It certainly was not a good Friday from the punters point of view. A couple of `Jodis’ went out of the window and a couple of long shots including Zagato, the winner of the Icebreaker Plate  paying a rich dividend of Rs 1,102 on  a tenner at the tote window,  resulted in the followers of form returning home with a big hole in the pocket.

In the opening event, the Mekedatu Plate, Shivalik Eyes and Royal Defence topped the list of the punters. The former was backed down heavily which led to Royal Defence supporters developing cold feet. The Dominic ward  after opening (5/2) drifted out to (9/2) in the betting ring but that did not stop the Dominic ward who looked a picture of fitness at the paddock parade from cruising home in the hands of jockey Imran Khan sporting the colours of the M R Stud Farms.

In the second event, the friendless Zagato from Imtiaz Khan’s yard, who recorded a popular double on Thursday, dropped the biggest bombshell edging out the lesser fancied Zermatt by the proverbial whisker. The two well supported contestants, Magnetize and Abba failed to display their true potential resulting in punters taking a beating.

The plum event, the Ardent Knight Trophy  again saw two contestants, Colorato from Suleiman Attaollahi’s yard and the Arvind Ganapathy schooled One’s Own garner the maximum support. But here again, it was the eight to one shot Balian piloted by Scottish pro David Allan who reigned supreme, producing a good turn of foot at the distance post to post a message to his sporting owner, Capt.Jamshed Appoo that he is a good type and that he has the potential to make the big league in the months ahead. Balian in fact looked like a bull in the parade ring despite which he galloped to storm past another long shot Only Princess. The favourite Colorato of whom much was expected continued to disappoint while One’s Own surprisingly raced in patches.

After four listless performances, Noble Reward decided to produce his best in the upper division of the Thungabhadra Plate. Irvan Singh rode a copybook race on the winner to snuff out the challenge of Yellow Zone and Click who was seen finishing on fastest at end. Maddox and Coolmore who topped the favourite list were never in the hunt.

The principal added attraction, the Manasa Sarovara Cup produced another shock result, Hidden Soldier from Narayan Gowda’s yard romping home to the delight of his few supporters. Glittering who gained the top billing, it appeared had lost her galloping shoes while Temujin who also had a fair share of supporters never could get going. Forest Tern in fact produced a good effort to finish second behind Hidden Soldier and is one for the notebook.

After a long time we saw Rashid Byramji plan and design a gamble which unfortunately failed to bring home the desired result. Ontime in the hands of lesser light Shanawaz was medium of a gamble in the upper division of the Karwar Plate, backed down from (8/1) to (7/2) in the betting ring but all Ontime could do was finish second behind the runaway winner Dream Star from Dominic’s yard. Star Hunt lost all his chances at the gate while Pontiac who was touted as a good win-place bet lacked the gas to make a race of it in the final furlong.

In the lower division of the Thungabhadra Plate, Capitalize rightly opened the first favourite, but soon drifted in price simply because the connections chose to back Wings Of Fortune.  The price on Capitalize went up alarmingly and the top fancy was offered at (4/1) while Wings Of Fortune closed (7/2), nevertheless the followers of form who went by the book of form were rewarded, Capitalize edging out Wings Of Fortune in a thrilling finish.

In the concluding event, the lower division of the Karwar Plate, the Faraz Arshad-trained Arthurian was backed to the exclusion of his 11 runners. In line for a treble jockey Imran Khan astride the public choice after receiving a check dropped back and this cost him dear. The second in demand at the betting ring, Shideh made every post a winning one in the hands of Imran Chisty while Arthurian even failed to save the place money punters.