The accepted norm is to put the winner in limelight instead of highlighting the vanquished but when it comes to as reputed a runner like Holding Court, one cannot help but talk about the unexpected reverse than about the conqueror who in this instance happens to be Kunigal Stud Farm bred Caprese in a race named after the place where the stud farm exists! Holding Court’s win in the 1400 metres Kunigal Trophy, a terms race for three-year olds was taken for granted especially since the son of Royal Kingdom had stayed unbeaten in his previous six starts, his run of wins including Gr.1 Colts Trial Stakes and Gr.1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby. But there was a surprise in store as Caprese sprinted away from Holding Court who showed every sign of being rusty. Incidentally, there were just four horses which were ranked above 50 under the BTC Rules of Racing in the month of August and they were Holding Court, Mystical, Hesperus and Caprese. Caprese had smashed the opposition for a six furlong trip in smart timing at Mysore though she ran below par subsequently. The daughter of Burden of Proof was always going to be a force to reckon with over a trip of seven furlongs but Holding Court carried an invincible aura about him that few were prepared for a surprise. Not even the fact that Holding Court could be race rusty and may not have been fully tuned considering the classics ahead over a period of next four months. In the event, Caprese sprinted away from Holding Court, the latter unable to cover up the leeway in what was a slow run race. Jockey Srinath, who replaced Appu for the first time on the champion, was caught napping and a better tactical ride from him could have ensured that the champion stayed unbeaten. Interestingly, the temperamental jockey Srinath is always known to be a quitter the moment there is any sign of distress. The number of times he has abandoned a ride after accepting it is legion and it came as a big surprise that soon after his fall in the previous race on favourite Magical Ecstasy, he came back to ride Holding Court. If this is a sign of change in his attitude, it is a welcome one. Smart N Unique hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the seven furlong trip, with Caprese, Holding Court and Go For Gold racing in that order. The jockeys of Caprese and Holding Court tried to restrain them from running freely so much so that the pace was a crawl. When Gallagher made his move on Caprese, the filly responded instantly in the manner of a sprinter and this made the task of Holding Court unenviable. The latter struggled to pick up speed in the absence of a fast pace and the fact that he was committed to sit behind. Caprese was traveling so well that she was not going to be caught and thus the season had begun on a false note. Despite the absence of rain for a fortnight, the track was on the softer side and the underfoot conditions placed a premium on fitness. Holding Court has been entered in the Guineas in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai. At this point of time, trainer Padmanabhan said that he is undecided. Holding Court will surely be better off after this run and he is sure to bounce back. Magical Ecstasy was backed spiritedly in the 1200 metres Somanathpur Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 15. The favourite, who took a fly jump, was traveling reasonably well in the first furlong when Goli Master cut across and caused the favourite to clip the front runner. The gelding stumbled, unbalancing the rider and Srinath fell without injuring himself. Rank outsider Diamond Cut and Goli Master fought out the issue, with the former just about nosing out the latter to set the trend of rank outsiders dominate the day’s proceedings. Ganapathy’s Mystical who won thrice during the summer season in sensational manner, scorched the track in a mock race, winning in an excellent time of one minute 26.5 seconds without being extended and has since headed to Mumbai to have a go at the Super Mile and the Indian classics.