Form played true and bar Black Label all the fancied contestants including the two Bangalore raiders Don Carlos, classic hopeful Maana and the talented Efficacy justified their top billing, romping home without really being tested on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon at Guindy. 

The Darius Byramji-trained Maana emerged the most impressive winner in the seven-event card. The bred in the purple filly, back after her none too impressive effort in the first classic at Malakpet (Hyderabad), donkey-licked her four rivals in the Exhilaration Handicap run over a distance of nine furlongs and taking into account that the Darius ward won by a `street', it is clear that Maana has improved most and will be a force to reckon with in the classics at this centre. 

Confidently piloted by leading saddle artiste Trevor Patel, Don Carlos came up tops in the upper division of the Frankel Trophy run over a sprint. The half-money favourite, who had let down large following in his last essay at Mysuru produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to snuff out the challenge of Rise Again who shifted out badly at the all-important end and this made the task of Trevor and Don Carlos easy at end. The fact that Trevor needed to stretch every sinew to help the `Don' flash past the post first indicated that this Sulaiman trainee will not have it easy when next saddled considering the fact that this Bangalore challenger was flat out against mediocre opposition. King's Battalion finished a creditable third, a `nose' separating him from the runner-up Rise Again, while Aspira found this company too hot to handle.

The lower division of the event was claimed by the strongly supported Proposed from the stables of Ramanathan. The public choice partnered by Farid Ansari in a never-say-die effort produced an astounding gallop in the final furlong to edge out Mother's Grace close home. Stablemate Andorra was seen finishing on purposefully at end and it will not be long before she earns her corn bill in the weeks ahead. Stag's Leap, who had his share of followers performed below par losing a couple of lengths at the gates from which he never recovered.  

The Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled Efficacy helped Trevor record a popular treble. The money-back favourite was head and shoulders above her 10 rivals in the Chaitanya Chakram Handicap, winning without her pilot moving a muscle all through the seven furlongs exercise which proved to be a walk in the park for the Sulaiman trainee, who appears ready for bigger battles in the weeks ahead. Anigraha fancied strongly in place by the Vijay Singh camp did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Element. 

After finishing second twice this season, Legacy from Deepesh Narredu's yard broke the ice, coming up trumps in the Rose Bowl Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The on-money favourite piloted in determined fashion by Yash Narredu streaked ahead approaching the distance post and gamely held on pegging back the belated effort of the Sulaiman-trained Larissa. The runner-up after this good run under her belt will prove to be a different proposition next time out. Now that the winner has tasted success, this talented daughter of Excellent Art is likely to score again if her connections choose to field her again in quick time. Golden Sabre from the stables of Ramanathan finished a creditable third and it will pay to follow this Ramanathan ward. 

Earlier Deepesh and Yash combined effectively to strike it rich in the Own Beauty Handicap, the on-money favourite Black Diamond romping home to the delight of the followers of form after the fall of the public choice Royal Exemplar in the opening event. Last start winner Bold Show set a cracking pace followed by Nozomi and the lesser fancied Balgownie and the three leaders called the shots for most part of the seven furlongs exercise before Bold Show shot his bolt approaching the distance post. At this juncture, Mukesh Kumar astride Nozomi streaked ahead before Yash riding like one possessed got Black Diamond going and the public rage quickly stormed into contention before putting the race to bed in the final furlong. Nozomi gained the runner-up berth ahead of Balgownie, while the Suresh-trained Chief Admiral raced in patches and eventually finished a poor fourth.