Leading trainer Arjun Manglorkar and top saddle artiste Akshay Kumar emerged champs at the end of the 14-day summer season. Arjun to his credit led in 13 winners, while Akshay booted home 16 including the winner of the Colts Championship Stakes, African Gold and the St.Leger winner DYF. Among the apprentice jockeys, Koshi Kumar topped the list with four wins and the Kunigal Stud Farm again came out on top, 18 winners in the short summer season. The Pesi Shroff schooled Santissimo was adjudged the Champion Horse following his victory in the blue riband of the season, the HPSL summer Derby after he went down narrowly to African Gold in the Colts classic. The Satish Narredu-trained Bourbonaire was rightly declared Horse Of The Season, winning three of his four starts. 

On the final day all eyes were on the two Mumbai frontliners, DYF and Supernatural in the final classic of the season, the St.Leger run over the energy-sapping 2800 metres long journey. DYF from the stables of Adhiraj Jodha was the pipping hot favourite. Akshay Kumar guiding the fortunes of the public rage produced a copybook effort on the grey who after a brief duel with Supernatural in the final furlong reached home first to the delight of the Jodha camp. 

DYF team apart, veteran trainer Warren Singh and promising jockey Sai Kiran stole the limelight recording a fine treble. Warren combined effectively with Sai Kiran and the duo first struck through Bestidentification in the Youngsters Trophy. The fit and fine juvenile who in his debut a month earlier had finished 22 lengths behind Casteel detonated his rivals romping home by more than seven lengths. Martha from the stables of Prasanna Kumar followed the smart winner home, while the favourite Mescalito finished a `neck' behind the runner-up. 

Spurred by the success, Warren and Sai Kiran  landed a good gamble on Instructor in the upper division of the Champion Jockey Cup run over a sprint. Third behind Mazal Tov in his only start this season, Instructor hit the front soon after the dozen runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip comfortably making every post a winning one. The favourite Monterio gained the runner-up berth ahead of another fancied contestant La McQueen, while Queen Of Kings completed the frame. 

In line for a treble, Sai and Warren in no mood to slip up on the opportunity did the `trick' on the second favourite Dhanteras in the upper division of the Champion Trainer Cup. The youngster pegged back Mehra to shed his maiden status, while the overwhelming favourite Martino from Komandur's yard failed to even save money in place. Sai Kiran buoyed by the hat-trick, later signed off in style, guiding home the strongly supported High Speed Dive in the final event of the season, the lower division of the Champion Jockey Cup. It was a sublime effort  and all credit to the Mahesh Gowda think-tank who made it a summer to remember. 

The Horse Of The Season, Bourbonaire superbly piloted by Suraj Narredu produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to win the Raja Of Bobbili Memorial Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. In line for a treble, Zuri in the hands of Vivek had stolen a ,march at the top of the straight and looked set to land the spoils before Antony Raj astride the favourite Aralina and Suraj packing punch on the five to one shot Bourbonaire stormed up to make a race of it and at the end,it was Bourbonaire and Suraj who gained the day. Zuri hung on to finish second ahead of the public choice Aralina who again failed to produce her best. 

The Civil Service Cup produced a repeat result of the Stewards Cup held on Aug 3, Suraj astride Prana beating Galahad piloted by Akshay and Vivaldo partnered by Vivek. The change in handicap failed to make an impression on Prana, who again beat Galahad and Vivaldo, in fact more comfortably to the delight of his master Prasanna Kumar. Twice second from his last two starts, Galahad from Sulaiman's yard is tipped to break ice and get into the winners' list in the Mysore season. 

Golden Time from Lokanath Gowda's yard dropped the biggest bombshell coming up tops in the Leading Owner Cup . The winner piloted by apprentice jockey Faizaan produced a winning gallop close home to upset the applecart of the two fancied contestants, Indian Blues and Macron. The shock winner paid a rich dividend of Rs, 625 on a tenner at the tote window. 

You got to hand it to champion trainer Arjun Manglorkar. He simply raced Estafania week after week without fail and on her fifth attempt the four-year-old filly earned her first pay-cheque winning the Sayonara Trophy in the hands of Antony Raj. Alacero from Pradeep's yard followed the winner home, while Meghann saved money in place. Did Arjun resort to push, come what may or was he proving a point that he is racing his horses and putting the required entries to help avoid races going void is for the champion to answer. But one thing is clear, whatever the intention, the final result did come as a pleasant surprise to Arjun and Estafania was one small cherry on the big cake the leading trainer took home with a spring in his stride.

The Sulaiman schooled Aquastic who made a winning debut, the Irfan Ghatala-trained Peridot and Ancient History from Darius Byramji's yard were the three other winners in the long drawn card of dozen events.