D. Netto trained Chal Bhai Chal (Greensmith-Racing Dream), surprised everyone when the 6 year old picked up speed inside the last 100 metres to get the better of the favourite Vijays Pride in the Sri Shamlal Gupta Memorial Cup. Nasheeta, stable mate to the winner, came in first for the final run, followed closely by Vijay’s Pride. Approaching the last 200 metres Vijays Pride surged forward and was looking good when Chal Bhai Chal came with a strong rally under apprentice Kuldeep Singh to sizzle past the favourite and spare a good three lengths at the finish. Nasheeta finished third.

Trainer Deshmukh who missed out on Vijay’s Pride ended the day with a double through Kallu Mama and Vijays Triumph. Both of them were piloted by jockey P.S.Chouhan.  Kallu Mama (Aussie Rules-Khalimia) a classic hopeful from the stables, whose last run was in the Pune Derby won the lower division of the Elusive Hero Plate. Rocking Racer and Coral Springs came into the straight almost together followed closely by Aware and Kallu Mama. With about 300 metres left Aventus left the pack and moved forward. Kallu Mama came up well from behind and headed past the leader and at one stage it looked like he would win by a lengthening margin but Aventus was back with a renewed effort to challenge Kallu Mama and reduce the margin to just three parts of a length at the wire. Coral Springs and Aware filled the frame in that order.

Vijays Triumph (Glory of Dancer-Sonatina) who is in rousing form, won its third successive start in the higher division. Laurel Canyon set out on a start to finish bid, followed by Goldie and Vijays Triumph. Approaching the last 200 metres Goldie dropped out and Vijays Triumph forged ahead to get to the front. Ancillary also joined the fight and Hometown Hero came flying from behind. All four of them closed up inside the last 100 metres and it was jockey P.S. Chouhan who drove Vijays Triumph to the wire. Hometown Hero finished second in front of Laurel Canyon. Ancillary who did not find a clear passage towards the closing stages, finished fourth.

Trainer Laxman Singh continued his good run with his youngsters Flames of Forest and Policy Maker coming good. Flames Of Forest (Mudeer-Ganga Devine) scored an encore in the opener, the division I of the Bakranangal Plate. Jumping out smartly, Flames of Forest showed good early speed early and shot to the front to lead the field. Nano Dame and Lady Luck tracked the leader about two lengths behind till the final turn. On entering the straight the ‘odds on’ favourite Flames of Forest stepped up the momentum and kicked on to increase the lead to over five lengths at the finish. Lady Luck was in chase all through the straight and lost out the runner-up berth to Any Give Day close to the winning post. Nano Dame finished a close fourth.

Policy Maker (Home Affairs-Admiration) decimated the opposition while scoring an encore in the Rishi Konda Plate. The bay colt headed past Midnight in Paris within the first furlong to lead the field. Coming into the straight with a lead of over four lengths, Policy Maker stretched out effortlessly, with jockey A.M. Tograllu holding him on a tight rein. Going by the way Policy Maker won the race, it would be beneficial to follow it in its next run. Montauk beat Midnight in Paris for the second place. Rio Rojo was withdrawn before the race.

K. Satheesh schooled Bouncer (Ontario-Priceless Princess), a runner-up on debut, a fortnight ago, got to the winner’s enclosure in the Grace Hanover Plate, a five furlongs dash for maiden 2 year olds. Sent in to the race as an ‘on money’ favourite, Bouncer shot to the lead at start and made every post a winning one. Lopamudra rallied late on the extreme outside to finish an impressive second, three parts of a length behind the winner. Torremolinos was third another half a length away. Anupam Sharma, trainer of the runner-up Lopamudra lodged an objection against the winner, stating that Kildare King which had stumbled as Bouncer headed past him near the 800 metres had interfered with his ward. The stewards overruled the objection. Itsamadmadmadworld was a non-starter in the race.

Yours Truly (Case Law-Divine Honey) from S. Habeebullah’s yard wrapped up the Lower division of the Time And Place Plate with a start to finish bid. The 5 year old was the smartest off the gates and forged ahead to lead the field. On entering the straight, Crown Castle was in chase but failed to bridge the gap. Indian Epic kept improving on the straight, getting stronger inside the last 150 metres and Commanche Gold came with a flourish from the rear but Yours Truly held on to the lead to win by a neck. Commanche Gold finished and Indian Epic third another neck behind. Mukhtar finished fourth and lodged an unsuccessful objection against Indian Epic for interference on the straight.

R.H.Sequeira’s Robust (Sussex-Celestial Dance) scored a stunning upset in the higher division of the Time And Place Plate. Kohinoor Supreme, Drum Beat and Dusty Lady came into the home stretch almost together. Inside the last 200 metres the favourite Dusty Lady had surged ahead to get to the lead. Robust, which was in second last position, almost seven lengths behind the leader as the headed past the 600 metres board, came up with a resolute gallop on the extreme outside and flashed past Dusty Lady to win by half a length.  Mr Khoashteep and Key Note finished third and fourth respectively.

Anupam Sharma trained Rose Queen (Inhabitant-Olympic Princess) justified the favouritism with a runaway win in the Cabaret Plate under apprentice K.Mukesh Kumar. The 6 year old whose last win was a year ago was installed as the favourite in the race. Racing a close fourth behind Devil’s Advocate, Phenomenal Speed and Max Baby till turning for home, Rose Queen made a swift move to rush to the lead on top of the straight and drew away. All The Fun got the better of Max Baby for second place.