Arjun Mangalorkar trained Downton Abbey showed quantum improvement when tackling the opposition with ease in the 1200 metres Racing Patrons Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. Downton Abbey produced the winning run from way off the pace to get the better of Super Success to land the spoils. Prasanna Kumar trained Side Winder who is in great shape, won the lower division of the race at the expense of late-rallying Tzar.

The race had an open look about it though the market expectation was that Calico Jack would be seen at the busy end. After Silver Chieftan set a fast pace and weakened in the final furlong, Downton Abbey came into contention on the wide outside. Jockey S John induced a winning run from Downton Abbey who has been hitting the board consistently. Downton Abbey managed to pack enough speed in her effort to get the better of Super Success who had stolen a march in the final furlong. Ace Badraan ran on well to save place money ahead of Areca Wonder. Calico Jack was never positioned well to make a difference to the outcome of the race and the poorly ridden fancied runner eventually finished fifth.

The lower division of the race saw Padmanabhan trained Lord Darlington go the post as a favourite. Lord Darlington played up at the gates and sat for a while before getting up. The veterinary officer, instead of pulling the horse out and subjecting it to examination, did not bother to take any precautionary measure. Jockey Imran Chisty too may not have enthusiastic in ensuring that the public fancy would not be able to produce his best after a trauma at the gates needed to be looked at by the vets. In the event, Lord Darlington jumped out awkwardly and the jockey was also imbalanced. Lord Darlington who stayed in touch with front-running Side Winder steadily fell back and eventually finished last. Lord Darlington reportedly bled. More than the physical discomfort of the horse, the attitude of authorities deserves to be condemned. The veterinary officers at the gate are hesitant to take any action when it comes to favourites because a withdrawal of a favourite will cost the club a lot in terms of refunding of tickets. The public interest should be more of a priority than the club`s money making attitude. Side Wonder who had won three of his last four outings led from the start and comfortably held off the late rally of Tzar who found the leeway built by the eventual winner hard to bridge. Siobhan who raced up with the pace, failed to quicken when the race came on the boil but stayed on to take the third spot ahead of fast-finishing Cool Baby.

Emperador who was once reckoned capable of winning classics was contesting in the 1600 metres in a handicap race for horses rated 40 to 65. The progeny of Multidimensional was widely expected to oblige huge expectation considering the fact that the race had only modest contestants in the fray. Srinath was in a hurry to settle his horse in the front group as he used up the horse in the early part to get into the third position. Though Emperador hit the front in earnest inside the final two furlongs, he could not quicken enough to get a winning lead. Closer home, he looked vulnerable when Summerhill came up with a sustained burst of speed. The race, however, went the way of Rare Rhythm who got a lovely run along the rails and managed to shoot through to stave off the challenge of Summerhill to record a hat-trick of wins. Emperador weakened to finish a tame third.

Imtiaz Khan trained Masada recorded an encore in the 2000 metres Smt Saraswati Sajnani Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 50 by getting the better of long-time pace-setter Amazing Skill. Though Secret Pursuit closed in strongly, he failed to get even the runner-up by a whisker. Masada got strong in the final furlong and got the better of Amazing Skill to win the race at nourishing odds in the hands of jockey Arshad Alam.

The 1200 metres Talakaveri Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35, saw Better Than ever come in for spirited betting. Just Fabulous who had won last time out by a whisker was the favourite to repeat his winning performance. In a race where jockeys were not allowed to carry the whip, Better Than Ever led from the start with Just Fabulous in chase. The experience of Ramu tilted the race in favour of Better Than Favour who just about held on to win by a neck from Just Fabulous. Fractals showed some improvement while saving place money. Perfect Queen had showed out in her last effort and the Sharat Kumar trainee duly accomplished the assigned task by staying clear of the late-rallying Atlantic City in the lower division of the race. Moher was third.

Rajesh Narredu trained Super Smart prevailed by the proverbial whisker in the 1800 metres Forever Elegance Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Chloe and Mission Blue were the market fancies. Despite being the progeny of Stern Opinion whose produce has done well only over a sprint, the four-year-old filly was backed with enthusiasm over the nine-furlong trip. Winsomeness was withdrawn at the gates as the four-year-old filly was troublesome at the gates. Mid-way through the race, Trevor pushed Chloe to take over the running and the favourite refused to budge from there with a resolute effort. In the meanwhile, Mission Blue who looked capable of overhauling the front-runner at the final bend did not produce anything extra in the straight and went out of contention. Super Smart who was in the rear position, began to gain ground in the final furlong and beat the favourite in the final stride of the race.

Lokanath trained long shot Slightly Blonde opened a useful lead in the final furlong and hung on grimly to win the 1200 metres Lalitmahal Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class from Splendid Brave whose late rally went in vain. Kiraathaka and Angelic Love who occupied the next two slots on the frame were not far from the winner.