The fact that five favourites nailed bold colours to the mast  in what appeared a tricky and very competitive nine-event card delighted the railbirds.  Icecream set the trend, winning the opening event, the lower division of the Sha Tin Plate by the shortest of margins from the lesser fancied Hard To Get. The winner on the strength of his suggestive last effort was rightly  installed the favourite and with the horses running true for Rajesh Kumar, the public choice gained the shorthead verdict in his favour.

Summer Dawn was fancied most in the next event, the Adrian Plate run over a mile and the favourite from Pradeep’s stable justified the confidence of his supporters in the hands of Ramu. Despite the fact that Ramu is a decent saddle artiste, the boy is struggling to get good rides in Mysore and Bangalore and that’s surprising taking into account a number of lesser talented jockeys are finding favour but yet not exploiting the opportunities coming ther way.  Ramu who graduated under the care of Amit Caddy is back with the youngster who  provided him the platform to make his mark and this could well result in a good second innings for the jockey.

Topsonie was the on-money favourite in the lower division of the Commanche Trophy  run over a sprint.  The favourite after raising hopes in the straight failed to match strides with the ten to one shot Top Star who gamely held on in the hands of the old fox H G Rathod. Mariko finished third ahead of Appy’s Glory  and it will not be long before she sheds her maiden status.

After Top Star floored the followers of form, the Arjun Manglorkar-trained Conquistador stunned the railbirds in the upper division of the Sha Tin Plate romping home in the hands of apprentice Anthony Raj. I Smile who is being campaigned without any adequate rest or game plan finished second ahead of Fioroloco who raced in patches but still took the third spot ahead of Jeyem’s Pride who in his pillar to post attempt went out of gas in the final furlong.  Conquistador it appears has touched peak and is set to provide an encore when next saddled in the higher class.

The Sulaiman schooled Schiavone and Tronada from Prasanna’s yard were fancied to dominate the finish of the Rajah S R K Ranga Row Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs.  That simply did not happen. The six to one shot Ace Bucephalus from Irfan Ghatala’s yard  confidently piloted by Ahsan Qureshi  produced a winning gallop to land a quiet gamble. All credit to Ahsan for patiently waiting with his mount before making his final challenge.  Ghatala too deserves a mention for his good planning, entering  the more fancied Zucchero before pulling him out, aware that Ace Bucephalus  would land the riches. Schiavone finished second ahead of Kingston Town who was seen finishing on purposefully after the race was in the safe keeping of Ace Bucephalus.

The Padmanabhan schooled Speed Six  surprisingly garnered the maximum support in the Bangalore City Gold Cup despite the fact that he had failed to produce the spark he is known for.  The public choice again made a gallant bid before he dropped out at the busy end. Smile Stone in the hands of Suraj charged through to snuff out the challenge of the Mumbai hopeful Dancing Phoenix who after finishing a close second was relegated to third following an objection by Sandesh, the rider of third placed  I’m Different against Zervan for shifting out and  chopping of his mount close home. The protest was rightly upheld.  I’m Different must consider himself unlucky  taking into account that he appeared to be travelling the best at end and had Zervan not shifted out it well would have been a different story.

In the upper division of the Commanche Plate run over a sprint, the Dominic-trained Only Princess piloted by Suraj Narredu was backed  as though it was a one-horse race. The price on the Ghatala schooled I’ve Got Cloat  for more reasons than one  drifted out and the message was clear that it was the `Princess’ who was enjoying the clout.  The public choice tracked the two leaders Dubai One and Neymar for most part of the sprint before streaking ahead and putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. I’ve Got Cloat  partnered by Yash Narredu was seen finishing on  well after the `Princess’  had  assumed control  and gained  her maiden success.  Dubai One shaped well in his debut and it will pay to  support him  if the Byramji ward is campaigned   in Mysore.

Sea Fairey who made a smashing debut was the on-money favourite in the Set Alight Plate. But good support for Groovy Moves  saw the price on Sulaiman ward double and in the hands of in-form Trevor the talented daughter of Multidimensional recorded her second straight success. All In caught the eye while finishing a game second while Groovy Moves failed to move eventually finishing in the ruck.

The Ganapathy-trained Light Of Magic and Miss Adler from Padmanabhan’s yard garnered maximum support in the concluding event, the Capricorn Stud Plate and after a brief duel in the straight, it was the Ganapathy ward who stole a march and romped home to the delight of the MAM camp.