Another colt emerged to stake claim for classic honours this summer. Stud Poker is his name. And in this high stakes game, he catapulted to fame with a sublime exhibition of power and speed. It really was an astonishing effort from a debutant and the stunning dream debut was a joyful sight. The pundits quickly doffed their hats and announced that a new rising star is the cynosure of all eyes in the racing galaxy. 

Making his debut in the Beautiful Babe Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs, Stud Poker, it appeared was the only horse in the race. He left his six rivals for dead halfway home, powering home in a smart time of 1:24.06 seconds which was better than the time clocked by the top of the class Zuccaro over an identical distance on a hot Sunday afternoon. The stunning effort from the got abroad provided his trainer Prasanna Kumar and his four famed owners a big reason to smile. It's no secret that Prasanna in his yard has a couple of champions in the making, Iron Mirage made a smashing debut last week clocking 1:24.25 and Stud Poker went better on this day, while sending out a strong message that he is the new big boy on the classic scene. Well a couple of classic hopefuls from Mumbai including the Pesi Shroff schooled Jaandar and Buckingham from the stables of Karthik Ganapathy are yet to make an appearance and this augurs well for the classic picture. But it is clear from the performances of Iron Mirage and Stud Poker, Prasanna will hold a whip hand in the Colts classic. 

Prasanna apart, champion trainer Pesi Shroff is enjoying himself proving all the racing pundits wrong leading in Margaretta and Zuccaro, both winning their maiden starts on the Bengaluru track, which the top senior pros and knowledgeable consider hard to navigate and conquer in the first effort. Margaretta did it without really extending herself on Saturday and Zuccaro, next day outclassed quality opposition while Pesi had the last laugh. 

The Prasanna-trained Siege Courageous garnered the maximum support in the HH Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup on the sole count that the talented local contestant had impressed mosts in the morning trials and the fact that he was tuned to the minute with the event in view and he certainly looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. The favourite partnered by Trevor Patel was favourably placed all through the seven furlongs trip, while Zuccaro graced the wrong end of the field. To the credit of Vivek, it must be mentioned that he appeared cool and composed and was in no hurry to make his move before the race came on a boil. And the moment he setalight the star performer the Pesi Shroff ward zipped past the front runner. Knotty Charm and Siege Courageous to romp home in style. 

The principal added attraction, the VT Velu Memorial Trophy run over a sprint saw the Arjun Manglorkar schooled La McQueen make every post a winning one in the hands of the promising apprentice Aleemuddin pegging back the challenge of the well-backed public choice Fortis from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard. Aleemuddin earlier booted home the eight to one shot Star Of India to a convincing victory in the Alekona Plate run over a mile. The Satish Narredu-trained Glorious Strides on the strength of his second behind Prince Of Wales in his last essay was fancied most but the on-money favourite in his attempt to make every post a winning one sadly went out of gas at the all-important end and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. Star Of India from trainer James McKeown's yard with a run under his belt, it was clear had improved most and the moment Aleemuddin packed punch the topweighted contestant unleashed a good turn of foot to seize control and cruise home a deserving winner. 

The Sulaiman schooled Everynne came up tops in the other event for three-year-old maidens, edging out rank outsider Garzian from the stables of Lokanath close home. Prasanna schooled Atman partnered by Mukesh Kumar started a strong favourite in the Ministrella Plate run over a 1100 metres dash, but soon the price on the favourite kept going up in the bookmakers ring. The big and wise bettors smelling a rat chose to stay away, while the brave and bold who still pinned their hopes on the favourite despite the change in winds lost out, the public choice finishing a tame third behind the first two. 

Last start winner Zephyrine from trainer Irfan Ghatala's yard registered her second straight success, coming up tops in the lower division of the Pendragon Plate, while the topweighted Gloriousness reigned supreme in the upper division. In the lower division the Lokanath camp strongly fancied The Make Sure, who was backed to the exclusion of her seven rivals, but the overwhelming favourite, who was smashed down in the ring from (5/2) to (12/10) in her effort to make it a start to finish affair in the hands of Ashhad Asbar flopped badly and finished a poor fourth much to the disappointment of the Lokanath camp. 

 On a day most second favourites and leser fancied runners dominated the eight-event card, Stud Poker and the Purshotham schooled Mystikos were the only two favourites, who justified their top billing. The latter winning the Commonwealth Day Plate with a measure of comfort despite the six furlongs trip being a trifle sharp for his liking.