Saturday`s racing at Bangalore was overshadowed by a horrifying injury to champion jockey Trevor Patel during the paddock parade before the first race. In a reminder that racehorses occasionally have political instincts and dislike orderly proceedings, Perfect Dream suddenly reared up violently while Trevor was mounting, launching the jockey into the air. The result was reportedly an elbow dislocation/injury along with other injuries that could keep him out of action for a considerable period.

It was cruel timing for Trevor, who had only recently completed 2000 winners and was riding with the confidence of a man who could probably steer traffic with a racing whip. For a jockey, grip strength, balance and rein control are everything. The elbow, unfortunately, is not known for forgiveness. It behaves like an offended steward, stiffening at the slightest provocation.

Trevor`s absence will be keenly felt by owners who had already pencilled him in for the upcoming classics. One only hopes the champion rider recovers quickly from this painful setback and is back in the saddle soon, preferably with horses that believe mounting is part of the sport and not an invitation to recreate a rodeo scene.

Ironically, Perfect Dream was the betting rage for the 1200 metres Udhagamandalam Plate and was backed down to cramped odds by punters behaving as though the race had already been run and framed. The horse certainly lived up to the “Perfect” part only if the dream involved chaos, panic and collective destruction of betting slips.

After Trevor was rushed to hospital in terrible pain for X-rays and treatment, Sandesh took over on the favourite. Sandesh attempted a start-to-finish mission in the officially described soft going, but the favourite softened considerably inside the last 100 metres. Long shot A Great Buzz, ridden by Pavan, arrived with a determined run to score an easy win. Evolvita finished third. Haniel, the second favourite, played up at the start and ran as though deeply offended by the whole arrangement. Bhagya too was withdrawn at the gates on veterinary grounds after displaying all the calmness of a cat on a hot tin roof.

Prasanna Kumar trained Money Bags, who had bolted up impressively last time out, repeated the dose in the 1400 metres Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Trophy. Anthony Raj, deputising for the injured Trevor Patel, wisely adopted uncomplicated mathematics: go to the front and let the others solve their own problems. Money Bags relished the underfoot conditions and stretched away for an authoritative victory. Efficacy finished second ahead of Rodney, though neither gave the impression of troubling the winner even with divine intervention. The rest were merely moving landmarks.

Prasanna Kumar trained Refined Aggression, a smashing winner last time out, was expected to repeat in the 1200 metres Marilingaiah Memorial Trophy. Unfortunately, the horse displayed neither refinement nor aggression. Content to remain with the rear group, he ran like a horse preserving himself for retirement benefits.

Sulaiman Attaollahi saddled the first two home. While several stable favourites continue their current campaign against public confidence, Splendid Dream improved dramatically to come from well off the pace and collar stablemate See The Light near the finish. The latter nearly escaped all the way before being denied narrowly. Ziva was third ahead of Refined Aggression whose performance did not justify either the price or the ambitious name.

Mysore Derby winner Miracle Star, absent through the winter due to the glanders shutdown that wrecked the classic calendar like a bureaucratic cyclone, returned in the 1600 metres Chettinad Stud Plate. Despite missing racing action since October, the James McKeown-trained runner showed no signs of rust. Suraj Narredu bided his time before bringing Miracle Star wide into the straight and, once asked for an effort, the filly accelerated smoothly to beat Promiseofthefuture and Star Glory with authority.

Prasanna Kumar trained Knotty Emperor treated his rivals with complete disdain in the 1400 metres Elite Force Plate for maiden three-year-olds. Sweeping forward stylishly at the bend while Estelle showed the way, the son of Gusto quickly put the race to bed and won by over seven lengths. Frederich emerged late from the rear to finish second ahead of Rampage. Both at least showed signs of life, which was more than could be said for several others.

Prince Of Wales recorded an encore in the 1400 metres Romantic Dance Plate, providing trainer Prasanna Kumar with a treble. Tracking Makato into the straight, Prince Of Wales stormed clear effortlessly from Alamgir and Lena. Favourite Bulletproof turned out to be about as bulletproof as wet cardboard and disappointed badly, joining the growing list of fancied runners from the yard who appear determined to test punters` emotional resilience this season.

The concluding race saw Starvinsky backed to the exclusion of the rest. Suraj Narredu produced the favourite with a ground-saving run along the rails before easing past Flash with smooth acceleration for a comfortable victory. Corinthian finished second ahead of Windcleaver. Fancied Storm Shadow lived up magnificently to the second half of his name. His shadow, unfortunately for supporters, was nowhere visible when the race mattered.