Irfan Ghatala trained Ace Badraan who had not won for 971 days brought off a big upset in the hands of apprentice jockey Nazerul Alam in the 1200 metres Stewards Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of the concluding day`s race of the Bangalore Summer Season. There were doubts whether racing would take place at all as it had rained quite heavily in the last three days but with the professionals co-operating, racing went through without any hiccups.

Classic winner La Donna who was once a rousing performer has had some niggles and she hadn`t run since March and was being campaigned over a sprint in the hope that the filly may find her bearings. The trip was too sharp for comfort but there was good support for the filly to pull it off ahead of Life Awaits. Ace Badraan who was on the verge of making his exit from the racing horizon in Bangalore was run in the race more in hope than with any real expectations and hence was at fancy odds.

Topspot as is his wont led from the start before fading out on straightening for the home stretch. La Donna who was in the second position too gave up without much of a fight. Life Awaits gave hopes of obliging his supporters by having the lead for a long while in the straight before Ace Badraan joined the issue in the final 100 metres. The duo fought for a while before Ace Badraan asserted his supremacy. Life Awaits was second best ahead of Taqdeer Ka Badshah.

Irfan Ghatala had another winner of the day, this time through the heavily backed Torsoro who had it easy in the1600 metres Prince Khartoum Cup, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. After Gabino led the field into the straight, jockey Neeraj Rawal had Torsoro moved up smoothly. The progeny of Rebuttal perhaps enjoyed the underfoot conditions as well as he cruised away for a smashing win over Michaela. Mystic Music nosed out Frenemee for the third spot.

Rajesh Narredu trained Animal King had improved a great deal after two forward efforts in the tougher company. The progeny of Win Legend proved infinitely superior to the opposition in the 1200 metres Moonlight Romance Cup (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Animal King broke clear of the field at the top of the straight to win by a widening margin of eight lengths over a timid opposition. So Mi Dar made a late rally to edge out San Bernardino and Panama for the runner-up berth. A backward lot of horses faced the starter in the lower division of the race. Mansuetude who had a forward run appeared the best of the lot though debutant Set To Win for the more fancied of the lot. Mansuetude assumed command after coming into the straight and kept on increasing the lead to a distance by the time she crossed the winning post. Though she drifted out under pressure in the final furlong, her superiority was never in doubt. Amazonite was second ahead of Tevoda. Set To Win performed poorly given the breeding he commanded.

Don`t Trust Anyone had not been seen in serious business in all his four runs during the season. The flood of money that he attracted in the betting ring to win the 1200 metres Romantic Dancer Stakes, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 indicated that all his earlier runs did not indicate his true potential and that run giving is an easy job in Bangalore under the benign Stipes. Reczai was another to corner betting. Don`t Trust Anyone came into strong prominence in the final furlong but could not breathe easy as Reczai too joined issue. Srinath drove out the favourite with all the resources at his command but found a match in apprentice Naveen who was equally persevering. Reczai prevailed by a head in the end. The riding of Naveen was a revelation. Naveen surely has more ability than what he shows in his run giving missions. Indian Brahmos was some lengths behind in the third position.

Apprentice Shareef was in the limelight while steering Cherie Amor to a facile win in the 1400 metres Classical Act Stakes, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Royal Serenity led in earnest from the beginning but found an unexpected match in Cherie Amor who perhaps relishing the soft underfoot conditions, unleashed a powerful run from way off the pace which saw the long shot storm clear of the front-runner. Goodwill Warrior put in a late rally to snatch the second berth.

Ajay Sharma trained Top Brass from Delhi was expected to have a bold show in the 1100 metres Glorious Colours Stakes, a race for horses rated 15 to 35, after a forward effort which had seen the three-year-old finish third to Delhi mate Black Swan. However, Top Brass disappointed and was unable to overhaul the front-running Lady Majestic who asserted her superiority quite easily.

Trainer Md Khan had a well-backed winner in El Matador who came the shortest way home and stormed ahead inside the final two furlongs and easily won the 1600 metres Amazing Grace Stakes, a race for horses in the lowest class. Mystical Shadow was sluggish at the start made good progress to finish second ahead of Appy`s Glamour.