On a day most favourites bar Sicyon, Rosario and Challenge accepted failed to justify their top billing resulting in a majority of punters returning home with big holes in their pockets, two leading pros from Mumbai, champion trainer Pesi Shroff and the rising star Adhirajsingh Jodha recorded a double apiece. Pesi struck through the on-money favourite Rosario and the 10 to one long shot Bishop, while Adhiraj proudly led in the surprise winner of the Benaka Developers Karnataka Juvenile Million, Sovereign King and the on-money favourite Challenge Accepted. 

After failing to produce his best in his maiden attempt at this centre last week, Rosario displayed his true class and ability in the Endorsement Plate run over a mile. Vivek guiding the fortunes of the on-money favourite tracked the nohoper Mystic Charm for most part of the trip before assuming command at the top of the straight and quickly putting the race to bed a furlong from home. Andre from the stables of Bharath Singh followed the winner home ahead of the Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Einaudi. Now that Rosario has broken ice, he is certain to graduate to the higher level in the weeks ahead.

Third in the Poonawalla Multi-Million, Prokofiev from the stables of Prasanna Kumar was the piping hot favourite in the SG Madhukar Memorial Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. But the public rage who let down large following in his debut at this centre before winning in Mumbai again produced a dismal effort much to the disappointment of the Prasanna camp on this track, finishing a tame third behind the highly impressive winner Bishop and the runner-up Laguna Seca from Vijay Singh's yard. Bishop on the strength of this impressive showing will test the best at this campus again when next saddled. 

Despite the fact that Challenge Accepted had failed to make the board from his two starts at his parent-centre (Mumbai), the Adhirajsingh Jodha ward was touted as a good bet in the Udhagamandalam Plate run over a sprint. And the good looking youngster proved that right cruising home nice and easy in the hands of leading pro Sandesh. The Prasanna Kumar schooled Imperador who was tipped to challenge the heavily backed Jodha trainee surprisingly failed to display his true potential and eventually finished in the ruck. A fair number of Imperador supporters who were gearing up to punt big on Imperador chose to shift into the boat of Challenge Accepted the moment the price on the Prasanna ward drifted out alarmingly, offered at (6/1) and the punters smelling a rat quickly shifted to take a ride in the winning boat. Flaming Sword from Dominic's yard who took his supporters to the cleaners in his last start in winter gained the runner-up berth ahead of Doncaster Belle, who edged out the Sulaiman-trained Scent Of Rain, strongly fancied in place by the shortest of margins. 

Sovereign King was better placed at weights than the well fancied Big Bay in the Benaka Developers Juvenile Million taking into account the result of the Poonawalla Multi-Million. In receipt of five kilos, Sovereign King was in with a chance, but the moment the connections of the `King' chose Antony Raj, who was two kilos overweight, the handicappers again chose to go with Big Bay, while the followers of form trusted the Shroff-trained Fynbos to register a hat-trick after her two impressive straight wins in Mumbai. Well what at end was considered a safe `Jodi' to the delight of the bookmakers went out of the window the moment Sovereign King got the measure of Big Bay approaching the distance post and powered home even before Fynbos could get into her rhythm. The top fancy only managed to edge out Big Bay to gain the runner-up berth and it is clear from this none-too-happy effort that Fynbos needs to quickly make big improvement to stake her claim in the Fillies Championship Stakes in the weeks ahead. 

After his impressive debut in winter, Sicyon was head and shoulders above his 11 rivals in the Elite Force Plate run over a distance of 1300 metres. The public rage partnered by Sandesh as expected powered through to score without really breaking a sweat and on the strength of this performance will make his presence felt against the top colts in this campus. Silicon Star from Warren Singh's yard, fancied strongly in place justified the confidence of the Mahesh Gowda camp edging out the second favourite Perfect Attitude to gain the runner-up berth. 

In the concluding event, the Aureole Time Plate run over a sprint, Darrion from the stables of Pradeep and the Dominic-trained Satin Lass topped the betting board, the two camps strongly fancying their chances. It was another `Jodi' which was touted safe like the Big Bay-Fynbos `Jodi' which bit the dust in the feature event. Well much to the chagrin of the supporters of both camps, this `Jodi' too failed to gain the desired result, rank outsider Glaze from Narayan Gowda's yard spoiling the party of Darrion who looked set to score after hitting the front at the top of the straight before losing out in the final furlong. Satin Lass it appeared was on a conducted sight-seeing tour, while the lesser fancied Estefania was never in the hunt. The winner to the delight of a couple of never-say-die fluke-seekers paid out a rich dividend of Rs, 394 on a tenner at the tote window. 

In the opening event, the Prince Khartoum Plate, The Strikingly from Joseph's yard piloted in copybook fashion by Sai Kiran donkey-licked her eight rivals to post an emphatic win. The Arjun Manglorkar-trained Ebotse was the top fancy in what was an open event and the favourite found The Strikingly too hot to handle only managing to edge out Mega Success by the shortest of margins to gain the runner-up spot. The Strikingly to say the least is in good nick and is set to provide an encore.