Punters had a mixed day at the races as three favourites and an equal number of less fancied horses scored in the six event card on Friday. Irish jockey G. Dickie rode a brilliant race, in fact, one of the best in the recent past, on the Pradeep Annaiah-trained long shot Tapatio. He snatched the verdict from Rio Tinto at the post from an impossible second last position behind a crowded field at the final bend.

Kingston Heath showed the way for the 1,800 metres race of the Shravanabelagola Cup, the feature event of the day, being pursued all the while by the favourite Caressing with Rio Tinto in fifth and Tapatio racing a few lengths behind the field of eight after a lazy start. Aslam gradually improved Rio Tinto, took over the running from the tiring duo of Kingston Heath and Caressing midway up the straight and looked a winner by a clear margin inside the final furlong until surprised by Tapatio at the post.

Dickie and the Twist And Turn-Fathom Five gelding pierced through a wall of horses to gain a rails run soon after entering the straight. When the gap along the fence was narrowed by Rio Tinto inside the final furlong Dickie angled his mount and drove him powerfully to pip Aslam at the wire, almost on the final stride and gave its trainer Pradeep Annaiah a back-to-back double. When a photo was called to decide the winner, the print favoured Tapatio by a head. "We did not fancy him to win. My jockey said Tapatio likes to be ridden in check. The more we wait the better he responds. He has an excellent burst and good acceleration and that was what he displayed when asked for an effort in the closing stage, despite losing considerable ground at the start", trainer Pradeep Annaiah said. A further two and a quarter length away in third was Caressing, who just managed to push its neck in front of Kingston Heath with Blue Gardenia closing the gap. Note Kingston Heath is a winner in his own age group.

Consistency proved decisive for Kilkemny, who had gained places in the home stretch through the centre of the track to win by half-length over Soldier Of Fortune, who was desperately struggling to enhance its lead inside the final 100 metres. Surprisingly Bold Tycoon, who had finished more than 50 lengths behind the winner Airtel in a mile race last time, was quietly fancied by some who probably believed they were in the know. He finished a close fifth, almost on the edge of the track after a good forward run till midway up the straight. He is the one to be persisted with.

The mediocre field and the trip favoured the Irfan Ghatala trained Rusticana to register a comprehensive victory in the opener under the whipless jockey Rajesh Singh, who had an easy ride on the well supported Musicale (by Subject To Raise) mare. Rajesh Singh settled the favourite nicely behind the pacemaker Omni Presence after a quick beginning, assumed command from the top of the straight to win by a distance over the blinkered Power Extreme, who was gaining momentum under the stick along the fence. Omni Presence lost the runner up berth by a neck after doing all the running, closely followed by the leisurely striding Sheer Blossoms who had finished a shade ahead of Rusticana in a previous race.

Jockey Rajesh was the other professional to earn a back to back double apart from trainer Pradeep Annaiah. He guided the well backed Pretty Move from the yard of S. Singh to a length and half victory over Polar Charge, who was getting into rhythm when the race was as good as over. He did, however, squeezed the pacemaker, Silver Mist between 300 and 200 metres and ruined all his chances of figuring on board.

Debutante Allespagne, a half-sister to Sprinters’ Cup winner, Easter Sunday (by Tejano) trained by N. A. Ponnappa for the joint owners Dr. Vijay Mallya and ex. chairman D. Kumar Siddanna, was ridden to a splendid victory by Rajesh in a thrilling finish to lift the Glass House Cup, a sprint race for maiden three-year-old horses. While Astigmatic and Dance Royale were engaged in a stirring duel over the final furlong, Rajesh powered Allespagne through the narrow gap to win by a length and a quarter. A neck and a short head separated Astigmatic, Dance Royale and another first timer, Soaring Eagle. Unperturbed by a wide outside draw in a eleven-horse field, jockey Srinath quickly grabbed the initiative from Golden Finisher to guide the Sidney Moses-trained Chippo to a wide five lengths victory in the concluding event.