Neil Darashah trained Proserpine defied market expectations with a fluent win in the Gr 2 Bangalore 1000 Guineas, the first classic of the season on Saturday. The progeny of Mull of Kintyre appreciated the step up in distance and lived up to the confidence of its trainer Neil who was confident that his ward will deliver the goods. The market trend was not likely to identify the potential of Proserpine who was peaking for this race he had confidently said before the race. He was vindicated about his firm conviction as things fell in place to provide the young trainer with yet another classic.

As the saying goes, optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Not many would have believed the trainer even if he stood on the roof top to say that his ward will win the race. There was Star Nijinsky who had won the Deccan Derby in the fray. She hadn`t done anything wrong unless of course something had gone wrong in the intervening period which the public was not privy to. Then there was Watchmyscript who had recorded two smashing wins and perfectly suitable for the mile-long trip. While the rest were run of the mill. Proserpine had faltered many times and had just about won by a whisker in her last outing. The racing form did not give an exciting data about the filly unless one were to go with the enthusiasm of the trainer who quietly believed that he had a horse which can win this classic.

Watchmyscript was a little sluggish from the start and the slow pace of the race also did not help her cause. Antananarivo set a slow pace in front followed by Anantara, Proserpine, Star Nijinsky, Watchmyscript, Shan Ben Aari, Escala and Flirting Eyes. Inside the final two furlongs, Anantara overhauled the pace-setter and surged ahead with Proserpine in hot pursuit. Star Nijinsky failed to produce the acceleration that was expected of her and looked beat well before the race came on the boil. David Allan on Watchmyscript got busy to get the desired response. Proserpine showed a swift turn of foot to go sailing clear and Watchmyscript`s finishing burst could only fetch her the runner-up berth. Anantara stayed on to finish second ahead of Star Nijinsky who ran way below expectations. The winner clocked a smart time of one minute 37.79 seconds.

Though Rajesh Narredu trained Supreme Dominator had a fair chance in the 1600 metres Mount Joy Plate, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the fact that Prabhakaran was substituted to ride in place of Suraj Narredu who had ridden the horse last time out resulted in the five-year-old being completely ignored in the betting. Sagrada was the favourite by default though he hadn`t run for some time and it was difficult to gauge his readiness for the race. Aayan had his share of supporters. Amazing Charm, as is her wont, led by several lengths over the rest, but in the homestretch, the effort told on her and she began to fall back. Supreme Dominator surged ahead in the final furlong and competently held off Jersey Wonder to bring off the biggest upset of the day. Aayan galloped in snatches to finish third ahead of Sagrada.

Punters were floored when the friendless Boisterous came from nowhere to win the 1400 metres Huthari Festival Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. The three runs of Boisterous hadn`t given any indication that the five-year-old was ready to strike. Boisterous travelled wide and came into the straight the widest and yet collared the front-runners from way behind to record an easy win. The victory of Boisterous was in keeping with the trend of horses with no immediate credentials winning much to the chagrin of punters. Thundersquall who had taken the lead in the final furlong had no answer when the eventual winner swooped on him. Proud Prince ran on to finish third while favourite Internal Affair packed up the moment the pressure was on him in the straight.

Dominic trained Tzar looked the best among those in the fray for the T B Hanumantharaj Memorial Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Tzar readily justified such an expectation by seizing the control of the race on turning for home and spared three lengths at the finish to Prazsky and Lunar Storm. Romantic Helen who was in contention till the final stages of the race, weakened to eventually finish fifth, the cluster finish for minor placings relegating her to this spot. Perfectebony shaped like a winner in the lower division of the race but faltered in sight of the post. Interesting covered lot of ground in the final furlong and managed to edge out the front-runner in the closing strides of the race. Wings of Fortune returned rich dividends on place betting.

Padmanabhan trained Balian who had been knocking on the doors of success, obliged in the 1600 metres Udupi Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Amazing Skill led in the front in the final furlong and fought furiously but the driving finish of David Allan enabled Balian to measure the front-runner in the closing moments of the race. Exemplar was third.

David Allan also drove out another Padmanabhan ward Inter Flor to win the 1200 metres Swarnamukhi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. The well backed Dagobert gained a useful lead going into the final furlong but was found wanting when Inter Flor came home with a powerful effort under the strong riding of David Allan. Sterling Role who was in the betting made an earnest effort by racing in front but was found lacking. Faraz Arshad trained Country`s Bloom shot into the lead at the top of the straight and brooked no opposition from the rest to win the lower division of the race by a widening margin of four lengths. Indian Fury came from a long way back to finish second ahead of Varsha.

Jockey Jagadeesh had got into a mess on Shivalik Boy as he had a wall of horses in front. Despite being dragged out to get a clear run, the long shot responded well to the heaving use of the whip by jockey Jagadeesh and managed to edge out favourite Roaring Thunder in the final moments of the race to win the 1200 metres Honnavar Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Sudha nosed out Thejaguar for the third place.