Mahanati was the only favourite to oblige in the half-dozen events. Bazinga was one other but the Narayan Gowda ward only became the public choice after the connections of Bazinga went bang-bang in the betting ring. As Good As It Gets and Revan Star initially garnered the maximum support in the lower division of the Set Alight Plate but both were not in the hunt and it appeared that the lesser fancied Ocean Park and Freestyle would get home first before Kiran Rai packed punch on Bazinga to gain the day from Yellowzone.

In the upper division of the event, Pradeep schooled Deepalika piloted by Surya dropped a bombshell snuffing out the challenge of Imtiaz Khan-trained Ravishing Snow without unduly extending herself. Imtiaz Khan who was suspended following an inquiry into the running and riding of Ravishing Snow in her last effort was disappointed the most. The trainer suspended for one year was hoping to lead in the infamous contestant who was the overwhelming favourite but that was not to be. It was the same case for the jockey Mubarak who has been suspended for six months. He astride the fancied As Good As It Gets had a chance to score in the lower division of the event but Mubarak it appeared was never in the hunt and eventually finished in the ruck.

A smart winner on debut, Anfia from Prasanna’s yard and Diamond Rays from Sriram Komandur’s stable were fancied most in the Poll Ramachandra Rao Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. Anfia in fact started the favourite before money came pouring in on Diamond Rays. But after hitting the front and posing like a winner past the distance post, Diamond Rays buckled under pressure and it was the eight to one shot Castaway from Britto’s yard who reigned supreme in the hands of Trevor Patel. Anfia’s pathetic performance was too bad to be true and the bred In the purple filly deserves another chance. Jagadeesh astride Diamond Rays, it appeared was too keen and in a hurry to close out the race and this cost him dear, Diamond Rays tiring out at end after calling the shots for more than 1000 metres in the six furlongs trip.

Second in demand at the betting ring, Play Safe from Arvind Ganapathy’s yard proved too good in the Noble Princess Plate, setting his own pace before romping home a worthy winner. Imran Khan produced a copybook effort on the winner who negotiated the 2000M trip better than the rest. Superb Success gained the runner-up berth ahead of the favourite Dynamism. This was Arvind’s second win this season after he opened his account on Orenda after failing to enter the winners’ circle for more than a year.

The opening event, the lower division of the Ramkirpal Plate saw the public choice Aqua Blessing from Kishan Thomas yard steal a march approaching the final curve before the four to one shot Ramon from M R Singh’s yard piloted by Ramu stormed through to delight his supporters. Future Bright finished an unextended third and it will pay to follow this Sharath Kumar ward when next saddled.

The upper division of the event was claimed by the top fancy Mahanati who donkey-licked her 11 rivals the moment the Delhi pro Dhanu Singh pushed her to the front after the dozen contestants came under the starter’s flag for the sprint. Cashmere again found one better while Tudor Prince and Propine flashed past the post locked together before the former gained the nod to take the third spot.