Prasanna Kumar-trained Money Bags underlined his supremacy as Bangalore’s sprint king with another devastating performance, leaving little doubt that he could take his act to the national stage when he lines up for the Sprinters Cup during the Indian Turf Invitation Cup weekend in the last week of this month to be held on the same track. If his current form is any indication, the rest of the country has been put on notice.

The progeny of Leitir Mor, whose chief occupation appears to be leaving rivals behind, recorded his sixth consecutive victory, every one of them emphatic. His triumph in the Gr 2 Zavaray S Poonawalla Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship was widely regarded as a formality, and the champion completed the exercise with the minimum of fuss. Trevor Patel merely had to point him in the right direction before Money Bags unleashed his customary sparkling acceleration in the homestretch to win pulling up.

The manner of his victory suggested that the course record was within reach had he been asked to stretch himself. Fortunately for the record books, Trevor was content to let sleeping records lie. The gulf between Money Bags and the opposition was once again alarmingly wide.

Those who went hammer and tongs at the front eventually ran out of ammunition, fading from contention when the real test began. Masato, expected to provide a serious challenge to the favourite, was among those who failed to live up to expectations. Echoes of Time, conserving his energy at the rear, swept past the tiring runners to claim second place, while Crown Drive finished third.

Money Bags is approaching the Sprinters Cup in peak condition. A victory on the national stage would be a fitting reward for a horse who has made sprinting look less like a contest and more like a private exhibition.

M M Uthaiah-trained Seeking Alpha was equally businesslike in the 1600 metres Bottolanda Mittoo Chengappa Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Trevor Patel adopted start-to-finish tactics, and the favourite never gave his rivals a realistic opportunity to interfere with the plan. Seeking Alpha dictated terms throughout and justified the confidence reposed in him.

Still I Rise came from well off the pace to finish second, while Touch of Grey, who had once been a formidable performer and won the Derby on the same track three years ago, had to settle for third. Memories of past glory were not enough to alter the present result.

Anthony Raj produced a determined finish aboard Malet Spring to thwart favourite Mystikos in the 1200 metres Justice P Medappa Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Mark One made the running and continued to call the shots deep into the straight, but Malet Spring found another gear close to the post and surged ahead at the decisive moment. Mystikos, who lacked early speed, required repeated urgings from Suraj Narredu to make up ground. By the time the favourite finally found her stride, the winning post was fast becoming an inconvenient obstacle to her ambitions.

Mystikos finished with a flourish but arrived just too late, Malet Spring having already secured the prize. Mark One and True Punch also finished in close order, with the trio separated by a neck each in a tight contest for the minor honours.

The lower division proved a much less complicated affair for Martino from Gnanashekar’s stable. Backed with conspicuous confidence, Martino went straight to the front under Akshay Kumar and stayed there without giving his supporters much cause for anxiety. Sunway Lagoon and Live The Dream filled the next two places, but neither looked capable of turning the contest into a genuine battle. For Martino, it was a case of taking the shortest route to victory.

On a day when fancied runners generally held their ground, Somashekar-trained Grizzly duly joined the winners’ enclosure parade in the 1400 metres Mysore City Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Rafique timed his challenge well, bringing Grizzly into contention with a powerful surge in the final furlong. The favourite then had to fight hard to hold off Winter Agenda and Rising Tycoon, both of whom made him work for the prize. The verdict was narrow, but decisive. Night Raider, meanwhile, disappointed yet again. The name promises a raid; the recent performances have yielded precious little loot.

Saddam Iqbal-trained Cosette made light work of the opposition in the 1400 metres Autumn Blue Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Saqlain brought the winner with a decisive charge in the final furlong, and Cosette drew away to score by a widening three lengths. Chief Admiral edged out favourite Satin Lass for second place, with the latter failing to produce the response her supporters had hoped for. Satin Lass was conspicuously flat-footed when the serious business began, while Cosette was already making herself comfortable at the front.

Longshot Star Honour, from Praveen Jessu’s stable, provided the surprise package in the day’s opener, the 1400 metres Chirapunji Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category.

Arul sent Star Honour on a start-to-finish mission, but the strategy nearly unravelled in the final furlong when favourite Teresa launched a determined challenge and briefly edged ahead. Just when it appeared that the favourite had taken charge, Star Honour rallied gamely, reclaimed the lead and held on to win by just under a length. Nizbati Queen finished third.