It is clear that Your Royal Majesty is just not enjoying the conditions. The Pesi Shroff ward again garnered maximum support, followers of form solidly behind the favourite despite the fact that he twice failed to justify favouritism before his effort over a mile.  The fact that most knowledgeable were of the view that the seven furlongs trip suited his style provided confidence to the big bettors who reckoned that the favourite will prevail in this moderate set. But to the disappointment of most supporters, Your Royal Majesty again failed to display his true potential and finished a tame fourth. It is not that the Pesi ward is short on class but she clearly is not comfortable on this track and is unable to produce her best.

Royal Salute who had finished behind Your Royal Majesty in his last effort suffering interference at a crucial stage, to the delight of the owner Chandrashekar Rai made every post a winning one in the Patrons Cup, the plum event. The much improved Booker Jones finished second ahead of Vivid Impression while Your Royal Majesty could only run in fourth.

The principal added attraction, the Y S Surender Memorial Cup produced a pulse-pounding finish, three contestants, the favourite Baracchus, rankoutsider Aashikaara, both from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard  and the second in demand at the betting ring, Lucia flashing past the post together before the favourite gained the day much to the relief of the Padmanabhan camp. Lucia in fact was unlucky as she drifted out under pressure at the distance post and this cost the Irfan Ghatala filly dear at end. Lucia now appears to have touched peak form and it will pay to follow her when next saddled particularly over longer trips.

On the strength of her suggestive third in her last attempt, the Darius Byramji-trained West Side Story was in with a definite chance in the Nagendra Kumar Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The connections of West Side Story were a little scared of Rich Revival at the start but the moment they learnt that Rich Revival connections too were also not strong, the Darius camp pounded the bookies and were laughing all the way to the bank. Last start winner Super Queen performed below par and failed to make the frame resulting in Super Force gaining the runner-up berth ahead of Glittering.

In the next event, the Ich Dien Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs, Imran Khan who is enjoying a good run this summer packed punch on the Hidayat Khan schooled Turf Tactics to upset the applecart of the favourite The Way I Am who is yet to shed his maiden status from his six efforts. A lot was expected  from Summer Mane after his game second over a seven furlongs trip but this Neil ward found the company too hot to handle.

Second behind Sharp Witted  in his last essay, Hello Boss was the public choice in the concluding event, the upper division of the Bhishma Plate but the Prithviraj  ward who is never consistent  produced a listless effort much to the dismay of his owners. The six to one shot All Proof from Nithyanand’s yard in the hands of Arshad Alam reigned supreme taking Nithyanand’s tally to four and taking into account that all four of his winners including Great Secret who was a medium of a good gamble were nominated to score, Nithyanand, it is needless to mention is having a good summer.

Earlier the owners of Hello Boss had a quiet gamble on James Bond in the lower division.  The owners showed a lot of pluck and courage to go for gold  with Deepak Patel in the saddle.  In the end it was no `Gold Finger’ and they only burnt their fingers. The public rage Androstos helped Irfan Ghatala open his account edging out What a Wonder at the shadow of the winning post.

In the maiden juveniles event, Silver Legend was touted a `moral bet’ but all he did was to take a lot of good money down the drain finishing more than 15 lengths behind the winner Sea Fairey who made a impressive winning debut in the hands of Trevor Patel.  Well as far as Silver Legend is concerned he will take a long time to come out from the cloud before he provides the silverlining to his breeders.

In the opening event, the line followers fancied Passion Flora. The Lokanath ward in her last effort had finished second behind Volcano who won again in the higher class and had beaten Expert who emerged a facile winner when saddled next. But the moody Passion Flora went out of the line and failed to justify support. Punna schooled Trapezoid  recorded his second straight success in the hands of Imran Chisty. Goodwill Warrior finished second  but it was Brown Panther who caught the eye and is one for the notebook.