register his second classic success on a horse, which helped him record his maiden classic success in the Bangalore summer season, a confident Vivek pushed Knotty Charmer to the front soon after the field of eight runners came under the starter’s flag and never let the initiative slip, the winner pulling the plug and fusing out his rivals in the `run in’ home  despite Vivek losing his whip at the top of the straight. Champions Way who chose to tail the top colt from Prasanna Kumar’s yard found Knotty Charmer too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. The favourite, Prana, stablemate of the winner piloted by Trevor Patel found the going tough and came home third ahead of the Mumbai challenger Endurance. The smart 1:36.14 winning exercise fetched the seven-member `Knotty’ syndicate Rs, 20,86,498.

A delighted Vivek after his second classic success revealed that Knotty Charmer was ready and willing to outclass the field the moment he jumped out of the gates and the loss of the whip at a crucial juncture made no difference . “He was travelling very sweetly and all I had to do was guide him home hands and heels, which I readily did to make it memorable,” said Vivek.

K Kamesh one of the members of the syndicate disclosed that all the owners were confident and Knotty Charmer did produce his best and made them all proud. “I was a trifle disappointed with the result at Bangalore, but the smile is back,” said Kamesh lauding the effort of champion trainer, who it is needless to mention left no stone unturned in his effort to send out Knotty Charmer spot on for the big event.

Earlier, the local champion filly Something Royal, winner of the Nilgiris Derby from Sebastian’s yard produced a heart warming performance to the delight of the local buffs to emerge the top filly, reigning supreme in the first classic of the season, the South India 1000 Guineas. Leading saddle artiste  Pradeep Chouhan produced an exemplary effort on the winner who looked a picture of fitness at the paddock parade.  The Bangalore raider Aralina from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard partnered by Antony Raj finished a game second ahead of Zuri, while the Imtiaz Khan-trained Prophecy, another Bangalore hopeful despite hanging out badly finished a creditable fourth.

The filly looked good and ready to go at her parent-centre and Chouhan was at his best while packing punch at the all-important end,” said Sebastian, immensely pleased that Something Royal is back in the classic circle.

Chouhan next, again combined successfully with Sebastian, booting home the even-money favourite  Sheer Rocks to a convincing victory in the concluding event, the lower division of the AMKM Al.Muthukaruppan Chettiar Memorial Cup. Yazh from Vijay Singh’s yard, who led all through the six furlong journey before Sheer Rocks got the measure of her in the final furlomng hung on to take the runner-up berth ahead of the topweighted Moriset, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Groovin was outpaced and finished a tame fourth.

The upper division of the event produced a shock result, the ten to one long shot, Proposed, partnered by apprentice Koshi Kumar edging out the hot favourite Bertha from Deepesh Narredu’s yard. The winner favourably placed at the top of the straight challenged Bertha approaching the distance post and despite shifting out, thanks to the injudicious effort of the apprentice, who needlessly used the whalebone, when Proposed started to shift, brought him back on even-keel to gain the verdict close home.

The two Bangalore raiders Tesorino from the stables of Darius Byramji and the Dominic schooled Phenomenon, who made a winning debut at his parent-centre topped the betting board in the Christmas Cup run over a sprint before the supporters of Tesorino confidently punted big on what they reckoned was a `good bet’. Well the filly in the hands of Saqlain readily produced a winning gallop and it was all over bar the shouting, the moment Saqlain eased the grip on her at the top of the straight. Mysore hopeful Roadrunner from Michael Eshwer’s yard followed the smart filly Tesorino home, while Phenomenon came home a tame third ahead of local contestant Crown Jewel.

“She caught the eye in her first start at Bangalore finishing a close third behind the winner Rieko and second placed El Asesino, who are goodtype of youngsters and today she went one better,” said a delighted Gautam Maini, owner of Tesorino.

Lady Luck from trainer Ramanathan’s yard garnered the maximum support in the War Admiral Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. The public choice  in the hands of Julien Moulin, who booted home Once You Go Black in the plum event on Sunday, failed to test the top three finishers. The Rupa schooled Empress Royal in the hands of Vivek stunned the followers of form snuffing out the challenge of another long shot Star Of Liberty, while Sunny Isles, advantageously placed at the scales managed to save money in place

Vivek earlier guided home the speedy Knotty Wonder to a facile victory in the upper division of the Seabisquit Handicap run over a sprint. The winner hit the front soon after the 10-horse field jumped out and showed a clean pair of heels much to the satisfaction of the railbirds who strongly fancied the Ramanathan ward to come good in this moderate set. Aquila from Mandanna’s yard gained the runner-up berth ahead of the four to one shot Happiness from the stables of Sebatian.

 A facile last start winner, Be Calm from B Suresh’s yard  provided a encore, proving too good in the lower division. Ram Nandan Manji astride the winner took Be Calm to the front soon after the start and the way he was travelling, the winner was spotted even before the big field of 11 runners negotiated the final curve. Be Calm is in rousing form and is certain to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next.

 Ramanathan who shared the professional honours with Vivek struck through the lesser fancied  Radiant Joy in the opening event, the Kingmambo Handicap. The ten to one long shot upset the applecart of the favourite Raffinato, who performed below par and finished a poor third behind Paris O’Connor.