P.C. Tejaswi-trained Zanzara (Glory Of Dancer-Anadem) romped home in the higher division of The Varahi Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Princess Nero was sent into the race as the firm favourite. After getting stalled, Princess Nero reared up inside the gates and in the process the jockey hurt himself, thus forcing the filly to be withdrawn. Zanzara improved steadily from about fifth position at the final bend to move strongly and get the better of Cannon Scot to emerge on top. Miss Ruby led till the last 350 metres and gave up, finishing third.

The lower division was won by Ahira (Serious Spender-Chaventre) in a blanket finish involving five horses. Authoritative had a firm hold of the race till 400 metres from home but suddenly veered out alarmingly thus losing position rapidly. It was observed later that Authoritative returned lame. Jockey S. Sreekanth pushed Ahira in front and rode out strongly to keep Perfect Bond at bay. Blue Thunder rallied fast along the inner rails even as Vayuputra and John Galt flew in late. All the five went past the winning post in that order with just a length separating them. For trainer Pratap Kamath, it was a back-to-back double, having led in Bold Police (Brave Act-Traffic Police) in the penultimate race, The Scone Stone Plate. Bold Police, with Milan up, shot ahead even before the field could show up on the home straight and won literarily by a street. Good Speed and Happiness finished second and third respectively.

Vishal Yadav’s Unique Star (Juniper-Universal Star) got to the winning bracket after almost a year. The six-year-old gelding was knocking at the door, having finished in the money, in the previous three runs. Jockey Melvyn Maseyk took Unique Star to the front right from the start and drew away from the top of the straight, to win by a massive margin, in the Kokkare Belluru Plate. King Adler beat the rest to finish second, ahead of Sterling Speed and Damgood.

G. T. Surender’s Ansonia (Greensmith-Alsadena) was another runaway winner of the day, lifting The Dubare Forest Plate. The betting revolved around Green Vision and Proud Accolade with the latter ending up as the most favoured at race time. Ansonia led from the start and stretched out comfortably on the straight, to widen the gap from the nearest runner. Fantabulous Prince took the second place by emerging late to put his head in front of Green Vision at the wire.

Bobby’s Secret Girl (Bee’s Prospector-Satch Boogie), a winner in her previous start a week ago, repeated that performance with a pillar-to-post victory in The Golden Fantasy Plate. The grey hit the front early and kicked on to spare a long neck at the winning post from Passage Of Time, who failed to get the better despite his best efforts in the dying moments of the race. Spanish Crown and Sauce Piquant filled the frame.

Zareer Darashah’s Bright Star (Rebuttal-Fiorenzza) shed his maiden ranks, in The Serengeti Plate, the opening race of the day. Jockey Ladjadj Stephane preferred to settle Bright Star behind the duo Jeevika’s Queen and Alizadeh making all the running in front. The favourite Alizadeh came under tremendous pressure when asked to quicken and finally ended up fourth. Bright Star took some time to raise a gallop but once he did, the son of Rebuttal was sighted a winner 100 metres from home. Demanding Format finished on late, to take the second spot ahead of Jeevika’s Queen.