Suleiman Attaollahi trained Serjeant At Arms recorded a spectacular win in the Gr 1 Colts Championship Stakes, the second classic of the Bangalore Summer Season, on Sunday. The Nanoli Stud Farm bred Serjeant At Arms treated the opposition with disdain as he came from way off the pace to leave the opposition stranded to win as he pleased. Whomakestherules who was widely expected to be a force to reckon with, flopped badly.

Serjeant At Arms was the highest rated three-year-old at the end of winter season. Since Serjeant At Arms did not race prior to the classic, his rating remained the same while Whomakestherules who smashed the opposition in a juvenile million, had his rating enhanced significantly. That did not alter the position of Serjeant At Arms just because he went to the post with a lesser rating. Serjeant At Arms showed out in the paddock parade and was backed down spiritedly close to race time while the odds on Whomakestherules expanded. The latter had gained his reputation on the basis of his last win and it was widely expected that the Malesh Narredu trainee would make things hot for the favourite but it turned out to be false alarm.

Emperador took over the running as the field settled down for the mile-long trip in soft underfoot conditions, with Supreme General in close proximity followed by Battalion, Bold March, Whomakestherules, Summerhill, Star Tracker, Serjeant At Arms, Maduro, England and Lightning Attack. Supreme General showed lot of intent on straightening for home and went sailing clear. Whomakestherules who took the turn slightly wide went in chase even as Serjeant At Arms appeared to have been lost in the crowd. Supreme General established a good cushion even as Whomakestherules struggled to gain momentum. Serjeant At Arms was brought into the picture with a delayed effort and the moment the progeny of Ikhtyar got the daylight, he pounced on the front runner ferociously and went away for a handsome win by a widening margin of four lengths. Supreme General held off Whomakestherules to claim the runner up berth. Star Tracker was fourth.

On the basis of this outstanding effort, Serjeant At Arms will surely start as the firm favourite for the Bangalore Derby to be held on the second Sunday of July. In a tight course, the ability of Serjeant At Arms to settle well and come off the pace should come in handy as the race does not really test the stamina of the participants as the horses don`t get into full flow till they straighten for home as they negotiate a number of shapr bends. Whomakestherules was perhaps undone by the pace of the race as also the fact that jockey Suraj Narredu brought the horse wide at the final bend where the going is on the slippery side. Whomakestherules also lugged in the final stages of the race.

In keeping with the trend of long shots dominating most race days of the season, Arjun Mangalorkar trained Cold Stream brought off a big upset, against the run of expectations, in the 1200 metres Elusive Pimpernel Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Cold Stream`s last win was 583 days ago. The fact that the trainer chose to put Mudassar indicated that this got-abroad five-year-old was not expected to spice things up. Russian Link received one sided support though the progeny of Noverre has this habit of finding one better on most occasions. The betting may have indicated the invincible quality about Russian Link. It is just that in Bangalore these days, punters often fail to find the best horse in the fray and tend to blindly follow the flow of money, resulting in horses attracting disproportionate betting despite the merit of the horse not demanding such one-sided support. Cold Stream who had the first run on his opponents, fought on resolutely to stave off a strong challenge from Russian Link who looked capable of overhauling the front running but came short in the end. Force Ensign ran on to finish third. Mystic Romance dropped her jockey Arshad Alam soon after jump out.

Neil Darashah trained Namid showed quantum improvement when recording an impressive win in the 1800 metres Camino Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The progeny of Phoenix Tower handled the extended trip quite capably as he wore down the challenge of on money favourite Captain Morgan in the final furlong and was getting stronger at the finish which should augur well for this Manjri Stud Farm produce. Festive Cheer came up with a late flourish to be a suggestive third and her turn could come before long.

Veteran trainer Ganapathy broke the ice when Amber Brown came home with a late charge and then held off the spirited bid of Cape Cross to win the 1200 metres Fantabulous King Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds to provide the trainer with his maiden win for the season. Side Winder was the favourite but the Prasanna Kumar ward was not up to justifying favouritism as he was never in the hunt from the beginning. Harley Quinn, as is the case with the stable to which she belongs, was not expected to push things, content with the slow getaway and then ending up as a mere participant in the race. Mistress of Spice showed lot of aggressive intent but was floored by Amber Brown in the final furlong. The manner in which debutant Cape Cross finished with a strong effort, served to highten the excitement. Cape Cross should make amends possibly next time out. Into The Spotlight, full brother to the celebrated In The Spotlight, won the lower division of the race in emphatic fashion. The six-furlong trip was reckoned to be sharp for the Padmanabhan trainee but Into The Spotlight led from the start and easily staved off the challenge of favourite Amazing Love to win the race impressively. For a horse bred to go twice the distance, this win over a sprint should augur well for his future.

Narayan Gowda trained Expert won the 1200 metres M Ali Asker Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to 50 at long odds. Expert`s victory cannot be called an upset as he had all the credentials except the fact that market thrust did not indicate that he would be in serious business. Rapid Advance was the favourite but the progeny of Noverre was never in the hunt and finished a tame fourth. Amazing Redd necked out Blues Legend to get the runner up berth. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Millrose who had recorded a runaway win last time out, was once again backed spiritedly to win the lower division of the race. The five-year-old mare led from the start and had no problem in keeping the late challenge of Happy Hours at bay. Temujin nosed out Better Than Ever for the third spot.

Lord Darlington played up at the gates and was withdrawn on veterinary ground in the 1400 metres Richelieu Plate, a race for horses rated 15to 35. This gave a chance for Queen`s Ace to record a maiden win after 10 efforts. Queen`s Ace managed to keep his lacklustre rivals at bay. Galino nosed out Top Star to get the runner up berth. Bazinga who lost considerable ground at the start, ran on well in the straight to finish a close fourth.

In a race where the jockeys were not allowed to carry the whip, a good touch was brought off on Inayathulla trained Ted Wid Me who was backed by the people in the know to win the 1200 metres Bergamo Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Jockey Amyn Merchant brought Ted Wid Me with a late run on the wide outside to get the better of Feet On Fire in the final moments of the race to land the spoils. Major Attraction who led from the start, weakened to finish third.