Pesi Shroff trained Mathaiyus reeled off his fifth win in a row when he just about held off favourite Aster Rose in a thrilling finish to win the Gr 3 1800 metres Chief Justice`s Cup, the feature event of Saturday`s races. Mathaiyus had won four races in a row back home at Mumbai but was withdrawn from the gates in the Indian Derby and he made his first appearance in Bangalore, a winning one.

Shroff has brought some quality horses for the summer season and most of them look capable of winning many races. Though Mathaiyus had showed out in the paddock parade, the fact that his wins back home at Mumbai had come over long trips and the fact that he hadn`t won a graded race thus far was the reason why he went to the post at big odds. Aster Rose who had run an eye-catching second to Serjeant At Arms over a mile was preferred more than anybody else to pull it off.

Star Comrade set a fast pace even as Mathaiyus, Aster Rose and Tororosso were settled in about the fifth to seventh positions till turning for home. Jockey Neeraj Rawal who is enjoying a good run in the graded races after Shroff retained him, had the first run on his opponents by quickly grabbing the vantage position at the top of the straight. Mathaiyus got past the pace-setter in the final furlong and had a good break when Tororosso and Aster Rose began to make their assault. Mathaiyus, however, could pull through in the bobbing of heads with Tororosso a close third. Mathiayus thus lived up to the high expectation of the stable and proved that he is maturing as a top-class performer. The weights no doubt was in his favour but there is no taking away credit from his performance as he made an effective switch from handicap to graded race company. Whomakestherules who was running after last seen in the Monsoon Derby at Kolkata, ran a fair race, finishing fourth. Arjun Mangalorkar who has often seen Aster Rose finish second best in frustratingly close finishes could not help rue that his horse somehow finds a way to get beaten. The luck is surely not with Aster Rose who in last July was a noteworthy second in the Kingfisher Derby. Supreme General has enjoyed more hype than substance and his miserable performance was in keeping with the fact that consistency has not been his forte.

Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Angel Power won the 1600 metres Paddiwick Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds in emphatic fashion. Angel Power who is a full sister to dual Derby winner Angel Dust, had run a noteworthy third behind Apache Sunrise in the summer season and that effort was good enough to win in this company. However, in racing hype gets precedence over performance and thus we had the spectacle of first-timer Take Five from Mumbai being backed spiritedly to make a winning debut in a race of this nature. Jockey Srinath had Angel Power in front and the progeny of Win Legend skipped away from his rivals in the straight to win in splendid fashion. Automatic rallied in the straight to edge past Take Five who put up a dismal performance.

Rajesh Narredu trained Lady In Lace had run a suggestive race over six furlongs and the extended trip was bound to suit the filly fine. But the fact that less heralded apprentice Ayyar was in the saddle could have been the reason why the filly found no support in the betting ring to win the 1400 metres D M Shivaswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Namid was the most preferred horse. Lady In Lace circled around the field at the final bend and produced a powerful burst which saw the filly have the race in her lap long way from home. Namid ran on to edge past Shining Magic to get the runner-up position.

Ark Royal was nicely placed to win the 1400 metres A M C Gowda Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 50 but the horse to attract tons of betting was Parvati Byramji trained Reference. Ark Royal led from the start and skipped clear in the hands of apprentice Nazerul Alam to win the race in fine fashion from Buscadero and Masada.

Prithviraj trained Shivalik Crown came in for big betting in the 1200 metres Aboline Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 but the three-year-old was not up to delivering the goods. The race was won by longshot Idealist who swept into a decisive lead in the final furlong and won with a measure of comfort. Amazing Love held off Shivalik Crown to snatch the runner-up berth.

However, Prithviraj`s other ward Regal Music won the 1400 metres Ramkirpal Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class, in tremendous fashion at long odds. Leading from the start, Regal Music expanded the lead to seven lengths at the time of crossing the winning post. Extremely Dangerous necked out favourite Captain Calm to get the second place.

Apprentice jockey Vishal Bunde was not up to handling favourite Ninon in the 1600 metres Sweet Memories Plate, a race for horses rated15 to 35. The apprentice fought with the horse to restrain it from running freely in front and when the race came to the boil, Vishal was unequal to the task. John was very forceful on Campari Girl. Freestyle was third.

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Mathaiyus (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of The Chief Justice`S Cup (Gr.3)

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Campari Girl (S John up) winner of The Sweet Memories Plate

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Regal Music (Dhanu Singh Deora up) winner of The Ramkirpal Plate

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Lady In Lace (M Ayyar up) winner of The D M Shivaswamy Memorial Cup

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Ark Royal (Nazerul Alam up) winner of The A M C Gowda Memorial Trophy

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Angel Power (Y S Srinath up) winner of The Paddiwick Plate

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Idealist (A Ramu up) winner of The Aboline Plate

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