Pradeep Chouhan trained Dream Seller clearly took the old saying, "home advantage matters," rather seriously. After running a shade below expectations behind Reiko last time out, the sprinter returned with the local track now firmly in the memory bank and produced a performance that left the opposition chasing shadows in the 1200 metres S M Cama Music And Production Pvt Ltd Bangalore City Sprint Championship Gold Cup, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races.

Having surrendered to Reiko previously, Dream Seller flipped the script in style, grabbing the lead at the jump and treating it like personal property. Reiko gave earnest chase but found the leader in no charitable mood. Dream Seller coasted home by two lengths while the battle for the leftovers was considerably fiercer, Czar just edging out Kalamisti and Excellent Lass for third. With quality sprinters currently as scarce as the professionals in race course admitting mistakes, Dream Seller should enjoy a profitable monsoon campaign at Pune before possibly returning to Mysore for the Sprinters Cup in October.

The day`s racing, meanwhile, turned favourite backers into reluctant philanthropists as surprises arrived with punctuality. In the 1200 metres Camineto Plate (Div II) for horses rated 20 to 45, Warren Singh trained Character, making his first appearance as a four-year-old, turned into the day`s best kept secret. Invisible in the ante-post market, the gelding suddenly became everyone`s favourite whisper during race time as money poured in relentlessly, forcing him into second favouritism at 4 to 1 behind Rocking Star. Character justified every well-hidden rupee, racing prominently before sprinting clear in the straight to have the race sewn up long before the winning post appeared. Rocking Star finished late for second ahead of Annabella, while the supported Portieux politely declined to join the proceedings. It was one of those vintage Warren Singh gambles, quietly stitched together and neatly delivered with the assistance of the underrated Rafique.

The lower division served another upset. Trainer Pradeep Annaiah, still smarting from Rocking Star`s defeat, found instant therapy when long shot Agera swooped late to collar Hushed in the shadow of the post. The first four finished almost in one photograph, with favourite Aatherv looking the winner until the final furlong before discovering that the petrol gauge had quietly slipped to empty, fading to fourth.

Satish Narredu trained Born To Rise had looked anything but destined for greatness on debut, finishing well behind the field. Time, however, remains racing`s most patient coach. Armed with experience and improved fitness, the gelding returned transformed in the 1100 metres Red Divine Plate for maiden three-year-olds. The betting ring sensed the change well before the starter did, and Born To Rise justified the confidence emphatically. Suraj Narredu sent the favourite straight to the front and the race was effectively over before anyone else realised it had begun. The gelding sauntered home by an ever widening nine lengths and came within a whisker of lowering the course record. Garzian once again collected the silver medal with admirable consistency, if not much joy, while Bellucci just nosed out Shadai in a tight three-way fight for third that also involved Royal Vanguard.

Praveen Jesu trained Bezawada Baasha sprang perhaps the biggest surprise of the afternoon in the 1400 metres Honey Day Plate for horses rated 20 to 45. Neither recent form, morning workouts nor betting suggested anything remotely dramatic. Apparently, nobody had informed Bezawada Baasha. The gelding unleashed a devastating burst in the straight to leave the field scattered and won by four lengths. Feeling Good, despite travelling wide throughout, stayed on for second ahead of Chotipari.

John trained Frederika had dazzled on debut and simply picked up where he had left off in the 1500 metres Xisca Plate for horses rated 20 to 45. Akshay Kumar sent the filly to the front and thereafter it resembled an exercise gallop with spectators. Frederika sauntered home by four lengths. Imperador finished second, while the heavily backed Shutterfly never looked remotely like justifying the confidence, turning in one of those performances that bookmakers affectionately describe as "most satisfactory."

The basement class races have long perfected the art of making fools of punters. Unless there happens to be an unexploited three-year-old or a well concealed horse waiting for its cue, these contests are glorified lotteries disguised as horse races. Yet, in a delightful triumph of optimism over experience, they continue to attract the heaviest betting.

True to tradition, the 1800 metres Brave Dancer Plate delivered another punchline. Blue Saint, dismissed at nourishing odds, sprang the surprise under Vivek, a jockey who visits the winner`s enclosure just once or twice a season, making the victory all the more poetic. While the betting ring was busy worshipping the maiden trio of Art of Romance, Rising Form and Magna Carta, Blue Saint quietly went about the business of proving that popularity and probability are rarely on speaking terms in basement company.

Sweeping into the straight with purpose, Blue Saint seized command by the final furlong and won with a fair degree of comfort from Magna Carta, while Bruce Almighty finished third. The much fancied brigade never looked capable of justifying the faith reposed in them, offering little more than false hope. Another basement class race, another predictable upset. Ironically, nothing in racing seems to inspire confidence quite like a race that almost never goes according to script.