Without doubt, the best sprinter on the Indian racing circuit, Time And Tide continues to hold Mukteshwar Stud Farm's flag high and proud, each time he competes in a major sprint event and on Sunday at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), the champion sprinter competing in the Chief Minister's Cup registered his 13th victory without breaking sweat in resplendent style. The fact that he has beaten the best, be it at the Blue Mountains in Udhagamandalam or Mahalaxmi in Mumbai, Time And Tide is a true blue professional, who now understands that he is the Big Boss in sprint races all across the country. 

Up against 10 rivals, who proved easy meat for the star sprinter, Time And Tide again produced a quality effort in the hands of his trusted pilot Sandesh to whizz past Magileto, while sending out a message that he is only getting better and better like old wine and all the forthcoming sprint plums at most premier racing centres are at his mercy if his connections chose to target them in the months ahead. 

All credit to trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha who has played a stellar role in Time And Tide's spectacular journey from a raw, brash tear-away sprinter to a completely well-settled professional. Adhirajsingh, who like Time And Tide has quickly sprinted to the top trainers league is enjoying his stint and after Sovereign King's victory in the Colts Championship Stakes last week followed by Time And Tide's walk in the park exercise, the rising star is in the classic circle. 

Angad Singh, the head honcho of the Mukteshwar Stud Farm, while lauding the effort of Adhirajsingh disclosed that it is good team effort which has helped in obtaining the desired results. "Every individual at the farm has done his bit and we work as one team," said Angad pointing out that the top veterinary doctor Krishna Raj, who has now joined (BTC) also played a leading role in Mukteshwar's graduation to the big league. 

Another top performer from the East, Trakila produced a jaw-dropping effort in the Karnataka Sub-Area Cup to the delight of the Aashay Doctor camp. Gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the seven furlongs trip, the talented filly produced a stunning turn of foot to overhaul her 11 rivals including the favourite Regal Reality who was shaping like a winner at the distance post after calling the shots from the word go. The fact that the winner shouldered eight kilos more than Regal Reality from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard and five kilos more than his other arch rival Bashir from the stables of Karthik Ganapathy and still beat them comfortably, romping home from last to first, only confirms that the best horse on parade ended up a deserving winner. Victoria Doresaani from Irfan Ghatala's yard who failed to justify favouritism in her last essay pitted against much inferior company finished a creditable third ahead of Bashir in this quality field. Trakila, it must be mentioned is on top of her game and it will pay to support her again when next saddled. 

Earlier in what was a two-horse race, the favourite Divine Star from Aman Hussain's yard edged out the well supported second choice Pantazi after a brief duel approaching the final furlong. It was clear that Divine Star's fitness and his exposure to this track, having won his last start with a measure of comfort, proved decisive taking into account that Pantazi in his maiden appearance on this track after matching strides when the race came on a boil failed to hang on at the all-important end. Well, it is needless to mention that Pantazi will prove to be a different customer when next saddled. Power Of Beauty from Pradeep Annaiah's yard finished a creditable third and is one for the notebook. 

The lesser fancied Mindful from the stables of Deepesh Narredu came up tops in the Astronomic Plate run over a distance of 2000 metres. The winner in the hands of Yash Narredu made every post a winning one, comfortably pegging back the challenge of the overwhelming favourite Odysseus from champion trainer Pesi Shroff's yard. Second in demand at the betting ring, Victor Hugo from the stables of Irfan Ghatala who impressed most while finishing an impressive second behind Emphatic in his last essay surprisingly stuck to the last position for most part of the trip and shockingly failed to make the board. How a impressive performer who flew in the final furlong to threaten Emphatic make no impression and perform like a dud in his next start calls for an explanation and hopefully the stipes and stewards will look into this blow-hot, blow-cold effort and offer truthful and convincing explanations to the racing public. 

The Arjun Manglorkar-trained Konkrah fancied most in the Littleover Plate run over a sprint, again met a tartar in Victoria Cross from Neil Darashah's yard. The seven to one shot in the hands of Neeraj Rawal produced a sparkling gallop in the `run in' home to streak ahead and comfortably peg back the belated effort of the favourite. Second in demand at the betting ring, Catch The Worm from Sequeira's yard jumped out smartly and was in the front group before gradually slipping back and eventually managing only to complete the frame. 

In the opening event, the Purshotham schooled Sunlit Path who had let down large following in his last start donkey-licked his nine rivals in the Mahalakshmi Plate run over a mile. It appeared that Purshotham had fitted a new pair of wings on the favourite who showed commendable improvement from his earlier exercise. Well his connections may debate that the extended mile long trip worked well for him, but the fact is that Sunlit Path's vastly improved performance only confirmed that he had failed to display his true potential when fancied most in his last start. Anchorage followed the winner home ahead of Embosom. 

The Joseph Awale camp who lost out on Dynamic Force on Saturday pulled off a successful gamble on Bezawada Sultan in the Tudor Jet Plate run over a sprint. J Chinoy astride the heavily backed public choice tracked the leader Divo for most part of the six-furlongs trip before he packed punch on the `Sultan' who readily took command and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Gandolfini edged out Agera to claim the runner-up berth while the lesser fancied contestants, Springsteen and Isabelle performed below par. 

Leading pro Suraj Narredu steered the favourite Ashwa Kali Bhani home in the concluding event to the delight of the followers of form who returned home satisfied gaining the better of exchanges in the bookmakers ring, five firm favourites and one well supported Trakila coming through in the competitive eight-event card. The six to one shot Continues from Warren Singh's yard did throw a scare, but Suraj was in no mood to let the advantage slip and gamely held on a `neck' separating him from Continues