Champion trainer Pesi Shroff did it again. His success rate in the classics at this premier racing centre is high and he continues to raise the bar, walk the talk and strut his stuff on the classic scene. After leading in the `Queen' filly Margaretta in the Fillies Championship Stakes, Pesi sent out D'Artagnan to parade his temperament and skills in the Colts Championship Stakes on Sunday and the highly talented son of Deauville from the famed Usha Stud Farm emerged the best colt in the campus, beating arch rival Stud Poker from the stables of leading pro Prasanna Kumar in convincing fashion. 

The second classic run over a mile was out and out a two-horse affair and the two top colts crossed swords in a high-voltage combat before D'Artagnan digging deep into his experience reserves edged out his rival, short on experience, only his second career start and more importantly Stud Poker was `hanging' at a crucial juncture and this made the task of his pilot Antony Raj a trifle difficult, though it must be mentioned that on this day, the runner-up wouldn't have beaten the deserving winner, who was getting stronger at the finish. 

To the credit of young Vivek, who is on top of his game, producing flawless efforts, be it on D'Artagnan, Margaretta and Zuccaro in the big plums this summer, the leading  saddle artiste produced another top-draw effort on D'Artagnan, while the same cannot be attributed to the rather nervy performance of Antony Raj, who was slow to react, while the field moved up to gain favourable position at the top of the straight resulting in a skirmish before he got clear and the moment he started to pack punch, Stud Poker started to hang in and this made the task of a rather nervy and jittery Antony Raj difficult, though, it must be mentioned that Antony and his mount did produce their best in the final furlong, but found D'Artagnan much superior on the day. Pleased with the performance of D'Artagnan, Pesi, it is needless to mention will hold a whip hand in  the blue riband of the season, the rich Zavaray Poonawalla Bangalore Derby scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 12.  Derby apart, Pesi has set his eyes on the prestigious Maharaja's Cup, Zuccaro from his yard aiming to become the new Maharaja in the highly popular event which will attract some of the best `A' listers in the campus. It is learnt that the in-form Alfonsine, who recorded a fine hat-trick this season will also feature in what on cards promises to be a classic mouth-watering contest a week before the Derby-day. 

The Prasanna Kumar schooled Prokofiev, who failed to justify favouritism in his last essay came into his own on the classic day, coming up tops in the principal added attraction, the Civil Service Cup run over a distance of 2000 metres. Akshay Kumar astride the smartly fancied contestant pushed Prokofiev to the front soon after the small field of five runners came under the starter's flag and without really extending his mount, outwitted his four rivals, making it a impressive start to finish effort. Last start winner Caccini partnered by Vivek found the winner too hot to handle and had to settle with the runner-up berth, while Ice Of Fire, who had beaten Prokofiev in their last head-to-head clash performed below par, finishing a tame third, more than a dozen lengths behind the deserving winner. 

On a day the top performers galloped to fame, three hotly fancied on-money favourites, Aphelion, Osaka and Hushed bit the dust to the disappointment of the followers of form. Aphelion from the stables of Darius Byramji competing in the lower division of the Bergamo Plate was hunted down by the Lokanath Gowda schooled Magestic Persona, who made every post a winning one in the hands of apprentice Vishal. All credit to Lokanath for pulling off a successful coup on the winner, who despite swishing her tail all through the 1100M dash never allowed her seven rivals including the favourite Aphelion to come close to her tail. 

Twice second from as many starts, the James McKeown-trained Osaka garnered the maximum support in the International Day Of Yoga Plate and the public choice partnered again by top gun Suraj Narredu, who piloted her in her two earlier efforts, found one better again, much to the chagrin of the followers of form, who strongly fancied the filly to come good in what appeared a moderate set. The Mumbai raider Rizz from Adhirajsingh Jodha's yard to the delight of his few supporters made a smashing debut, powering home, while sending out a message that she is a goodtype of youngster, who will make her presence felt against higher rated rivals in handicap events. 

On the strength of her smart last start win, Hushed from the stables of Lokanath was fancied to the exclusion of her eight rivals in the upper division of the Bergamo Plate, but the public rage failed in her mission to record her second straight success, failing to stop the eight to one long shot Steffen from registering her second straight success in the hands of five-kilo claimer Vishal Shivhare. 

In what was a very open affair, Antony Raj booted home My Solitaire from Shoban Babu's yard in the upper division of the Guindy Plate, while rank outsider Amazing Storm from MR Singh's yard upset the applecart of the sweetly fancied Anzac Parade from Dominic's yard in the lower division. Antony, earlier piloted the Bharath Singh schooled Dardanus to a popular victory in the Noble Prince Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs. Second in demand at the betting ring, Bartolino from Irfan Ghatala's yard, who impressed most while winning his last start surprisingly performed like a dud, while the other fancied contestant, Thrill Of Brazil from the stables of Sajid Qureshi packed up at the top of the straight after being favourably placed all through the backstretch in this nine furlongs trip. The friendless Oxytocin after jumping smartly raced like a scalded cat and led by more than a dozen lengths all through the backstretch before the MR Singh ward injudiciously piloted by Kiran Rai shot her bolt approaching the distance post, yet managed to complete the frame.