The Padmanabhan-trained Moon Dancer proved too good in the Rajah S R K Ranga Row Memorial Cup, the plum event on Thursday. The progeny of Excellent Art enjoyed the soft underfoot conditions and after gaining pole position early on in the race made every post a winning one.

Moon Dancer, winner twice at his parent-centre, Hyderabad  suffered from an infection in the early part of the summer and as a result failed to produce his best in the Colts Championship. Judiciously prepared after that attempt Moon Dancer bounced back and impressed most in the morning trials. His connections fancied him strongly in the seven furlongs trip and he justified his rating and the confidence of his supporters romping home in style. Gypsy did well to finish second ahead of the favourite  Justice Angel, who surprisingly failed to display her true potential. 
Arjun Mangalorkar schooled Hot N Fire, the overwhelming favourite in the Star Contender Plate cantered home in the hands of John. The public choice looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and John didn’t really need to pick his stick, Hot N Fire cruising home by a widening margin of five lengths over Noah`s Ark and Malana.

Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Implicit Trust prevailed in a pulse-pounding finish from Intrepid Warrior in the Santorini Star Plate run over a distance of 2000M. Trevor had the full sister to Hall of Famer in the front after failing to jump level from the gates. The on-money favourite  then just lasted out to score thanks to Trevor’s exemplary  effort in the saddle.

The upper division of the Mystic Memory Plate looked an open affair. Talladega was surely a better class horse but she hadn`t raced for one year and her last effort was over mile and half where she had finished second best to Ice Glacier. Last start winner Duke of Norfolk looked capable of registering second straight success and was backed heavily but the favourite after dominating the proceedings for most part of the sprint trip went out of gas in the final furlong and finished a tame third.  Lesser fancied seven to one shot  Areca Cruise produced an astounding gallop at the distance post to score from Tarini.

Royal Serenity who had gone down narrowly to Amazing Love in her last outing was quietly fancied to come up tops in the lower division. Apprentice jockey Darshan pushed Royal Serenity to the front and the fancied winner skipped clear beyond the reach of the rest to record an impressive win. Arizona gained the runner-up berth ahead of Bazinga while Diamond Green took the fourth spot. 

Six-year-old mare Deepalika from the stables of trainer Pradeep Annaiah recorded an encore in the Basque Plate getting the better of Extremelydangerous whose start to finish attempt came to grief close home. Emancipation was third while the fancied Appy`s Glamour performed below par.

Mistress of Spice from trainer Dominic’s yard chalked out a shock win in the Set Alight Plate making every post a winning one in the hands of Ryan Ahmed. Favourite Cantabria struggled to finish second while Masters Glory caught the eye while coming home third.