Cavallini on the strength of his stunning last start victory was strongly fancied to score in the Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy, the plum event on Saturday. Most big bettors and all the followers of form punted big on the Irfaan Ghatala ward despite the fact that Cavallini fails to break level from the gates and as a result needs to cover a lot of ground in the straight. He again jumped out last and graced the wrong end of the field for most part of the sprint trip before the leading pro Akshay Kumar, who had partnered him in his last essay packed punch the moment the 11 runners, barring Ice Floe, who bolted from the starting gates after unseating Trevor Patel and hence was withdrawn, entered the straight and the favourite readily produced a sparkling gallop to peg back Glenary and romp home a deserving winner. Regal Music did well to save money in place while Harmonia filled the frame. Cavallini, it must be mentioned is in rousing form and is set to complete a hat-trick of wins if his connections choose to again saddle him before the curtains are drawn this winter.

Irfan earlier led in the lesser fancied Donna Bella who came up trumps in the principal added attraction, the Byerley Turk Trophy run over a sprint. In what was a very open affair, Kimera from Pradeep Annaiah’s yard topped the betting board, but the favourite flopped badly in his attempt to win from the word go and eventually failed to finish in the frame. Donna Bella confidently piloted by top gun Srinath assumed command at the distance post and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. The topweighted Asgardia piloted by apprentice jockey Shreyas Singh gained the runner-up berth ahead of Ultimate Speed while Benediction finished fourth.

Shreyas Singh had earlier registered his maiden victory astride the M R Singh-trained Stone House who proved too good in the second division of the Bull Temple Plate. Profound despite making his maiden appearance as a four-year-old was fancied most, but the Darius Byramji ward failed to reproduce his track form and it was clear half-way home itself that the public choice would end up in the ruck. Ocean Dunes finished second ahead of Sir Jersey while Perfectgoldenera who had finished a game second in his last essay was never in the hunt.

The third division of the event saw the Pradeep Annaiah schooled Belli Deepa garner inspired support and many from the Pradeep camp were heard touting Belli Deepa as a good, sound bet, but all that the filly could do was raise hopes of her supporters till the final furlong before the second in demand at the betting ring, Copper Sunrise breezed past the favourite and sailed through to win in style. The Prasanna Kumar ward in her last essay was fancied against better rated rivals and it was clear that she needed that run. Now with a benefit of a good run under her belly Copper Sunrise produced her best to shed her maiden rank. Tiffany finished third ahead of Carmine who is struggling to make her presence felt in this 15-35 category.

The first division of the event was claimed by Michigan Melody from trainer Prithviraj’s yard. Apprentice Naveen Kumar partnered the winner with aplomb in this whipless race. The connections of Michigan Melody quietly fancied the winner and were bullish of her chances even though the insiders and right connections of Arathorn fancied the Sulaiman ward to make a winning debut. Arathorn like Profound never could get going and that made the task of Michigan Melody simple, Naveen guiding her to storm past her 11 rivals and register an emphatic win.

The owner of Michigan Melody, Satish G Kundapur had earlier struck it rich on Radiant Treasure from Azhar Ali’s yard. The winner fancied sweetly on the strength of his suggestive last essay was confidently piloted by Ashhad Asbar. Ashhad tracked the leader Celestial Highway for most part of the seven furlongs trip before he drove the Azhar ward to seize the initiative in the final furlong and romp home a deserving winner. Ultimate Striker gained the runner-up berth ahead of Apollo Bay. Three whipless races in a nine-event card drew a lot of flak from the railbirds and the knowledgeable who pointed out that this was a overkill.

Knight In Hooves from Rajesh Narredu’s yard appears a goodtype of youngster. The progeny of Excellent Art owned by Daulat Chhabria, a partner in the Chennai Derby winner Sir Supremo was seen travelling all through the six furlongs trip on his left leg, hanging in a trifle before he put his leading leg in front in the final 100 metres to make a smashing debut. A delighted Daulat led in the good `Knight’ who is certain to make a mark in the forthcoming summer season. Brunhild from the stables of Prasanna Kumar finished a game second and it will not be long before she sheds her maiden status. Divine Blessing from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard and the Parvati Byramji schooled Moonlight Sonata will benefit most from this maiden exercise and it will pay to follow the two in the weeks ahead or early in the summer season.

The Gateway Of India Plate run over a mile produced a thrilling finish, rankoutsider Green Channel and the fancied duo, High Priestess and Queen Regnant flashing past the post locked in a blanket finish before the `magic eye; nodded in favour of Green Channel who edged out the `Priestess’ by the shortest of margins while a `neck’ behind the runner-up was Queen Regnant. While Arul, a four-kilo claimer produced a percentage effort on the winner, Trevor, it appeared lost a race which he could have won on this day.