Champion trainer Prasanna Kumar, who dominated the juvenile races in the winter season is enjoying his maiden stint at Pune, while continuing to lead in winners at his parent-centre (Bengaluru) and Mysuru. The unassuming pro obtained a brillant 1-2 result in the Yohan Z Poonawalla Turf Club Trophy on Saturday, the winner Siege Courageous and the runner-up Royal Mysore making the namma Bengaluru boy proud. Prasanna had earlier struck it rich through Royal Mysore and Evaldo, the latter bolting home in the prestigious Eve Champion Trophy. 

In Mysuru on Tuesday, the top trainer had entered the talented Masato in the Mysore Colts Trial Stakes run over a distance of seven furlongs and the public rage owned by big brother P Arun Kumar, in a pulse-pounding finish edged out the Darius Byramji schooled Ranquelino. Top gun Suraj Narredu fresh from his success at Malakpet booting home Divine Art and Priceless Prince, displayed exemplary saddle artistry on the winner, who gained the nod by the proverbial whisker from the Darius, ward who too garnered superb saddle assistance from Akshay Kumar, who joined the exclusive 1000 club guiding home the summer Derby hopeful Positano from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard to an emphatic victory in a juvenile event run over a mile in Bengaluru on Friday. 

Adopting different strategies, Suraj decided to hit the front soon after the six colts came under the starter's flag, while Akshay astride Ranquelino chose to play the waiting game. The two a furlong from home were locked in a ding-dong battle before flashing past the post locked together and the `magic eye' to the delight of  Arun Kumar nodded in favour of Masato. "It was a classic finish. Both riders produced their best and the railbirds loved the action and the heat generated in the plum event," said Arun Kumar, while lauding the efforts of the top two saddle artists in the feature event. " Punters enjoy the thrill associated with the sport and this thrilling finish warmed the hearts of all the racing buffs in the Royal City," said Arun. 

Prasanna in his first season at Pune is making a fine impression, while serving notice that he under his care has powerful ammunition and in the weeks ahead will pull out the plug and fuse out many `A' listers at his visiting centre. "The good horses are doing well and the hard work is bringing home the desired results," said Prasanna pleased with the results he has successfully recorded at different racing centres. 

BOOKIES TAKE A STEP BACK 

Meanwhile in a meeting with the Stewards of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), the bookmakers who were gearing up to start operations from Independence Day, it is learnt have for more reasons than one decided to put their operations on hold and it appears very unlikely that the group will start business this week unless a couple of senior bookmakers instill confidence in the many juniors, who after gaining police approval are not impressed and are asking BTC to provide them the government approval before they start their business in the ring. 

The bookmakers want to make it sure that the mandarins of the club have got the approval of the government to bring back the bookies and the note of approval the bookies reckon will provide the security cover. The request makes it clear that the bookmakers are not really tuned to what's happening and how the new managing committee got the decks cleared for their entry. The bookies must understand that without the government approval, BTC wouldn't have advertised and given the applications form to people interested to start betting operations from the stalls in the betting ring. The bookies also must know that the government while giving the approval to rope in bookies had also made it clear to the club that charge-sheeted persons should strictly not be entertained. In addition the government had instructed the BTC to furnish the final list of the bookies BTC approves after the applicants gain the police approval. The junior and inexperienced bookies, who fail to understand that the entire procedure is designed by the government and BTC is following all the guidelines must learn that police approval is good enough. The Karnataka State Police (KSP) is a state police force that works under the purview of the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka and the bookies must respect the approval they have gained from KSP rather than insist on a letter of approval from the government. This defies logic taking into account that only after gaining the green signal from the government , the club initiated the process to bring the bookies back in the game. The managing committee, it is learnt have informed the bookies that they will try and get the government approval seal to what is turning out to be a contentious deal. This may happen in a day or two or like the little bird chirping on top of the big tree inside the BTC premises, that it will all come good only next week.