Prasanna Kumar trained Jersey Wonder who had been on the upgrade this season, completed the third successive win by winning the 2400 metres Stayers Trial Stakes, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. Jersey Wonder who had been loitering in the lower class had shown a tremendous transformation in performance capabilities after being switched to longer distances and this win in the terms race against well-performed horses albeit on the wane, was creditworthy.

Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Booker Jones who has been racing every other fortnight at various centres in the country but showing remarkable character by his fighting qualities, was made the favourite to win the race. Booker Jones had run against top quality races in the last one year and had recorded a remarkable gutsy win over 2800 metres at Mumbai. David Allan had Booker Jones lead from the start and the progeny of Kingda Ka led the field into the straight. Jersey Wonder who was settled in the rear group as the progeny of Burden of Proof loves to be ridden in restraint, produced a strong effort in the straight to go ahead of Booker Jones and Cameron who were battling it out in front. Jersey Wonder won with a measure of comfort. Booker Jones who has the ability to battle on without finding an extra gear stayed on to be third. Hyderabad challenger Tintinnabulation was fourth 10 lengths behind. The battle-scarred veteran is obviously showing the signs of tiredness after a long and lengthy fruitful career.

Kishan Thomas trained Amazing Red was rewarded for his consistency when the eight-year-old held off the late rally of Cool Baby to win the 1200 metres Manasa Sarovara Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Amazing Red had the first run on his opponents and he bounced clear in the final furlong to establish what turned out to be a winning lead. Sharat Kumar always imposes his horses with some handicap or the other by putting weak jockeys and these jockeys must overcome the problem of getting the horses to come from way off the pace. Since most of these horses are unexploited ones which would have come down in scales, they oblige when the jockey gets it right and at other times fail which is quite often the case. Chasing higher odds and keeping everyone guessing are the reasons why these jockeys are preferred and the tactic has more often than not, failed to yield the desired result. Cool Baby was in the rear and by the apprentice time apprentice Naveen could bring the horse into contention with a late rally on the wide outside, the task appeared to be a hopeless one. Cool Baby ended up second ahead of Top Striker and Noble Flaire. Long shot Dream Star won the lower division of the race at the expense of Havelock Princess and favourite Reference. Dream Star shot ahead from the start and had a good lead which proved to be a winning one as Havelock Princess found her way along the rails. Reference too finished on but the front-runner had enough legs to reach the safety of the winning post. Havelock Princess got the second spot by a whisker from favourite Reference who failed to live up to expectations.

Half-sister to Booker Jones, Malawi made an impressive start to her career when winning the 1100 metres February Plate, a race for three-year-old maidens. The horses which had the benefit of a race run had proved to be run of the mill. Even as Good Earth and Don`t Dilly Dally were struggling in front, Malawi produced an astonishing burst of speed from the rear to go sailing past to record a noteworthy win because the distance was sharp for her. The first season sire Western Aristocrat has been getting a fair share of winners through his progeny and Malawi appears to be a good type of one from him. Mauritania too found the trip sharp and his finishing burst saw him grab the second spot from Good Earth.

Neil Darashah trained Tanoura perhaps found the opposition much to his liking as he led all the way in the 1600 metres Octogonal Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 and was well clear of Saffron Intense. Tanoura had finished poorly in his last outing finishing 10 out of 11 runners. Tanoura returned rich dividends on the tote. Favourite Erstklassig disappointed with a timid performance, finishing a poor third.

Neil had a double for the day when his other ward Natanza who was a lesser fancied runner in the 1200 metres Suresh Kumar Memorial Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 50, won the race comfortably in the hands of jockey Jagadeesh. After Royal Serenity expended his energy running freely in front, Natanza came into strong contention in the final furlong and stormed clear. Though Siyouni essayed a strong challenge, Natanza had enough reserves to pull through. Paradiso was third with Royal Serenity ending up fourth. The second, third and fourth-placed horses all belonged to the Narredu family. Favourite Fjord was not spotted.

Prashanth Dhebe drove out Wild Wild Angels to a resolute win in the 1400 metres Dharmasthala Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Wild Wild Angels stormed ahead in the final furlong and held off the challenge of Little Love and Tea Wid Me. Little Love nosed out Tea Wid Me for the runner-up berth. Atlantic City rallied late and finished a notable fourth.

Md Khan trained El Matador had the race sewn up in the final furlong by opening a decisive lead in the 1200 metres Doddaballapur Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Oriental Belle ran on to finish second ahead of favourite Shivalik Boy who found foot late and could do no better than occupy the third place.