It all happened on the classic day. Champion colt Echoes Of Time proved his top billing right in the second classic of the season, the Mysore 2000 Guineas, while providing his master Pradeep Annaiah his maiden classic success. The railbirds enjoyed the classic result. Later a big slip up in the Meerut Plate, saddle slip of the two top fancies in the event, Live The Dream and Connecting Dots in the event resulted in a group including many old hats in the game demanding an detailed enquiry and honest explanation from the stipes and stewards, pointing out that this unfortunate double-disaster was too bad to be true.

The Stewards and stipes realising that this incident could dent the image of the club readily questioned the two trainers, Darius Byramji and Faraz Arshad, the two jockeys, Antony Raj who booted home Echoes Of Time in the 2000 Guineas and the promising apprentice Aleemuddin and the designated officials before clearing the big manipulation doubts. The chairman, G Venkatesh disclosed that following the questioning of the pros it was clear that there was no hanky-panky and it was a case of two accidents in a race. “The stipes and stewards checked all the bases and the explanation offered by the four pros and the officials in-charge indicated no foul-play,” said Venkatesh.

The saddle on the public choice Liv The Dream slipped back completely, while in the case of Connecting Dots, the well-backed second favourite, the saddle precariously shifted forward over the withers. Liv The Dream despite the mishap finished half-length behind the shock winner Aurele, while Connecting Dots placed third, less than a solitary length behind arch rival Liv The Dream. “This is only the second time in my 21-year-old career that a saddle slip has happened and it was most unfortunate,” said Faraz Arshad, trainer of Connecting Dots piloted by Antony Raj.

Despite the fact that only five colts lined-up for the second classic run over the traditional mile long classic journey, the classic generated commendable interest, most knowledgeable of the view that the big fight between the two heavy weights in the race, Echoes Of Time and Money Bags will go the distance. But that didn’t happen simply because the Prasanna Kumar schooled Money Bags hit the front and bolted in the hands of top gun Suraj Narredu and this made the task of Echoes Of Time simple at the end. But one cannot take away the credit from the performance of the winner, who romped home in style sending out a clear message that he is the best colt in the Bangalore Turf Club campus. Kudos to trainer Pradeep, who sent out Echoes Of Time spot on for the big event and the winner rewarded his master with the big-ticket to the elite classic winners list.

Suraj, earlier partnered last start winner Knotty Blush to a facile victory in the Justice P Medapa Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The winner hit the front soon after the field of 11 runners came under the starter’s flag and never was in any threat, providing Suraj an arm-chair ride to success. Rank outsider Star Concept followed the popular winner home ahead of another long shot Winter Agenda, while Metzinger another well fancied contestant from the stables of Sriram Komandur failed to display his true potential.

 Sriram Komandur earlier proudly led in Dufy, winner of the upper division of the Srirangapattana Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The strongly fancied on-money favourite in the hands of leading pro Vivek produced a sparkling gallop approaching the distance post to assume command before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Blue Origin from the stables of Ranjeet gained the runner-up berth ahead of Walter, while the second in demand at the betting ring, El Alamein piloted by Alex Rozario failed to even save money in place.

The lower division of the event was claimed by the on-money favourite Gandolfini from Purshotham’s yard. The winner fancied most by all the big bettors following his impressive last start effort travelled nice and easy all through the first five furlongs and the moment leading saddle artiste Trevor Patel reminded the winner of the task ahead, Gandolfini powered through to put the race to bed in double-quick time. The moody Chinky Pinky finished second ahead of Natural One, while the second favourite D Roman Reigns  was never in the hunt.

The ten to one long shot Beautiful Bloom and Fashionista quoted at a longer price were the two  other winners on the incident-filled classic day. The former came up tops in the concluding event, the Penambur Plate edging out Adena close home. The Mansoor Khan trainee Knotty In Blue who garnered good support and Tower Quest, who was a medium of a big gamble which flopped badly  failed in their effort to send out the railbirds satisfied at the results obtained on the big day.

The Ruban schooled Fashionista reigned supreme in the Mandakalli Plate for horses in the lowest category, snuffing out the challenge of the Satish Narredu-trained Real Happiness partnered by Vikrant. Real Happiness was in fact one of the top fancies, but the moment the price quoted on the Satish Narredu ward kept going up and up, the railbirds smelling a rat chose to go with Gismo and paid a heavy price, the MR Singh ward finishing down the field. Real Happiness too failed to bring any happiness to his die-hard supporters, who pinned their hopes and placed bets on the four-year-old despite the downward slide in the bookmakers ring. Mention must be made that Real Happiness did save money in place, while Gismo took everything down the drain.