Pradeep Annaiah’s Echoes of Time has always worn the “promising colt” badge but occasionally misplaced. He had earlier strutted around Chennai with two wins, even toppling Mumbai challenger Merlet—who later proved her worth by winning at Pune and the Fillies Championship Stakes at Kolkata. At Bangalore in summer, Echoes resurfaced after a longish vacation, ran second to Ice of Fire, and looked fit and fine perhaps overcoming the “niggles.”

The confidence in the betting ring for the 1400 metres Srikantadatta Narasimharaajawadiyar Memorial Multi-Million 2025, a terms race for three-year-olds, screamed that the colt was finally in one piece. On ratings and gender allowance math, he was better placed than Indian Brocade, who came armed with back-to-back Bangalore wins.

The race itself looked like Brocade’s coronation. Yash Narredu gunned her to the front, built a dangerous lead turning for home, and had punters halfway to the payout windows. But then Echoes remembered why he was there. Under Anthony Raj’s urgings, he hit top gear, gobbled up ground, and stormed past in the final furlong to win by more than a length. Indian Brocade ran out of steam, Efficacy plodded on for third, Scent of Rain followed, while El Rey—who’d travelled alongside Echoes—decided fifth was more his style. Expect to see Echoes next in the Mysore 2000 Guineas, where his pedigree (Planetaire–Alvarita) suggests he’ll be more than just a sideshow.

The day’s comedy sketch unfolded in the 1200 metres H H Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. The starter declared a false start, the commentator dutifully announced it, but the jockeys? They rode on like it was business as usual. Maybe the siren didn’t blare, maybe the flag man was taking a nap—whatever the excuse, the runners charged down the track anyway. Mystic Bond “won,” Aldgate’s gate opened late, he still managed second, and in the end the Stewards did what Stewards do—declared the whole race null and void. A perfect exhibition of 1200 metres of effort for zero reward.

Sanity prevailed in the 1200 metres B K Krishnadevaraj Urs Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, where Bangalore challenger Agera was backed like defeat was impossible—and she proved it was. The rest, including local hero Little Minister (who had recently won by a street), found the penalty too stiff and settled for minor roles. Lady Invictus and Absolute Conqueror followed politely behind the winner.

The whispers before the 1100 metres Varada Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, were deafening. Ranjeet Shinde’s runner was hammered into short-odds favouritism despite form that belonged in the archives. The horse ran like it had better things to do. Punters learnt yet again that “whispers” in racing are just air pollution. Code of Honour swooped late to win, Eagle Bluff followed, and Anushtubha came flying too late to improve beyond third. The upper division, the Varada Plate (Div I), was less dramatic—Ocean simply swam away from the field, winning by six widening lengths over Knotty In Blue and Falcon Fury, who barely raised a gallop.

Trainer Rakesh’s Pretty Move obliged in the 1400 metres Star of Mysore Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, showing class and control by sealing the deal well before the final furlong. Drisna and Mystic Divine filled the frame, the latter charging late for a consolation cheque.

The day’s opener, the 1400 metres Season Opener Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, saw Absolute Katrina left nothing to chance. Backed as if she was unbeatable, she raced like it too, storming home by over four lengths by jockey J Chinoy for trainer Joseph Awale. Star Symphony and Turkoman completed the line-up without troubling the winner.