On a day when a couple of good gambles hit the bull’s eye, the Irfan Ghatala schooled Automatic recorded his second straight victory this season, edging out the lesser fancied Ultimate Warrior in a thriller to take home the Dr MAM Ramaswamy Memorial Trophy.

The winner on the strength of his facile victory in his last effort garnered the maximum support in the mile long event and to the delight of his supporters produced a winning gallop in the hands of Suraj Narredu to snatch the verdict at the shadow of the winning post. Ultimate Warrior who seized the initiative and looked set to enter the winners’ circle in the final furlong was stunned and so too Booker Jones who finished a creditable third ahead of Star Carnation.

The first successful gamble came in the lower division of the Kolar Plate run over a mile. The Neil Darashah-trained Mariachi was strongly fancied to score despite the fact that the Neil ward was making an appearance after a long gap of five months. The stable connections were bullish of Mariachi’s chances and soon it was evident in the parade ring that the Neil ward on fitness alone would be hard to down. T S Jodha pushed the public choice to the front soon after the 11 runners came under the starter’s flag and stayed there right till the very end, successfully pegging back the strong challenge of Superb Success in the final furlong. Great Celebration came home third ahead of Ido What I Do.

Next it was Satish Narredu who brought off a successful coup on Stars In His Eyes in the lower division of the Gumbaz Plate run over 1100M. The winner who in his attempt to make every post a winning one finished fifth on Saturday was recommended as a good bet by the insiders and the right connections even though Khurshad Alam was entrusted the task to pull the rabbit out of the bag. Khurshad did well and all credit to Satish Narredu for providing Khurshad the opportunity and the confidence he reposed in the lesserlight to deliver the goods. Simply Magical from Irfan Ghatala’s yard was the overwhelming favourite in the event but all he did was finish a tame third behind Tudor Prince who also had his fair share of supporters.

The principal added attraction, the O M Lingappa Silver Bar Trophy produced a needle finish, the ten to one shot Mystic Flame from trainer Parvati Byramji’s yard and the hot favourite Velocidad from the stables of Pradeep Annaiah flashing past the post locked together. The verdict much to the chagrin of the followers of form went in the favour of Parvati ward piloted by Irvan Singh. Play Safe caught the eye while finishing ahead of Tyto Alba, who more reasons than one failed to display his true potential.

The Mohd Khan-trained Another Rainbow came up tops in the opening event, the Agumbe Plate run over a sprint snuffing out the challenge of Hunters Moon who held the advantage all through the straight before going down at end. Dallas took the third spot ahead of the top weighted Aerospeed while Fierce Fighter was never in the hunt.

After Mercury opted out in the upper division of the Gumbaz Plate, Charmed Life from trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard was the public rage. The on-money favourite in the hands of Suraj Narredu broke no sweat while cruising home ahead of Benediction and Prazsky.

In the concluding event, Armenia from Satish Narredu’s yard was fancied most but the public choice lost out to the second in demand at the betting ring, Spirit Bruce splendidly piloted by the in-form pro Akshay Kumar who powerfully drove the Prithviraj ward to nose out Armenia and the ten to one shot Santiago in a humdinger. Natalma raced in patches and it will pay to follow this Darius ward when next saddled.