Dinesh Pujar schooled Cosmic Touch (Alnasr Alwasheek-Czarina / Capricon Stud) won the In The Spotlight Trophy in a runaway fashion. The 3 year old had failed to live up to the popular expectation when sent as an on-money favourite three weeks ago. Cosmic Touch was again sent off as the favourite at 17-10 over a similar sprint of 1200 metres and with A Ashhad Asbar astride justified that faith by a lengthening margin of over seven lengths after leading all the way. Bestow warmed up late to beat the rest while Al Dorado and Dare The Don filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Dinesh Pujar had in the earlier race, the Konark Plate, sent out Absolute Pleasure (Gaswar-Killarney / Chhatari Stud) to score an encore and make it a brace for the yard. Absolute Pleasure clinched the race in a thriller beating Reanna by the proverbial whisker.The favourite Class Above went on a start to finish bid and held forte till the last 200 metres. Reanna after a lethargic beginning had made up lost ground and with a strong gallop surged past Class Above and was looking good when Absolute Pleasure came charging to snatch the race on the winning post. Class Above and Ice Brown finished third and fourth respectively.    
Trainer K Somashekar also pulled off a back-to-back double through Break on Thru and No Doubt. No Doubt (Sunday Doubt-Alvinia / Hargobind Stud) sprang a surprise in the Magadi Plate. Speartooth led the pack with No Doubt settling well in chase. Into the straight No Doubt surged ahead easily and scuttled away to stay two lengths in front of Galaxy Queen. Carisa charged in late to finish a close third. Society Music ended up fourth.

Break On Thru (Captian Rio-Mrs Gillow / Broadacres Stud) which had failed to make it to the board in its nine starts, galloped like a champion to down the field in the Aristocrat Plate, emerging as the biggest upset of the day. Staying in front right from the start, Break On Thru kicked on gamely when given a tap on the straight even as Ceasaria fought hard in second. The well backed Kir Royale could only manage to beat Felicissimus for the third place.

M Bobby trained Winged King (Black Cash-Dungeon Princess / Equus Stud) won the higher division of the Kanchanaganga Plate. Racing a handy third till turning for home, Winged King shot ahead to be in command on entering the straight and stretched out effortlessly to pull it off by 5 ½ lengths. Go Man Go and Ground Marshall finished second and third respectively in a close finish.

The lower division was won by C.V.G.K.Kishore trained Brigadier (Ace-Star Angel / Poonawalla Stud). Sent off as the first favourite at 9-4, Brigadier raced in about fifth along the fence while Peppr set the ball rolling followed by Infinithoughts, Beautiful Life and Young Gallant as they headed past the 600 metres board. Beautiful Life took charge first near the distance post but Brigadier travelled better when pulled out from the outside by Arshad Alam and drew away by three lengths. Young Gallant took the third spot in front of Infinithoughts. Queens Colour was a non-starter.

Jockey Arshad Alam earned his double through S Santosh Rao’s Aanchal Beauty (Case Law-Miss Biarritz / Jai Govind Stud) in the Paschimavahini Plate, the concluding race of the day. The 7 year old who likes to call the shots was at it again after a speedy start. Blue Zone was a handy second all the way into the home stretch but just could not get to the leader who kicked on gamely till the finish. Azure Fire and Color Me filled the frame in that order.
 
S.Rakesh trained Shresth (West Virginia-Zayna / Nakul Stud) scored a maiden win in the Varanasi Plate, the opener of the day. Stable companion Mother Ewa set the pace for Shresth and they came into the home stretch in the same order. Passing the distance marker Mother Ewa was still ahead with Shresth finding it hard to get to the leader. Shresth just managed to just get the better by a neck in the concluding stages, thanks to the feeble handling of Mother Ewa. All For Cash finished third.