It was a shocker. The shocking result of the `Ladies Derby' stunned the followers of form and most knowledgeable, who had opined that the 1000 Guineas winner Regal Reality will be hard to down in the Oaks. The fact that the short-priced favourite from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard failed to negotiate the mile-and-half classic trip was not very surprising, but what really shocked the railbirds was that the least fancied contestant, a maiden emerged the best of her age and sex, winning the third classic of the season, the Bangalore Oaks sponsored by the Bangalore Bookmakers' Association. Top saddle artiste Suraj Narredu was delighted and so too Rajesh Narredu. It was a pleasant surprise from Queen Of Kings, a nohoper at the start and the result obtained on the `Ladies Day Out' in the first week of the New Year will certainly get the ball rolling for the Narredus in the classic season ahead. 

Balmoral, pacemaker for the pipping hot favourite Regal Reality played his role to near-perfection, setting a decent pace all through the backstretch, while leading `Knight' Akshay Kumar partnering the public choice chose to follow the leader for most part of the classic journey. Queen Of Kings was seen travelling well in the hands of Suraj Narredu, while Trevor astride the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Inspire chose to play the waiting game. 

Regal Reality brought the field into view closely followed by Queen Of Kings and Inspire who looked good to steal the show, but in determined fashion Suraj drove the nohoper to gain the advantage and it was game, set and match for the Rajesh Narredu ward. Inspire, who at one stage looked good to zip past Queen Of Kings, it appeared  lost her galloping shoes in the final furlong and had to settle for the runner-up berth, while Scarlette Lady also finished ahead of the favoured lady. who found the trip beyond her compass. 

The favourite Siege Courageous from leading trainer Prasanna Kumar's yard came up tops in the principal added attraction, the New Year Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs. Top gun Trevor Patel, who is on a hot streak produced a brilliant effort on the winner, who produced a brilliant turn of foot to flash past the post first to the delight of the railbirds.Imperial Blue did well to gain the second spot ahead of Star Glory, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Shamrock from the stables of Satish Narredu, it is clear has gone off the boil, finishing down the field much to the disappointment of his supporters. 

The bred in the purple Prokofiev from Prasanna Kumar's yard was considered a `moral certainty' in the juveniles event. Even before his maiden debut his connections were happily pointing at his brilliant work-sheet and making no secret of their opinion that Prokofiev will be a frontliner for the Poonawalla Multi-Million later in February at Mahalaxmi. Well that proved to be one exaggerated tall claim, the youngster lacking the speed and the temperament required to make a impressive debut. Prokofiev finished second behind the Arjun Manglorkar-trained Perfect Attitude who made a satisfying winning debut in the hands of leading pro Sandesh who stole the limelight booting home the first four winners. 

Astride the second in demand at the betting ring, Ricardo who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring, Sandesh had it easy cruising home nice and easy in the opener, the lower division of the Hemavathi Plate run over a sprint. Last start winner Roman Spirit from Dominic's yard followed the winner home ahead of Bharat, while the favourite Divine Art from Satish Narredu's yard performed below par and much to the chagrin of the followers of form finished in the ruck. 

In the upper division of the event, Sandesh astride the on-money favourite Never Give In, another winner from Arjun's yard had to stretch every sinew to peg back the  bold challenge of the topweighted Berrettini from Imran Khan's yard piloted by Trevor. The runner-up covered acres of ground and challenged the winner before the back-breaking weight (62.5), he was shouldering put the brakes on the game galloper and this helped the public choice escape to victory. Tripitaka manged to save money in place, while The Flying Feet completed the frame. 

The Padmanabhan schooled Lone Ranger, twice second from his last two starts, provided Sandesh an arm-chair ride to success in the Dharwar Plate. The winner, who finished second behind the Irfan Ghatala-trained  Pharazon who subsequently won again was confidently supported by followers of form and the overwhelming favourite justified his top billing cantering home without really breaking into a sweat. Lone Ranger on the strength of this sublime effort is set to provide an encore. Double Vision expectedly gained the runner-up berth ahead of Anchorage. 

A facile last start winner, Promiseofthefuture from Irfan Ghatala's yard produced another big effort to stake a claim to wear the Derby sash on the Republic Day. The star performer in the hands of Suraj Narredu, who partnered him in his last effort too, produced an astounding gallop to zip past the hot favourite Positano who found the Irfan ward too hot to handle in the Octogonal Plate run over a distance of 2000 metres. The fact that Positano had finished third behind the winner Santissimo and the runner-up Excellent Lass in the summer Derby adds value to the performance of Promiseofthefuture, who now looks good to test Redefined in the blue riband of the season. Rock Bank finished a game third confirming that he loves going over trips beyond a mile. 

The MR Singh schooled True Punch produced a knock-out blow in the concluding event, the upper division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate. The winner partnered by Gaurav Singh hit the front soon after the 13 runners came under the starter's flag for the 1100 metres dash and never let the initiative slip to the delight of the MR camp who quietly and sweetly fancied him as a good win and place bet in this scurry. Divine Protector from Warren Singh's yard was a medium of a big gamble and the strongly fancied Amazing Stride from the stables of Padmanabhan too was flexing his muscles in  his effort to get into the winners' circle. But much to the delight of the bookmakers, the big `Jodi' went out even before the race came on a boil and it was True Punch who earned his winning bracket pegging back Royal Deccan and Elveden. 

The upper division of the event too produced a shock result, the ten to one long shot Aditya from the stables of Warren Singh sprinting home in the hands of Angad, snuffing out the challenge of the topweighted Fast Response and the debutant Woman At War.