For young trainer Neil Darashah wanting to make a mark on the classic scene, he could not have bargained for better as his wards claimed both the Guineas. After Proserpine won the Bangalore 1000 Guineas a fortnight ago, Battalion added to his classic tally by aggressively winning the Gr 2 Bangalore 2000 Guineas, the second classic of the season from Captain Morgan on Saturday. Battalion was the most experienced horse in the fray having five wins to his credit and his experience stood him in good stead as he warded off his opponents despite changing course a few times in the straight which luckily did not prove more than an irritant to the ones following him.

Neil always campaigns his wards ambitiously in big races and it is this trait which has seen him win races unlike many of his counterparts who are mostly happy attempting to bring off gambles. The fact that they rarely materialise is another matter. Battalion had run during the Ooty season and had won thrice including the Nilgiris Derby. Battalion had also won the lead-up race quite impressively and should have been one of the strongly fancied runners for the race. However, the odds on Battalion were too good to be true as the market favoured the inconsistent Bold March to have a bold show. Bold March`s standing had gone up a notch higher after he had run a good third in the Mysore Derby. However, the career record of Bold March shows that he hasn`t run two races alike and that a strong support for him to land the spoils was bound to prove costly.

Suraj Narredu took Battalion on a start to finish mission and the progeny of Phoenix Tower relished his front-running role. Though he crisscrossed in the straight under pressure, he was always in control of the situation and won the race comfortably from Captain Morgan by a margin of two lengths. Tororosso who had been highly rated by the stable but had been unruly in the early part of his career had the benefit of a run and he showed remarkable improvement by finishing a noteworthy third against experienced campaigners. Tororosso showed good temperament, did not throw tantrums at the gates and looks liked a settled horse, ready to win.

The race was not without its share of incidents. Bold March threw up a lot of tantrums before he could be persuaded to enter the gates. Suraj set a slow pace which worked to the advantage of Battalion as the others fought with their horses to settle them. When the race came on the boil, Captain Morgan who was the nearest to Battalion had to change course as Battalion drifted out under pressure. However, Battalion was the best travelling horses and had something spare at the finish to Captain Morgan who showed a quantum improvement in his performing capabilities. Tororosso held off Attorney General who was finishing on well towards the close. There was an objection by jockey Trevor Patel who rode the runner-up against Suraj who rode the winner for interference. However, the Stewards unanimously felt that Batallion`s wayward march to victory had no bearing on the performance of Captain Morgan and the objection was quickly overruled. The winner clocked a time of one minute 37.64 seconds.

Neil had reason to celebrate as his first-timer Apache Sunrise made an impressive winning debut in the 1100 metres Infants Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Bora Bora was strongly fancied to make a winning debut and lead in earnest. Apache Sunrise who was in chase of the front-runner got strong inside the final furlong and in the final stages of the race, was stretching out beautifully to win more impressively than the margin. The progeny of Excellent Art surely has a good future. Kambaku needed this run and possibly more ground to convert this forward run into a winning one.

Darius Byramji trained Integrated had recorded an impressive win in his last outing and a repeat win looked a possibility in the 1400 metres Kanteerava Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Siobhan who was well placed in scales and had the benefit of a good forward run was the overwhelming favourite to land the spoils. Trevor took Siobhan to the front from the outside draw and was followed by Secret Dimension, Calico Jack and the rest. Integrated was in about the fourth position. Rounding the final turn, Siobhan quickly called it a day with Integrated looming large on the wide outside. In a trice, the five-year-old gelding had gone away from the opposition to record an emphatic win by a margin of six lengths plus over Speed Hawk. Zucchero nosed out Quaker Ridge to get the third place.

Gregory Sandhu trained Fourth Dimension just about held on to win from Prazsky in the 1200 metres Harangi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to
50. Private Paradise came in for strong support despite apprentice Anthony Raj being in the saddle. Fourth Dimension had the lead going into the final furlong with Prazsky essaying a strong challenge. What made the difference to the outcome of the race was the driving finish of Srinath as compared to apprentice Chetan Gowda who is yet to a win a race. Secret Dimension prevailed by a neck. Youresohandsome saved place money. Private Paradise was not seen at the busy end. Prasanna Kumar trained Noble Flaire looked superior in the lower division of the race and the favourite left her opponents stranded in the final furlong to win the race with great ease. Possimpossible thwarted the bid of Wings of Fortune for the runner-up berth.

Darius Byramji trained Multi App recorded an encore by containing the challenge of Bazinga in the 1600 metres Bangarpet Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Jockey Sandesh kept Cadillac Sky too far behind and showed no urgency to improve the position. Cadillac Sky covered a lot of ground in the straight but was found short in the end and had to settle for the third place.

Sirajuddin trained Desert Gilt had the best chance to win the 1400 metres Parfait Amour Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Desert Gilt had a firm grip on the race in the final furlong and won without coming under pressure. Hurrah was second ahead of Masters Glory who held off Arziki to save place money. Darius Byramji trained Massive Dynamics came up with a strong run from way off the pace to easily claim the lower division of the race from Summer Star. Jockey Ramu who rode the runner-up, put an optimistic objection against S K Paswan who was astride the winner for interference which was promptly thrown out by the Stewards.

Favourite Satinette was lost in the crowd well before the race came on the boil and was a beaten cause in the 1800 metres Sovereign Crown Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Jack of Hearts led for a long while before Masada came up with a strong rally in the final furlong to snatch the race. Lightning Attack finished on strongly to take the second place ahead of Mission Blue.