Md Khan trained Turf Striker who had lost the form that had seen him run behind Alaindair in the Bangalore Derby, showed the spark of old when swamping the opposition in the 1600 metres Ashoka Chakra Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Friday`s races. Classic hopeful Agostini too recorded an emphatic win to come into Guineas contention.

Turf Striker had suffered a setback before the start of the Mysore season and ran in the classics in that centre after missing regular workouts and as such, his efforts were below par. Also he did not receive quality assistance in the saddle in the couple of essays that he had and as such, his performance was not reflective of true merit. Now taking on a modest lost of horses who had dropped form, Turf Striker went into the race at cramped odds. Pradeep Chouhan had considerable difficulty in keeping the favourite settled in second position as the horse raced keen for most part of the journey behind pace setter Camorra The jockey did not wait long into the straight and he quickly asked the well performed son of Sedgefield to quicken which he did so with ease to have the race sewn up long way from home. Sun Kingdom ran from behind to finish ahead of Ratham. On the basis of this effort, Turf Striker should surely run a game race in the Guineas though the competition is going to be very stiff.

	Turf Striker (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Ashoka Chakra Cup

Jaggy Dhariwal trained Agostini who had run a fair race in the Bangalore Derby was set to concede chunks of weight to Regal Boast who had won his previous race against the run of expectation in the 1600 metres Adichunchanagiri Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 Artorius who was running after a setback in training led the field and retained the intuitive well into the final furlong. The well backed Regal Boast essayed a strong challenge to the front runner even as favourite Agostini was coming with a strong bid from way off the pace. Agostini showed swift turn of foot to collar the front runner and staved off the challenge of Regal Boast who raced more like a horse who would relish longer. Artorius who was a good third should be in thick of things next time out. Agostini is likely to run in the Golconda 2000 Guineas next week.

The 1400 metres Kabini Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above, was contested by modest lot of horses and as such, Valahak who had experience of running with better quality horses, was widely expected to overcome his lack of form to put it across his rivals. In the event, Valahak never gave hope right through the race struggling for speed. Magnitude Star who cut across the field from wide outside as soon as the start was given led the field into the straight but could not prolong his stay for long. Violent Storm who moved through the middle came into contention inside the final 300 metres with Open Page who had circled round the field showing up menacingly. Violent Storm quickened well for home and held off Open Page to record a win by a shade less than a length. Veyron ran on from behind to take the third spot ahead of Magnitude Star while Valahak ran way below par.

Ganapathy trained Bold Majesty was quoted as on money favourite in the ante post betting but during race time the odds on the two year old expanded dramatically. There was inspired support on first timer Sairani. The race was contested by horses whose breeding suggested that they would be happier tackling longer than the six furlong that they were asked to compete in. Passing half way through, the entire field swerved out giving a dream run along the rails for Bold Majesty but jockey Sreekanth, instead of taking the opening and going into the lead, chose to wait with a horse which did not have sprinting speed. Sairani who came on the wide outside, was pushed to take charge by Chouhan and the progeny of Ace opened up a lead of a few lengths which held the filly in good stead as Bold Majesty finished strongly but ran out of ground to lose the race by a long neck. Blitzchnelle was faraway third.

Trainer Padmanabhan had a double saddling the winners of the first and last race of the day through Aashikaara and Pearl Reward. Absolute Red who had won his last outing before the race was declared null and void started off as a favourite to win the 1400 metres Bellary Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 but those looking for ``colour`` which in other words means flow of money in the ring realized quickly that Absolute Red was being deserted by people in the know. Amazonas who would be better off tackling longer than seven furlongs came in for inspired support while there was fair support for Pearl Reward. The fact that Pearl Reward had run out at the final bend in his only outing in summer may have been the reason why the three year old gelding was available at lucrative odds. Crown Emperor made an aggressive attempt in front but closer home, Pearl Reward who was in hot pursuit got stronger and won with a measure of comfort. Amazonas was a well beaten third followed by Mantra while Absolute Red made no show.

Darius Byramji trained Ungoogleable was the recipient of some solid support in the lower division of the Bellary Plate with Aashikaara quoted at liberal odds. John had Aashikaara racing in a handy position before taking over the running on entering the straight. Though the three year old colt came under pressure from Ungoogleable, Aashikaara skipped away in the final furlong to win with ease. Delilah was a faraway third.

The 1400 metres Silicon Valley Plate was contested by horses which did not have known credentials. Thunder ended up being the firm favourite ahead of Well Known possibly because the stable fancied the chances of the five year old strongly. Gagan Star shaped to cause an upset but Well Known who came through with a ground saving effort, quickened well in the final furlong to win the race with ease. Burden of Lady finished with a flourish to go past the post locked together with Gagan Star. The dead heat for the second place was quite in order.

Trainer Dominic, who had saddled Sairani earlier in the day, had a double for the day as Nocturnal Hunter proved the best of poor lot of horses in the 1200 metres Beloved Prince Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Isle of Fire was second while fvourite Presidents Rule finished third without giving hopes at any stage of the race.