Ganapathy trained Bold Faith recorded a hat-trick of wins when she staved off a spirited challenge from Live Legend in the Patrons Cup which featured Thursday’s races. Bold Faith was in great form and though she was taking on more seasoned performers, the fact that none of the contestants had any worthwhile racing form to go by, enhanced her credentials. Live Legend who had dropped form, having run poorly on the last few occasions that he was seen on the track, showed out in much better condition and was a game second. Now that the son of Razeen showed some semblance of returning to form, he can be followed profitably at Pune.

The price offered on Bold Faith in the betting ring was quite generous under the circumstances Though Bold Faith had moved up swiftly into this class, the fact that each of her wins had been impressive and they were followed by the success of those finishing behind certainly made Bold Faith’s form look imposing. Jockey Prakash raced Bold Faith in close proximity of the front-running Aurelian and grabbed the initiative on turning for home. Though Live Legend came menacingly close, Bold Faith had enough reserves to pull through and win comfortably. Florcian came from way behind to finish third.

Jockey Prakash consolidated his lead on the jockeys’ championship stakes, by booting home three winners to go well clear of C Alford who clearly had a bad day. Two horses cornered all the betting in the A Raoof Sait Memorial Plate (Div I) but both of them flopped miserably, paving the way for Jet Fire to win nourishing odds. The price on ante-post favourite Antenor drifted from on-money to end up as a joint favourite with Ruby Brown who came in for inspired support. One horse, which did not get the needed support, was Jet Fire who had won over a shorter trip in splendid fashion from a hopeless position early on.

In the event, Jet Fire who raced a handy second, kicked clear at the final turn and Ruby Brown was in futile chase throughout. Antenor, who was not well positioned by jockey Alford, had no ghost of a chance thereafter and was a tame third. The same fate awaited those who put their trust on the gold and red colors of Deepak Khaitan in the lower division of the same race. Appeasing was backed to the exclusion of her rivals but the daughter of Razeen played truant, coming under pressure at the final bend and then flopping miserably, belying the fine impression she had created by her maiden win. Mesmerising who led from the word 'go', came under pressure from Symbol of Speed but managed to stay in front quite capably. One other horse to disappoint was Rashid Byramji trained Appoint.

Fancied strongly to win by all and sundry, Appoint was never in contention giving way for Arjun Mangalorkar’s Fairytaleending. The latter won quite impressively from a late-finishing Mystro. Southerner ran a good forward race. Flightingale had been running consistently without success. Now taking on modest opposition in the mile and half trip, Flightingale stayed put in the front and though threatened by Epic at one stage, successfully accomplished a start to finish mission in the hands of Alford. Though the odds drifted on the bandaged Hawaiian Flower, the five-year old daughter of Flitch fought out grimly with Worth A Million to snatch the verdict on the post. Prakash however had an armchair ride to victory on Moon Forest who smashed the opposition, making a no contest of the race.