After the ill winds of Friday The 13^th  appeared to have touched the on-money favourite Apache Sunrise who was withdrawn after being boxed in the Karnataka Racehorse Owners’ Association (KROA) Million, the Prithviraj schooled Silver Ikon  raced like one possessed to win the plum event by a widening margin of more than 10 lengths.

Prashanth Dhebe who pushed the winner ahead after the seven runners came under the starter’s flag just kept going and it was clear half-way home that Silver Ikon would romp home. And he did in a `common canter’. Land Of Liberty finished second ahead of Habanero who raced in patches while Air Of Distinction from trainer Ganapathy’s yard produced another dismal effort.

The principal added attraction, the Shivanasamudra Cup saw leading pro S John back after he had injured his wrist produce his best on the 15 to one shot Mystic Music to edge out another long shot Afore in a thrilling finish. The two top market leaders, Sagrada and Legacy Dream found the going tough, latter only able to save place money while Sagrada finished fourth.

The Rai brothers, Muthappa and Chandrashekar Rai after a yawning gap struck it  rich, trainer Prasanna Kumar and their trusted jockey Imran Khan combining successfully to record a good double through Rare Rhythm and Private Paradise.

Rare Rhythm was ignored by most pundits in the Haveri Plate, the knowledgeable contending that the Prasanna ward failed to impress in her last win. What they missed out was that Rare Rhythm was crying for most distance and her connections exploited her over a mile and cashed in big. The topweighted Cadillac Sky again garnered the maximum support and all she did was take a lot of good money down the drain.

Back after booting home Rare Rhythm, Imran Khan was at his best on the second in demand at the betting ring, Private Paradise who was sweetly fancied by her owners’ group. Spotting a gap on the rails the moment he negotiated the final curve in the Mercara Plate run over a sprint, Imran pushed Private Paradise through and then packed punched on the Prasanna ward to snuff out the challenge of the favourite Massive Dynamics. Soviet Union caught the eye while finishing third and is one for the note book.

The Warren Singh schooled A Hearttoremember dropped the biggest bombshell in the lower division of the Vibrant Plate. The winner piloted by apprentice Chetan Gowda was tipped to score by cine star Ambareesh and a few who took a gamble hit the jackpot, A Hearttoremember paying out a rich dividend of Rs 584 on a tenner at the tote window. Queenofgoodtimes took the runner-up spot ahead of Fine Barristor while the public choice Mistress Of Spice failed to make the frame.

The upper division of the event was claimed by the favourite Day Flower from trainer Padmanabhan’s yard. The top fancy who looked a picture of fitness at the paddock parade produced a winning gallop approaching the distance post to put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Now that Day Flower is fit and fine after she went under the knife thrice, the Padmanabhan filly is set to provide an encore. Jayadratha finished second nosing out Heaven And Earth. The latter appears to have improved and it will not be long before this Sandhu ward registers her second win this season.

The opening event, the Ullal Beach Plate was claimed by the lesser fancied Granada from trainer Md.Khan’s yard. The winner in the hands of T S Jodha kicked free in the final furlong to score from the favourite Extremely Dangerous who at one stage looked set to breeze past the leaders before she failed to match strides with the final effort of Granada. Karod Pati who recoded a shock victory in his last essay finished a game third ahead of Noble Princess.

The lesser fancied Firing Line quietly fancied by the right connections won the Flashing Star Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs edging out another lesser fancied contestant Opening Act at the shadow of the winning post. The whipless apprentice Nazer-ul-Alam produced a neat effort on the winner and this effort of Nazer-ul-Alam lauded by most old hats in the game will help the youngster gain more winning opportunities in the days ahead. Hurrah disappointed while Moher pleased while finishing a suggestive third.