It's a known fact that Bengaluru is Pesi Shroff's happy classic hunting ground. And the champion trainer registered another classic win in what he considers his second home. Margaretta joined the elite brigade from the champion stable who entered the classic circle in the garden city before dominating the classic scene at mahalaxmi (Mumbai) and the other premier racing centres. 

On the strength of her top class performance in her maiden effort on the tricky and exacting Bangalore track, the winner of the Poonawalla Multi-Million was considered a cinch in the first classic of the summer season, the Zavaray Poonawalla Fillies Championship Stakes run over a mile and the classy Margaretta in the hands of leading pro Vivek produced another par excellence effort to emerge the undisputed `Queen' who has the required stamina and speed and more importantly the classic skill sets to cross swords with the big boys in the Derby scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 12. 

It is true that Margaretta beat her five rivals, who lacked the quality and class to make an impression on the classic scene, but the manner in which she toyed with the opposition, a supremely confident Vivek taking his own time before driving home the champion filly through a gap to seal the deal only confirmed that Margaretta is one of the best on the Indian racing circuit. The Chouhan-trained Havoc, another Mumbai raider in the small six-horse field followed the winner home ahead of the local mainhope Starzella from the stables of Prasanna Kumar. 

Before Margaretta's heartwarming effort, Elysium's shocking defeat in the Stewards Cup floored the followers of form. The Sulaiman Attaollahi piloted by leading pro Akshay Kumar pitted against four moderate rivals had no business to lose taking into account that he had won his last start without breaking a sweat and subsequently produced scintillating performances in the morning trials. The fact that the money-back favourite failed to get past the 25 to one long shot Crosswater didn't go well with the stunned railbirds, who are demanding an explanation refusing to believe that Elysium was beaten by the Arjun Manglorkar ward, who had finished last in her last essay. 

The Neil Devaney schooled Bellavita recorded her second straight success, snuffing out the challenge of the lesser fancied Aquastic from Sulaiman's yard in the Parsiana Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner piloted by the promising apprentice Sachin, who partnered her last time out, unleashed a good turn of foot at the all-important end to edge out Aquastic piloted by Yash Narredu close home to the delight of her supporters, who were bullish of the mare's chances in what was a very open affair. Vishesh-trained Small Dreams finished third ahead of Silicon Star, while D Fronx from Azhar Ali's yard who was also in the mix performed below par and finished down the field. 

The bred in the purple Ravishing Queen from James McKeown's yard made a smashing debut, making every post a winning one in the Treasure Girl Plate. Top gun Suraj Narredu astride the goodtype of youngster, pushed Ravishing Queen to the front soon after the field of nine runners came under the starter's flag and the debutant stayed in front all through the 1100M dash. Second in demand at the betting ring, garzian followed the winner home ahead of Auspicious King, while Atman produced another listless effort to the disappointment of the Prasanna camp. 

The Rajesh Babu-trained Michiko was a medium of a king-sized gamble in the Malenahalli Plate run over a mile before the strongly backed on-money favourite was withdrawn at the starting gates, in no mood to enter his designated box. The four to one shot Tyaaraa from the stables of Faraz Arshad brilliantly piloted by leading pro Antony Raj produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to edge out rank outsider Sea Diamond, while Agape did well to save money in place.

The Irfan Ghatala-trained Stalingrad enjoyed the top billing in the opening event and the overwhelming favourite justified the confidence of the large following romping home nice and easy to the delight of the railbirds. The topweighted Storm Shadow followed the winner home ahead of the Shroff-trained Azalea.

Thunder showers after the classic event rendered the track inconducive for racing and the Stewards rightly decided to cancel the two remaining races in the eight-event card.