Dallas Todywalla trained Sydney Harbour showed that she was cut above the opposition when winning the Gr 3 Juvenile Sprinters` Million, a terms race for three year olds, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races.

There was question mark about racing on Saturday because of rains in the past few days but with the professionals agreeing to have racing promising not to cause any disruption, the day went through without any incidents. The only disconcerting note was the penetrometer reading announced by the club which was given as 4.5 cms which was far from truth. The timings were slower by five seconds to what is par for each distance which itself indicated that the penetrometer reading was not genuine. It is a pity that the club had no qualms about misleading the public with this blatant lie.

Coming to the feature event of the day, Sydney Harbour had shown that she had made quantum improvement since her debut win at Mumbai when she had gone down fighting to Arvak who is a good type of youngster. The filly has surely strengthened out since coming to Bangalore and she showed out in the paddock parade. The advantage of scales as also the fact that the progeny of Phoenix Fire relish the cut in the ground, was bound to give the Manjri Stud Farm produce, a decisive edge. The hectic flow of money on Emidio was what ensured that the Mumbai challenger would run at healthy odds.

The speedy Diva set a fast clip even as Zervan eased Sydney Harbour in second position ahead of Emidio while the rest were spaced out behind. Sydney Harbour cantered into the straight and with hardly any aggressive riding by Zervan, the filly bounced clear. Sydney Harbour left her chief opponent stranded as she checked in by a widening margin of five lengths over Emidio. Hyderabad challenger Ashwa Raftar who was conceding weight to all his adversaries by virtue of three wins that he had recorded back home in his first season, did well to edge past Fabulous Touch to get the third slot. Sydney Harbour is a top class horse and she should be seen prominently in graded races at Pune should the connections decide to race her during the Pune season.

Darius Byramji trained Flamboyance had lost by the skin of her teeth last time out when carrying top weight. On the strength of that performance as also the weight that she was carrying in the higher class, she looked to have an excellent chance of making amends in the highly competitive 1600 metres Chaitanya Chakram Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Since in this category of races, one doesn`t see one sided betting like in lower classes, Flamboyance was available at lucrative odds of over 3 to 1. Torch Bearer and Gabino had their share of supporters while Captain Cook failed to attract any significant thrust in the betting ring despite his imposing Kolkata record. Sagrada set the pace which allowed Pradeep Chouhan to settle Flamboyance comfortably in the second position. The rest were a few lengths away, striving hard to get a favourable position on the inside. The jockey of Torch Bearer, Ajinkya was unable to get the horse tucked in and the full brother to Desert God travelled five horses wide. Flamboyance quickly overtook the front runner on turning for home and sailed clear of the rest. Torch Bearer who had considerable leeway to cover on the front runner, ran on strongly but had an uphill task against the formidable favourite. Gabino made a late dash to occupy the third slot ahead of Dazzling Bay.

The conditions had turned worse following persistent rain when the 1200 metres R S Nagendra Kumar Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to 45, was started. Akha Teej was the favourite but the small made daughter of Tariq failed to take a prominent position and had lot of leeway to cover in the final furlong. All that she could do was to finish a tame third. After last start winner Youre Ashwashakthi shot his bolt after leading the field into the straight, Native Elements took over the running and opened up a healthy cushion which held the four-year-old gelding in good stead. Mariko put up a strong challenge but the front runner had the race always in his control. Perhaps the promise that the jockeys had made to a senior trainer that they would not force cancellation of any race may be the reason why the lower division of the race which was also the last race of the day, was held in considerably heavier conditions. Possimpossible was strongly backed to win for reasons best known to the connections but he was nowhere to be spotted. Wise Guy who had measured Precious Glitter in his last effort, once again outshone the rest, with a commanding performance, leaving the rest to fight for minor spoils. Precious Glitter reportedly bled while finishing dismally. Topaz who was also well fancied, was in the reckoning but he could do little when Wise Guy skipped away from him in the straight to win authoritatively at long odds.

The 1400 metres Bhishma Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35, saw one sided betting on Samar Singh trained Lovely Dancer as most runners in the fray appeared to be to be out for an airing. Those who back heavily rarely try their horses in testing conditions and as such, there were many pending horses in the fray whose connections chose to play it safe. This made things easy for Lovely Dancer and her pilot Jagadeesh as they faced no threat from the rest. Spiritual Act necked out El Madator to get the runner up berth. There were two withdrawals at the gate namely Top Star and Rigelray who were troublesome.

The night odds are generally misleading and much more these days especially as the one displayed in another website. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Antananarivo had a fair chance to win in the 1200 metres Red Divine Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. It is always difficult to predict how the debutants perform in a race meant of three-year-olds as their potential is unknown. The odds were displayed in such a way as if Antananarivo was the only horse in the fray. The Win Legend progeny was quoted at miserly odds of 45/100, with no odds available for the rest of the runners. Antananarivo ran more than three times the odds quoted while the betting trend indicated that the race was an open affair. In the event, debutant Et Voila from Mumbai but currently racing under the care of Vittal Deshmukh trounced the opposition, by grabbing the lead inside the final two furlongs and storming clear to win at nourishing odds. Zafrina finished second while Antananarivo barely managed to nose out Zafran to get the third place. Suleiman Attaollahi trained Duke of Clarence was set to take on horses which had finished way down the field in their past runs and as such, the lower division of the race looked to be at his mercy. True to market expectations, Duke of Clarence brooked no opposition as he checked in more than seven lengths clear of Kings Baron and Country`s Bloom who will take a while before they can hope to break their maiden ranks.

James McKeown trained I Told You Know was backed strongly to win the 1800 metres Ich Dien Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. However, the Kolkata challenger, failed to gather steam after tracking Amazing Skill into the straight and fell behind. Lesser fancied Burnished Gold produced a strong run in the final furlong and managed to overhaul the front runner in the shadow of the winning post. I Told You Know was faraway third.