On a day the Rain God chose not to spoil the party of the railbirds at the Bangalore Turf Club, the followers of form had the better of exchanges and returned home with a spring in their stride. Indian Blues apart, most  fancied contestants justified their top billing and loved the action under the cloud cover.  

Satish Narredu proudly led in Shamrock, deserving winner of the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup, the plum event. Yash Narredu  confidently pushed the winner ahead soon after the field of seven runners came under the starter’s flag and hung on right till the very end, comfortably pegging back the challenge of the favourite Supernatural close home. The public choice, it was clear found the seven furlongs trip a trifle sharp to his liking and it will pay to follow the game galloper from Pesi’s yard over longer trips.

In the penultimate event, the  Ramkirpal Plate run over a sprint, River Of  Gold from trainer Parvati Byramji’s yard was the overwhelming favourite, but the public choice performed below par and it was clear half-way home that he was a beaten horse. Ten to one shot Indian Blues from trainer Narayan Gowda’s yard piloted by Rajesh Kumar produced a winning gallop in the final furlong  to romp home in style. Spirit Dancer gained the runner-up berth ahead of  Star Concept, while River Of Gold finished down the field much to disappointment of the large following.

In a three cornered contest involving, the top fancy Zuri from trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard, Seventh Samurai from the stables of Arjun Manglorkjar and the Irfan Ghatala schooled Stravinsky piloted by Suraj Narredu, Trevor Patel booted home Zuri to an emphatic victory in the concluding event, the Supervite Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs.  The winner tracked Stravinsky for most part of the trip as the nohoper Schafenburg set a decent pace before he shot his bolt and retired at the top of the straight. At this juncture Stravinsky briefly showed the way, but once Trevor reminded Zuri of the task ahead, it was all over bar the shouting. Seventh Samurai finished a game second ahead of Stravinsky. 

Earlier, the opening event produced a thrilling finish, the two saddle artistes, Trevor Patel astride The Leader and Suraj Narredu guiding the fortunes of the favourite Casteel from Satish Narredu’s yard locked in a ding-dong battle before Suraj and Casteel gained the day, edging out the second public choice close home. Wonderland finished third ahead of the Warren Singh schooled Chotipari, who was fancied strongly in place after she finished third in the opening event of the season. The `Pari’ however, failed to justify the support of her followers, only managing to complete the frame despite the benefit of a good run under her belt. 

The Ganapathy-trained Brave Majesty and Capri Girl from the stables of MR Singh topped the betting board in the second event, the Lady Gibraltar Plate run over a sprint. The former piloted by leading pro Sandesh came up trumps snuffing out the start to finish attempt of Capri Girl in the final furlong. Alice Blue from the stables of Irfan Ghatala finished long way behind, but yet managed to save money in place, while another fancied contestant Walvis Bay struggled to make the board.

The five to one shot Mandarino from Irfan Ghatala’s yard produced a winning gallop in the hands of Antony Raj to upset the applecart of the on-money favourite Monteiro piloted by Vivek, who in his attempt to make every post a winning one on the public rage failed to match strides with the winner, who proved too good at end. Rock Bank, stablemate of Monterio finished a suggestive third on debut and it will not be long before this Prasanna trainee sheds his maiden status.   
 
The well-backed Elfin Knight from Darius Byramji’s yard came up tops in the principal added attraction, the VT Velu Memorial Cup run over a mile. The favourite, who had finished second behind Tesorino in his last effort over an identical distance at Guindy looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before he provided top gun Trevor Patel an easy ride to success. Magnus from the stables of Faraz Arshad expectedly gained the runner-up spot ahead of Cape Wickham after Tiepolo from Pesi Shroff’s yard was withdrawn at the starting gates.