Arjun Mangalorkar trained Coldstream won the 1200 metres Daria Daulat Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s races in emphatic fashion sweeping the rest of their feet from the word `go`. The Stewards cancelled the last two races of the day for no apparent reason having through with the previous six races in soft underfoot conditions accompanied by persistent drizzle.

The announcement said that owing to heavy downpour the last two races were being cancelled as the underfoot conditions had become unsuitable. In fact, the sixth race of the day was conducted after a downpour and when the cancellation was announced, the weather had completely cleared up. Surely this was a quixotic decision by the Stewards because the character of the track had not undergone any dramatic change during the running of the six races.

Coldstream had won both his outings in the summer season and was backed strongly to win ahead of Red Red Rose who had her share of supporters. Coldstream took a flier from the gates, enjoyed the underfoot conditions as he stormed clear at the top of the straight to give no chance for his pursuers. Red Red Rose failed to get a favourable position early on and graced the wrong end of the field before improving on the wide outside to edge past Emperor Cruise for the runner up berth. Though Coldstream is bred to stay, the fact that he has shown speed should augur well for this three year old son of English Channel.

Dominic trained Why Should I won the Bidar Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 in the hands of jockey Prabhakaran. Favourite Secret Prayer came late on the scene to miss the berth with the badly ridden Faustina finishing third. Jockey S K Paswan was pathetic on Faustina. Perhaps Why Should I was winning against the expectations or wishes of the stable which was demonstrated by poor behavior on the part of the trainer. The trainer was seen shouting and gesturing at the jockey and his anger was reflected also in the way he threw the rope at the horse while leading in. He was obviously not pleased with the jockey who had not done anything wrong and had ridden the horse judiciously without being harsh on the horse while using gentle persuasion on the long shot who seemed to know to do the right things. One could not understand why the trainer was so angry and his behavior which was there for all to see on the television monitors was the subject matter of discussion not only in Bangalore but in other centres as well. The trainer`s conduct needs to be critically examined by the Stewards because this is no good advertisement for the sport.

Neil Darashah trained Nuray proved too good for the rest in the 1200 metres Hemavathi Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65 by grabbing the charge at the top of the straight and bouncing clear. Nuray won with ease from late finishing Nimfea. Bazinga came from a long way back to neck out Super Force who was in receipt of strong support in the ring as a second favourite. Eternal Desire was backed spiritedly to win the lower division of the race and the Prithviraj trainee did not disappoint. Eternal Desire led all the way and spurted away from the rest in the straight to win by a widening margin of six lengths. Little Love made no impression while finishing second ahead of Temujin.

Smile Stone who was well backed to win the 1400 metres Belgaum Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, had no problem in winning the race with ease from late finishing Deep Blue Sea. Yellow Zone did not get a clear run, jockey Vivek on Prazsky being more intent in cramping the favourite on the inside and not allowing it galloping room till such time Smile Stone had stormed clear of the front running Berry Sea.

J S Pillay trained Somerset Rose recorded an encore by darting into the lead from the wide outside draw and did not let anyone come anywhere near her shadow as she checked in by a healthy margin of over four lengths in the 1200 metres Chintamani Plate, a race for lowest rated horses. Vento Plata was a long way second ahead of favourite Ocean Park who just about nosed out Reformer to claim the third slot.