A tribute to Padmanabhan it was from the classy filly Miracle Star, his wife and owner Sharmila Padmanabhan and trainer James McKeown, his trusted lieutenant. The filly produced her career best effort in the blue riband of the season, the Mysore Derby and it was good to see Sharmila leading in another classic winner, while the many fans of the top trainer provided the winning connections a standing ovation at the Mysore Race Club (MRC) on Derby-day. Top gun Suraj Narredu had made no secret of his opinion that he was satisfied with the preparation of Miracle Star and Sharmila revealed that Padmanabhan fondly known as Paddy had made it clear before he was hospitalised that come what may Miracle Star should compete in the mega event. 

Well it appeared that the message had got through to Miracle Star and she certainly justified the confidence of her late trainer, detonating her five rivals, romping home by more than seven lengths in the richest plum of the season, which offered a purse of Rs 64.5 lakh to the winner. "I'm finding it difficult to express myself, but I know it is a perfect tribute to the man who loved and enjoyed the game. He to his credit has led in more than 100 winners and this one I consider it something special, a real fitting tribute," said Sharmila buoyed with the success of Miracle Star in the big event. While Suraj was at his best on the champion, Trevor Patel guiding the fortunes of the overwhelming favourite Red Bishop, it appeared had not done his home-work well, gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the classic 2000 metres trip and asking the `Bishop' to do too much at end. The fact is, even before Trevor changed gears on his strongly fancied mount, Suraj had stolen a march and it was all over bar the shouting a furlong from home, Miracle Star powering through to wear the Derby sash, while Trevor and Red Bishop huffed and puffed to beat nohoper Mahler to gain the runner-up berth. 

On a day most second choices upset the applecart of the top fancies, rank outsider Gold Kite from trainer Aditya's yard shocked the followers of form in the principal added attraction, the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy run over a sprint. The winner, who had failed to beat Absolutechallenger in her last essay while she was a favourite, surprised most old hats in the game beating a couple of well performed Bangalore challengers, who lacked the desire and willingness to make a race of it. The Sulaiman schooled Don Carlos piloted by Trevor flashed late on the scene, while the favourite Knotty Blush and the second in demand at the betting ring, Aldgate performed below par. 

After Knotty Blush flopped badly in the BTC event, another contestant from the `Knotty' camp Knotty Scotty failed to carry the public purse to victory in the Hyderabad Race Club Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. Monteiro from Pradeep Annaiah's yard confidently piloted by Alex Rozario produced a winning gallop on the rails to best the lesser fancied Fortis, who shaped as a winner a furlong from home.  Knotty Scotty finished a tame third and it was clear from this exercise of the Prasanna Kumar trainee that he found the first two too hot to handle. Monteiro, it must be mentioned is in good nick and it will pay to again support him, when next saddled. 

Another second choice, Tefillah from the stables of Darius Byramji proved too good in the concluding event, the lower division of the Madras Race Club Trophy cantering home nice and easy in the hands of Akshay Kumar to the delight of her supporters, who trusted the ability of the bred in the purple filly to come good in this moderate set. The topweighted Star Symphony from Pradeep Annaiah's yard topped the betting board, but she failed to produce her best, finishing a tame third behind the smart winner and the runner-up Purple Martini, who called the shots for most part of the seven furlongs trip before surrendering the lead to Tefillah in the final furlong. Lesser fancied Wild Child, it was clear was only testing the ground and it will pay to keep an eye on Wild Child and Vafadar in the winter season. 

The upper division of the event was claimed by the topweighted NRI Victory from Sajid Qureshi's yard. The eight to one shot in the hands of apprentice jockey Pavan made every post a winning one, pegging back the overwhelming favourite Bellavita piloted by Trevor Patel, who drew a blank including losing out in the blue riband. Natural One piloted by Vivek, another leading pro, who failed to strike in the classic week-end finished third ahead of Supreme Success, who it was clear found the seven furlongs trip too sharp for his liking.

Trainer Joseph Awale has been producing good results with his small string in Bengaluru and he again did it with Bezawada Sultan, who came up tops in the RWITC Trophy fearlessly pegging back the belated effort of the lesser fancied Magic Circle from Bipin Salvi's yard. Golden Time from the stables of Lokanath Gowda and Maple Leaf under the care of Vinesh Naik garnered good support, but failed to justify their ranking to the disappointment of their large following. Moonlight Queen and Stravinsky opted out of the event. 

Finally Smile Of Beauty made her owner Prakash Srivastava proud, producing her best in the hands of five-kilo claimer Prabhu Kumar to win the upper division of the RCTC Trophy run over 1100M. The public choice hit the front soon after the field of nine runners following the withdrawal of SD Queen and never let the initiative slip romping home to the delight of the Bobby camp. Smile Of Beauty on the strength of this victory is tipped to score again in the higher category preferably over an identical trip. Prakash was most delighted and taking into account that this sporting owner has made good investments in the game, it is good to see small and new owners standing tall at the podium. 

The lower division of the event was claimed by the six to one shot Chisox from Pradeep Annaiah's yard, who recorded a double, later leading in Monterio in the HRC Trophy. The public choice Sunway Lagoon called the shots for most part of the 1100M dash before Chisox zipped past the Surender ward close home. Astapor and the Darius-trained Meghann opted out of the event. 

The strongly fancied Cool Winter helped Bobby share the training honours with Pradeep, the local trainer recording a double through Cool Winter and Smile Of Beauty. The winner confidently piloted by Anil Baandal comfortably beat Emeraldo, who did well to finish second ahead of True Gold who was strongly fancied in place.