Top gun Antony Raj can do no wrong on the Mysore race track. The best saddle artiste on parade in the royal city produced another champagne effort, booting home the Prasanna Kumar-trained Ravishing Beauty to a classy victory in the first classic of the season, the Mysore 1000 Guineas. The winner, making an appearance after 224 days outclassed  her more fancied rivals including the top fancy Miracle Star from leading trainer Padmanabhan's yard and this simply put was another feather in the distinguished hat of Prasanna Kumar, who sent out Ravishing Beauty fighting fit and she did the rest, galloping to fame and sending out a strong message that she is one of the top fillies on the Indian racing circuit. The fact that she defied the long 7-month break and emerged the best of her age and sex outwitting her 11 rivals over a mile in a close finish only confirms that Ravishing Beauty has tremendous scope for improvement and will only get better in the months ahead.

To the credit of Antony Raj, the darling of the cowd, it must be mentioned that the man in red hot form is riding like one possessed and at the time of writing he already has guided home two piping hot favourites Etoile and Shambala in Pune on Saturday. Prasanna will be the cynosure of all eyes again next week, Money Bags under his care a frontliner in the Colts Classic, next Friday. "I just didn't want to hurry and gave Ravishing Beauty all the time she needed to recover and come good and after her brilliant preparatory gallop, I was confident that she will test the best in her classic comeback," said Prasanna immensely pleased with the success of the quality filly in his yard.

Delighted, winning his first classic in his colours, K Kaliyaperumal said: "It certainly proved to be a red letter day. We fancied Ravishing Beauty to come up tops and she made us all proud," adding that winning a classic in his colours was a dream come true. Perumal lauded the effort of Prasanna and Antony, pointing out that the two left no stone unturned in their endeavour to pull out an ace.

Miracle Star opened favourite and garnered good support on the strength of her impressive finish behind the winner Fynbos and the runner-up Prokofiev in the Bangalore Summer Derby. The top fancy after racing prominently all through the backstretch streaked ahead at the distance post and looked set to sail through before Antony setalight the Prasanna ward and Ravishing Beauty responding brilliantly to her master's call shot through to assume command before pegging back the belated effort of Indian Brocade piloted by Suraj Narredu, back after his historic success at Ascot.

The Monnappa schooled Ocean, who had impressed most winning her last start without really extending herself was rightly fancied most in the principal added attraction, the Maj.Sardar L Mahadevaiah Memorial Trophy and the fact that Antony was piloting her this time out provided the punters the confidence to lay a big punt on the speedy customer in the sprint event. Antony astride this public choice looked in a big hurry to catch a bus, allowing Ocean to bolt away to a long lead before the overwhelming favourite surrendered the advantage to the lesser fancied Falcon Fury from the stables of Ganesh. Ocean hung on to finish second ahead of Sherouk from Jaishankar Pillay's yard, while Natural Warrior completed the frame.

Antony later lost out on two other on-money favourites, a facile last start winner Power Of Beauty from Pradeep Annaiah' yard, who he had partnered last time out and the Rakesh-trained Monlight Queen in the concluding event. Competing in the MB Appaya Memorial Trophy, Power Of Beauty shifted out after the jump out from which she never recovered and eventually finished in the ruck much to the chagrin of the followers of form, who had fancied her strongly after her emphatic last start success. Second n demand at the betting ring, Mazal Tov piloted by leading pro Akshay Kumar too didn't perform to expectations, finishing second behind the rank outsider Confident Game from the stables of Hellal Moses. Vinod Shinde astride the winner was rewraded for his determined approach, while Akshay Kumar, it must be mentioned got going only after Confident Game was safely in front and set to score.

On the strength of her impressive showing in her last essay, second behind Amazing Imrafa in the summer season, Moonlight Queen was touted a `moral certainty' in the Haveri Plate run over a sprint. But she to the disappointment of her large following failed to display her true potential, a blow-hot, blow-cold Antony not really at his best. Advantageously placed in at the scales, Born Dancer from Ranjeet 's yard in the hands of Shyam Kumar made every post a winning one. Court Jester fancied by the Monnappa camp to upset the applecart of the favourite finished second behind the eight to one shot Born Dancer, who is set to provde an encore when saddled next. Moonlight Queen should be persisted with. She certainly deserves another chance.

Azhar Ali after striking it  rich on Eclipse Pulse on Thursday, struck again with Baltimore  on classic day. The winner piloted by the promising five-kilo claimer Asirvatham, who guided home Eclipse Pulse, produced a sparkling gallop at the all-important end to reign supreme in the Jayanagar Plate. Lesser fancied Sorrento Secret followed the winner home ahead of Sunway Lagoon, while Sheer Bliss was never in the hunt.

In what appeared a open affair, public choice My Life My Rules came up tops in the Son Of The Light Plate. Antony asride the favourite packed punch to get the better of Gentleman's Word. Warrior Woman too had her share of supporters, but she found the first two too hot to handle and had to rest content with the third spot.

Rajesh Narredu and Unforgettable Star rolled out the red carpet for Suraj in the opening event after his triumphant return from the United Kingdom and Suraj broke no sweat guiding home the `Star' in his first attempt after his return to India. Ceremonial followed the winner home ahead of Supreme Success, who is still struggling to make his presence felt on the circuit.