Ganapathy trained Forever Elegance lasted out to win the Gr 1 Poonawalla Bangalore Derby in thrilling fashion from Andreyan on Republic Day. The race saw the eclipse of Full Speed who had gone into the race with immense expectations. In the event, the son of Burden of Proof found the mile and a half trip testing his stamina to the hilt but nevertheless he ended a game third. Performance suggested that he could stay the trip but pedigree certainly did not support this belief and the turn of events was only a confirmation of this. Going into the race without the benefit of a race run, Andreyan who had scorched the turf in one of the gallops, not meant as a lead up workout for the Derby, ran a blinder of race and was a trifle unlucky not to have landed the plum. Just as pedigree counts in making a horse go, jockeyship too matters in a tight situation and had it been for a better caliber rider, Andreyan could well have defied everyone’s expectations. It was good to see the Derby finding a new sponsor because it is they who bring glamour and glitz to the show. The Poonawalla Group, known as breeders par excellence, supported the event in collaboration with the Bangalore Turf Club. For the Poonawallas’, it was a day to celebrate because apart from their stud farm produce Forever Elegance wining the Gr 1 event, one of the pillars of the institution, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla was conferred with the coveted 'Padma Sri' award, one of the highest civilian awards of the Government of India, in recognition of his services in the field of life saving vaccines. Dr Cyrus Poonawalla is also a noted racing administrator having been the Chairman of the Royal Western India Turf Club for a number of years, his reign at the helm marked by clean image for the sport of kings. Mr. Zavaray Poonawalla said that they were delighted to be sponsoring the race and they were overwhelmed by the warmth with which they were treated. ``My brother Cyrus getting the Padma Sri is an additional cause for delight,’’ he added. Be that as it may, Full Speed, winner of the Gr 1 Mysore Derby and the Gr 2 Bangalore 2000 Guineas, was expected to have a decisive say on the basis of his undoubted class. Forever Elegance was on the upgrade though her win in the Oaks was far from impressive owing to the poor pace of the race. Andreyan, who had won two races on the trot at Mysore, had a setback in training and was out of action from the track. He was due to run in a handicap race on the Derby day but his outstanding workout over nine furlongs, the best seen here for a very long time, is what spurred the connections to run the son of Razeen in the Derby despite trainer Rashid Byramji having reservations. But his apprehensions were allayed by the splendid show put up by Andreyan who came perilously close to lifting the coveted Derby. Andreyan may run in the next week’s Gr 1 Indian Derby and he surely is a realistic challenger to Venus Arising but the connections would do well to get a suitable jockey for the occasion. Alford is good but may lack the temperament for the big occasion. Richard Hughes took Randsberg on a start to finish mission followed by Supreme General, Formidable Force, Full Speed, Forever Elegance, Andreyan and the rest. Randsberg did not quicken appreciably at the final bend and he was easily passed by the rest. Formidable Force had the first run on his opponents but he was overhauled by Full Speed who raised visions of a win but once Forever Elegance and Andreyan picked up momentum, his was a beaten cause. Forever Elegance was strongly challenged by Andreyan in the final furlong but the front-runner held on by a fast diminishing margin of a neck. Full Speed finished third, two and a half lengths behind the runner up followed by Formidable Force and Randsberg. Forever Elegance thus completed a hat-trick of classic wins during the season. Michael Eshwer brought off a double at lucrative odds. Lancaster who had failed to live up to the promise given as a juvenile, put his best foot forward as he came with a spirited run in the dying moments of the Mysore Race Club Trophy to edge past favourite Stagecraft. The favourite was running after a longish absence from the track and perhaps the fact that he went to the front too soon caused him to lose the race in a tight finish. Baracudda won in a three-horse finish from Fashion Verdict and Galaxy Star. Galaxy Star burst into the lead in the final furlong but failed to sustain even as Fashion Verdict essayed a strong challenge. Baracudda had Fashion Verdict groping for clear run in the middle and this enabled the former to win by half a length. However, trainer Loknath who lost out on Fashion Verdict had a runaway winner through Sensitive Prince in the concluding race of the day. Sensitive Prince who was given a light ride last time out proved too good for the field, with Alvinia stranded. There was some support for Sense of Style but he did not pick speed at any stage of the race. Trainer Ganapathy has a promising three-year old in Galloping Bay who defied the handicap to win the 1400 metres Narasimharaja Cup in taking style from Seis Carona and Awesome Royal to whom he was conceding weight. Favourite Diomedes bolted to the front and was a beaten cause when the race was on the boil. In the day’s other action, Gatling had no problem in justifying the short price quoted on her while Lusitania won at lucrative odds at the expense of Alannah in virtually the last stride to bring off a stunning upset.