The penultimate day of the winter season proved to be a disaster for the followers of form. A solitary on-money favourite Impavid reigned supreme in the Governor’s Trophy, the plum event run over a mile, while the rest of the eight public choices in the nine-event card chose to take a back seat and as a result most punters returned home with a big hole in the pocket.

After his smashing debut, Impavid, a progeny of Air Support from the Kunigal Stud Farm looked head and shoulders above his five rivals in the feature. The public rage looked outstanding in the parade ring and with the top pro Sandesh to guide his fortunes appeared a cinch.  Sandesh, however, needed to pack punch and drive out the Arjun Manglorkar ward to get the better of Sir Supremo who after streaking ahead at the distance post tested the public choice before going down fighting close home. Roma Victor finished third ahead of Cuban.

The talented Darshan, fast improving Manish, Kiran Rai and trainer Kishen Thomas who led in two winners enjoyed a good run on what really was a bad day from the punters point of view. Darshan who registered a grand treble opened his account through the lesser fancied Blue Blazer from Kishen Thomas’ yard in the Leading Owner Trophy. The winner produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to upset the applecart of the favourite Noahs Ark, who after gaining the initiative in the final furlong failed to even save place money at end. Super Success gained the runner-up berth ahead of Rafa, while Siyouni took the fourth spot.

Next partnering Striking Grey, who he partnered  on the Invitation Cup day in Hyderabad on the first Sunday of this month, Darshan produced a a copybook effort on the Lokanath ward to peg back the belated effort of Starry Wind. Standout came home third ahead of Good Time Indeed who merits attention considering the fact that this Mahesh ward was not really punished or pushed to gain the fourth spot. The Irfan Ghatala schooled Teodoro, who was backed to the exclusion of his 11 rivals looked good till the race came on a boil and the moment the heat was on he was the first to pack up. The fact that Teodoro finished last calls for an explanation. It is true that this was Teodoro’s first run after being gelded four months ago. But most horses display their true potential a month after being gelded and in this case four months and two mock races also have not helped his cause and this defies logic.

In line for a treble, Darshan packed punch on the ten to one shot King Of Shadows in the concluding event, the lower division of the Champion Jockey Trophy to do the `trick’. Colonel Harty from Narayan Gowda’s yard, who was strongly fancied in this event, backed down from (7/1) in the morning to (6/4)  was a trifle unlucky warming up late while finishing a close second. Honey Trap too had her fair share of followers but the trap didn’t work and it was the bookies who took home both, money and honey

Kiran Rai booted home Yellowzone in the opening event and Track Striker in the next race. The Kishen Thomas ward who had caught the eye while finishing third in her last essay produced her best to edge out Stari Grad close home. Island Pearl who was strongly fancied as an each way bet came home third ahead of the favourite Incitatus who is a moody customer.

Kiran in the next event, the Leading Tipster Trophy booted home Track Striker from M R Singh’s yard who managed to snuff out the challenge of the topweighted Le Marc after a ding-dong battle close home. Winx finished third head of El Matador while the favourite Noble Splendour was never in the hunt.

Apprentice jockey Manish first struck on Another Rainbow in the upper division of the Champion Jockey Trophy. The Mohd. Khan-trained winner beat Summer Dawn convincingly while the half-money favourite Kimera finished a poor third.

Manish recorded a double making every post a winning on on the Prithviraj schooled Birchwood in the upper division of the Leading Bookmaker Trophy run over a sprint. Prince Azeem again finished second ahead of Industrialist. The favourite Agnar from Pradeep’s yard met with severe interference a couple of furlongs after the start from which he could never recover and eventually finished in the ruck.

Brooklyn Supreme won the Champion Trainer Trophy in the hands of apprentice jockey Antony Raj. The winner from Azhar Ali’s yard who opened the favourite in the morning drifted out to (4/1) in the betting ring and that was one big reason why most of his supporters stayed out only to see their fancied horse flash past the post first. The topweighted Idealist who became the favourite in the big confusion tried hard but failed to match strides with the Azhar ward who returned home a deserving winner.