Prasanna Kumar trained Fire Glow lived up to the high expectations of turning into a top-class performer by taking a quantum jump and treating the opposition with disdain in the 1600 metres S Rangarajan Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. The progeny of hugely successful Phoenix Tower, Fire Glow had the race sewn up a long way from home.

Common Wealth who had won the Gr 1 Fillies Championship Stakes in Summer, had subsequently won the Guineas at Chennai before losing the position due to the Stewards upholding an objection by the runner-up Aika Aika Aika whom she had beaten at Bangalore in another classic. After that, the connections ambitiously campaigned the filly in the South India Derby where she clearly expressed his dislike for the gruelling trip. As such, she was coming back in the distance which was bound to hurt her chances. Also, Common Wealth was always troubled by niggling issues which were also not facilitating smooth preparation for races. She was conceding weight to up and coming Fire Glow. The market trend settled in the direction of Fire Glow after Common Wealth initially opened as a strong favourite.

Secret Dimension and Gabino did all the front-running with Common Wealth in about the fourth position ahead of Fire Glow who was tracking her closely. Rounding the final turn, Trevor made his move on Fire Glow who steadily bridged the gap and bounced clear even as John managed to force a gap between the front-runners and began his challenge. However, Common Wealth was found to be woefully lacking as Fire Glow spurted clear to win by a margin of over four lengths. Common Wealth was comfortably ahead of the battling duo of Secret Dimension and Mystic Music, with the former nosing out the latter to keep the third position.

A good lot of three-year-olds were in the fray for the 1200 metres Katil Plate. Angel Power and Streak Ahead were the ones who was showing out in workouts. There was also an expectation that horses like Treasure Quest could also prove a handful. The market also showed a tremendous surge in betting on Southern Storm though he is the progeny of Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi and hence bound to find the six-furlong trip too sharp for comfort. Full brother to dual Derby-winning heroine Angel Dust, Angel Power and Treasure Quest went at a brisk pace from the beginning with Streak Ahead matching the speed but held slightly in restraint in the third position. Southern Storm struggled for speed and graced the back end of the field. Angel Power shook off Treasure Quest and marched ahead but he could not hold onto the lead for long as Streak Ahead came up with a big challenge and sailed clear. Treasure Quest weakened and was relegated to the fourth position by Automatic. The Irfan Ghatala trainee who was troublesome en route to the starting gates and while being loaded produced a good finishing effort to take the third position, after being relaxed behind for the most part of the race.

On the evidence of their last efforts, the 1400 metres Kumararajah M A M Muthaiah Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 50, was widely expected to be confined to Ark Royal and Lightning Strikes. Lightning Strikes had run behind Fire Glow and this was a better qualification than Ark Royal`s win against a modest opposition which had fetched her a bigger penalty. Lightning Strikes was quick to give the answer in the affirmative as he stormed clear mid-way in the straight to win as he pleased from Ark Royal who lost all her chances the moment the eventual winner showed greater resolution and built up an unassailable lead. Raw Gold ran on to finish third.

Suraj Narredu drove out long shot Atlantis to a resolute win over Rapid Advance in the 1200 metres Amazing Grey Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Atlantis went on a start to finish mission and refused to budge from his position despite strong pressure from Rapid Advance who fell short in the end. Zubaida held off I Smile to save place money. The last named could be in serious business if there is right thrust on him in the ring though it must be added that it is more than 330 days since he has raced in earnest. Favourite China One lost all his chances by a poor jump out from the gates.

The biggest upset of the day was brought off by Narayan Gowda trained Internal Affair who won the 1400 metres Classic Story Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35, against the run of expectations. Internal Affair hit the front from the start and the fact that he enjoyed an uncontested lead stood him in good stead. He looked vulnerable all the way in the straight to stablemate Wrekin but he managed to cling on to the lead to eke out a narrow win. Favourite Cannes was a close third. Sirajuddin trained Princeazeem who won the lower division of the race, was also a long shot. Princeazeem produced a powerful effort in the final furlong to streak ahead front-running Helios and managed to hold on to win from Tree Lounge who made a powerful surge from the rear. Tree Lounge did not get a clear run in the final stages of the race which could have swung the race his way.

Six Degrees was widely believed to have a decisive say in the 1200 metres Longchamp Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Six Degrees who is bred as full brother to the celebrated Speed Six faltered after leading for the most part of the journey. Inside the final 100 metres Six Degrees was strongly pressed by long shot Santorini Secret who asserted her supremacy in the end in the hands of apprentice jockey Surya. Blue Sonic came from a long way back to nose out Six Degrees to snatch the third place. Island Pearl was obviously the most superior horse in the fray in the lower division of the race. The question that needed to be answered was whether the connections would try him seriously. The presence of raw apprentice Praveen S was also another question mark on the prospects of the horse. The first question was answered by the big flow of money in the betting ring and the second was answered as soon as the race started. Island Pearl lead earnestly and encountered no problems en route to record a comfortable win. Grey Hound managed to keep late finishing Mistress of Spice and Gold Friend at bay to get the runner-up berth. It was a noteworthy effort from Golden Friend who should be in the thick of things when the right money acts as a spur for his chances.