The talented Knotty Legend proved that he is the best youngster at the Bangalore campus, recording a emphatic hat-trick. The public rage donkey-licked his four rivals in the Roach Lifescapes Juvenile Million in resplendent style and on the strength of his three stylish efforts will be the one to watch in the summer season. I had mentioned in my earlier column that this Prasanna Kumar trainee blessed with exemplary temperament is in the classic mould and Knotty Legend proved all the knowledgeable right and  is set to graduate to higher levels in his summer campaign. 

“He has won all his three starts in effortless style and the extended classic trips are wellwithin his compass,” said popular owner Ashok Ranpise. Kamesh, who spearheads the eight-member owners’ syndicate disclosed that they have been lucky to pick quality performers from Bishan stud. “Last year we had Knotty Charmer and this year it is the `legend’ who is making the big splash and we are delighted,” said Kamesh, while lauding his trainer Prasanna, who has dominated the juvenile races this winter.

The principal added attraction, the RR Byramji Memorial Million was claimed by the heavily backed Lockheed from Darius Byramji’s ward. It was good to see Darius lead in the winning juvenile in the event in memory of his legendary father. The winner piloted by Trevor Patel was drawn badly (14), but the debutant jumped out well and gained a favourable position early on in the six furlongs trip before edging out the Arjun Manglorkar schooled La McQueen close home. The lesser fancied Nyx finished a creditable third. The winner, it must be mentioned has tremendous scope for improvement and he will again prove a hard nut to crack when saddled next.

A model of consistency, Aherne from the stables of Imtiaz Khan entered the winners’ circle, justifying favouritism in the concluding event, the Bellary Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs.The winner confidently piloted by Suraj Narredu assumed command approaching the distance post and quickly put the race to bed in the final furlong. The topweighted Devils Magic piloted by Srinath gained the runner-up berth ahead of rank outsider Millbrook, while Osiris from the stables of MR Singh, who was a medium of a big gamble flopped badly and failed to even save money in place.

Earlier in the upper division of the Shivaganga Falls Plate, the Prasanna Kumar-trained Knotty Challenger and High Speed Dive from Sriram Komandur’s yard garnered maximum support. The two were locked in a grim battle all the way up in the straight before the Prasanna ward powerfully piloted by the talented G Vivek gained the day close home to the delight of the `Knotty’ group who are enjoying a good winning streak, Knotty Wonder winning the Spendthrift Handicap at Guindy on Saturday.

The lower division of the Shivaganga Falls Plate saw the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Ebotse finally shed his maiden status in the hands of Trevor who recorded a fine treble, booting home Lockheed and Knotty Legend after his victory on Ebotse. Sunway Lagoon followed the winner home ahead of Momentous, while Sling Shot completed the frame.

The eight to one shot My Vision posted a shock win, producing a winning gallop in the hands of Arvind Kumar to come up tops in the Ghataprabha Plate run over a mile.The well supported Eco Friendly did produce his best, but that was just not good enough to lower the colours of the Inayathullah ward who gained the verdict, 'long neck' separating the two at the wire. Antilope finished t hird ahead of Sekhmet. 

The lesser fancied Spirit Dancer from trainer Ganapathy's yard piloted in copybook fashion by apprentice jockey Siddaraju came good in the opening event, the Sabarmati Plate run over a sprint. In what was a very open affair, Spirit Dancer produced her best to enter the winners’ circle pegging back Akasi, who was fancied strongly in place by his connections.