Trainer Vijay Singh’s Drops Of Jupiter (Rebuttal – Anacita/ Hazara Stud) continued to defy the handicapper as she notched up her fifth win in six outings. Arti Doctor’s Taygetus went one better and scored five out of five. It was an exhilarating and courageous display by both thoroughbreds who are now both in contention for the ‘horse of the season’ mantle.

The Bangalore Turf Club Cup saw Make Way For Me installed as the 7/2 favourite, followed by Aquitania and Mister Majestic at 4/1. Drops of Jupiter was next in demand at 5/1. Neeraj Rawal on the latter maintained her in a close fifth slot along the rails while the likes of  Gentle Knowlegde and Make Way For Me fought for the lead up front. Though Aquitania was well placed, she never showed any urge to match strides with these top category sprinters. Drops Of Jupiter was however a different kettle of fish altogether as she used her late burst to good effect to hit the front near the distance and keep going under Rawal’s stick. Stablemate Setaflame moved well on the wide outside but the winning post came to the bottom-weight’s rescue in the nick of time.

 Once a trainer of great repute, Daniel David notched up only his second win of the season as the curtain went up. His Land Of Glory (Tariq- Balance De Power) with Hindu Singh astride quite easily won the upper division of The Audubon Handicap. He quite easily got the better of Apical Finala who was on a start-to-finish mission. Fancied runners Xperience and Bournville were disappointments. The lower division of the same race was picked up unfancied Cacherel (Burden Of Proof-Chilandrina/ Kunigal Stud) from Rutherford Alford’s yard. Apprentice Ranidan Singh made every post a winning one to notch up the first of his two wins. After repeated failures, New Challenger finally ran a good second to the winner.

Trainer Vikash Jaiswal is known to produce a rabbit or two from the hat every now and then and did so Wednesday. His first winner Secret Builder (Arabian Gulf-Sanskara/ Manjri Stud) left the field standing in the mile race for The Philanthropist Handicap. Just when it seemed that Dashrath Singh and Sam Houston may pull it off, Imran Chsty set the ‘Builder’ alight and  the seven-year-old moved with giant strides in the straight to land the spoils.

In the very next race, The Fiddler Handicap, Ranidan used his 2kg allowance to good effect to bring home the bacon with Bang Bang (Stardan-Ballad Of Glory). The Shafiq Khan-trained  five-year-old made every post  a winning one and staved off a strong challenge from The Stradle. The favourite Earnest Ruler and Half Volley were never in it.

Jaiswal then completed  his brace as top-weight jockey Sandeep Rajput guided home Sporting Trainer (earlier known as Phoenix Fire - by Phoenix Tower out of Star Qualities/ Manjri Stud) to an unexpected win over favourite Cool Hunter. Flying Cloud was an utter disappointment while Desert Cat may win in the lower class.

The Bharath Singh-Dashrath Singh combo finally came good as they quite easily bagged The Noble View Plate for youngsters with Ayra’s Pet (Express Wish-Tsesebee/ Mebajeona Stud). There was quite a bit of betting on Raqs Sharqi but the colt was no match for the filly. Bottom-weight fillies Levante and Devotion ran very poor races.

The afternoon came to a close as local favourite Christopher Alford guided Arti Doctor-trained Taygetus (Arabian Gulf-Sail By Roos/ Manjri Stud) to his fifth victory in as many outings. He treated the 7.5 kg penalty for his last win with utter disdain as he romped home well ahead of Draco.