It was another bad day for punters, a solitary favourite Tamara from trainer Dominic’s yard justifying the top billing in the eight-event card. The fact that four second choices nailed bold colours to the mast didn’t really help and most railbirds returned home with a hole in the pocket on the eve of the Fillies Championship Stakes on Saturday.

The Inayathullah-trained Mint set the trend in the opening event, the lower division of the Esquire Plate, making every post a winning one in the hands of Irvan Singh. The ten to shot after hitting the front soon after the 11 maiden youngsters came under the starter’s flag showed a clean pair of heels and despite shifting out in the final furlong easily pegged back the challenge of Sabrina. St Pauli Girl caught the eye while finishing a creditable third and is one for the note book. The Prithviraj schooled Brooklyn Supreme who garnered good support from the insiders and the right connections flopped badly and ended up a poor fourth. The favourite Hot N Fire in no mood to enter the gates was withdrawn.

The upper division of the event was claimed by the four to one shot Australis from trainer Satish Narredu’s yard. The good looking daughter of Phoenix Tower confidently piloted by Suraj Narredu made it a no contest the moment she streaked past the Hyderabad hopeful Marina Del Rey. The Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Athena who was fancied most to make a winning debut warmed up late to take the second spot while Fair Warning, it appeared needed this run.

The Sharath Kumar-trained New Mallet and Midnight Sky from trainer Neil Darashah’s yard topped the betting list in the Ministrella Plate. Midnight Sky cruised home in the hands of apprentice Vishal Bunde while New Mallet only finished fourth. The Narayan Gowda camp had a good each way touch on eight to one shot Mystical Shadow and the six-year-old mare didn’t disappoint gaining the runner-up berth ahead of Granada.

Tamara from Dominic’s yard was backed to the exclusion of her dozen rivals in the lower division of the Diablo Plate and the public rage proved too good, romping home the moment Suraj Narredu put her in top gear. Inter Flora from trainer Parvati Byramji’s yard impressed most while finishing second ahead of Rare And Famous, who in his attempt to make every post a winning one went out of gas in the final furlong.

The upper division of the Diablo Plate saw most big bettors go big on the Warren Singh-trained Good Word despite his bad performance in his lung-opener. The fact that the Warren ward had caught the eye in the morning trials after his below par effort on the opening day led to most track reporters tipping him to score in this moderate set. But the heavily backed favourite never put a stride right and all he did was take a lot of good money down the drain. Santorini Secret edged out Country’s Bloom close home to help Dominic record a double.

The lesser fancied Legacy Dream from trainer Mahesh’s yard came up tops in the Royal Challenge Plate run over a mile. A facile last start winner, Carolina from trainer Sulaiman’s yard was fancied most but she found the mile long trip hard to negotiate. Fresh Start did well to finish second while Flirting Eyes again finished behind Carolina.

The main event, the Civil Service Cup was claimed by the second in demand at the betting ring Watchmyscript from trainer Irfan Ghatala’s yard. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before she outclassed her 13 rivals including the favourite Attorney General who struggled hard to finish fourth. Let The Lion Roar impressed most taking the second spot and it will not be long before this Prasanna ward earns his cornbill.

The Ganapathy-trained Air Of Distinction was the top choice in the Star Supreme Plate though this youngster had done little to merit attention in winter. The topweighted Dagobert from trainer Imtiaz Khan’s yard was a medium of a good gamble, the winner slammed down in the Pune and Mumbai betting rings. Ranjeet astride the Imtiaz Khan ward took no chances, quickly taking pole position and soon established a winning lead and though he lost the whip in the final furlong, Dagobert was too far in front and cruised home to the delight of Imtiaz and all his supporters. Astrild finished second ahead of the moody Cherie Amour who got the better of Air Of Distinction at the post.