Finally Velocidad earned his cornbill after failing to justify favouritism thrice from his last four starts. The Pradeep Annaiah ward was head and shoulders above his four rivals in the Justice P Medapa Memorial Trophy run over a distance of 2400M and yet the bookmakers offered (95/100) knowing that he had failed to deliver when fancied most in his last couple of starts. This time out the on-money favourite after gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the gruelling journey produced a sparkling gallop much to the relief of the Aggarwal brothers to romp home in style. Order Order finished second ahead of his more fancied stablemate and last start winner Cavarozzi while the topweighted Don’t Trust Anyone beat the only other runner in the fray, Imitation Game.

On the strength of his impressive showing in his last essay, third behind the winner Areca Angel and runner-up Sakura and that he had earlier beaten his arch rival Rafa comfortably, Star Of Thea garnered the maximum support in the Smt.Maliniraje Prasad Memorial Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. But much to the chagrin of his supporters, the public choice piloted by apprentice jockey Chetan Gowda found Rafa in a mood to settle score and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. Sea Lagoon did well to take the third spot ahead of Top Striker and it will not be long before this Prashanth ward enters the winning circle this season.

The Margrove Estate Trophy split into two divisions saw public rage Kerazano prove too good in the upper division while the lesser fancied Super Success reigned supreme in the lower division. Kerazano from Padmanabhan’s yard was considered a `cinch’ after the bred in the purple colt had served notice of his potential in his last essay in the Bangalore summer season. John astride the winner didn’t need to move a muscle as the half-money favourite donkey-licked his eight rivals. Kerazano is on top of his game and is set to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next. Star Cracker finished second ahead of Piper Regina while Deimus filled the frame.

John after booting home Kerazano in the upper division was at his best, powerfully driving home Super Success to the delight of trainer Dheeraj. The winner spoilt Arak’s party, the Tejaswi trainee was a medium of a king-sized gamble backed down to fives after the bookies quoted at the start. Arak’s supporters in fact were ready to jump up in joy, the runner-up in the hands of Shivnath Paswan looked good to score in tbe final 100 metres before Super Success stormed up to gain the day in a close finish. The favourite Attorney General only managed to save place money.

Earlier, Fantastic App from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard proved too good in the lower division of the Meerut Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Pradeep astride the winner produced a copybook effort. Barog from Sharath Kumar’s yard who ended up the favourite finished second ahead of the vastly improved and ready to strike Ash Winder.

The lower division of the event was claimed by Azhar Ali-trained Reverberating who opened favourite at the start (9/4) before drifting out and closing (9/2), double the price. This did not dampen the spirits of his supporters who continued to pin their hopes on the Azhar Ali ward and Reverberating provided all from the Azhar Ali camp a reason to smile while helping jockey Shoban Babu register his maiden success this season. Azeemki Princess, who was fancied most at end and in fact closed firm favourite finished second ahead of Star Binder, while Senator finished on to grab the only other place in the frame.

The speedy Dare The Don was the top fancy in the concluding event, the Lalithmahal Plate run over 1100M and the Vishal ward in the hands of Santosh easily made every post a winning one. The winner on the strength of this effort appears set to provide an encore even in a higher set. Spiritual Queen who too had her fair share of supporters found Dare The Don too hot to handle and had to remain pleased with the runner-up berth.