Followers of favourites had a tough day out with the prime fancies tumbling all through the day. With no-hoper Star Ranking winning the last race of the day, beating hot favourite Despacito, handing out a whopping dividend over 60/1, the Jackpot and Mini-Jackpot pools were both carried forward with no successful punter emerging. 

Gods Plan (Leitir Mor – Stravella) claimed his second victory on the trot with a fine showing beating his rivals by a comfortable margin to win the upper Division of the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy. Taking off at a good clip, Gods Plan hit the front and jockey Sai Kumar settled him well at a good rhythm. On turning for home, Gods Plan had a sizable lead and he cruised ahead, leaving the rest to catch up. None could and the Ramanathan trained gelding sailed away to score without encountering any challenge. Oscars Thunder improved over the rest and managed to cut the margin to two and half lengths, while Chief of Command moved up well to finish in the money.

The lower division of the race saw a dramatic jostle in the straight with ace jockey Akshay Kumar astride favourite Star Waves taking a fall. Star Waves led the field into the straight with Butterfly in tow, the others were a few lengths behind but catching up with the duo. Butterfly surged past Star Waves, while Pretty Gal was making a dash towards the fighting pair. Catelyn moved up along the rails and Octavian was looking for room between horses. 

Butterfly was ridden hard by jockey Ansari to stay in the lead, when Nikhil Naidu atop Octavian tried to squeeze between horses. In doing so he cut across Star Waves who had nowhere to sway out as Catelyn was towards his inside. There was a jostle and Akshay suffered a fall. Fortunately, Akshay escaped unhurt. Octavian weaved his way up and also shot past Butterfly to hit the wire first, however, the stewards held an enquiry and ruled to disqualify Octavian thereby awarding the race to Butterfly. Royal Gal was placed second and Catelyn third. 

Air Marshall (David Livingstone – Shivalik Shine) had a grand debut, coming from a long way back to trounce favourite Glorious Symphony and the rest. Bay of Naples led them into the straight with Glorious Symphony in hot pursuit. These two were a good five lengths in front of the others. Glorious Symphony accelerated past the leader and shaped well approaching the final furlong. Air Marshall, with Umesh in the saddle, picked up serious speed past the distance post and arrived with a dazzling burst of speed to collar the favourite with less than 100m to go. The B Suresh trainee tore away to win by one and quarter lengths and bagged the Mysore Race Club Cup on his first outing. Glorious Symphony ended a dazed second, while Valeska improved positions to finish third. 

Ms Rupa trained Turf Beauty (Net Whizz – Lorien Hill)  showed great determination and jockey Nakhat Singh gave it his all in ensuring a memorable maiden victory to the filly.  Victory Walk led them into the straight with Mighty Princess in chase and Turf Beauty improving all the time. Attica, who was right with them, fell back alarmingly at the turn and bowed out of contention. 

Victory Walk could not hold fort for too long and surrendered the lead to Turf Beauty with a furlong and half to go. Mighty Princess too could not sustain as Swiss Agatta and Majestic Wind got past easily. This pair tried hard to catch Turf Beauty, but the filly thwarted off the challengers and scored by just over two lengths. Swiss Agatta nudged Majestic Wind to third.  

Carnoustie (Top Class – Lucy in the Sky) was another one to taste her maiden victory on her eleventh attempt. She proved too good for her rivals as she dashed ahead in the final furlong to sail away to a mammoth victory by close to six lengths. 

Lord of the Turf led them into the straight and no sooner they straightened up, Carnoustie spread her wings and flew past the front runners to stretch away to her glorious first win. Tote favourite Glorious Sunlight just could not match up to the winner ending a tame second. Supreme Excelsior improved in the final few strides to take the third spot ahead of Sanctuary Cove. 

Trainer Parmar’s seven year old Pinewood (Express Wish – Confiserie) pulled off a facile start to finish victory in the hands of jockey DS Deora. After leading them in, Pine wood darted further ahead to work up a sizable lead and kicked on gamely thereafter to outpace Palsy Walsy and company to romp home a clear winner. Full Bloom and Arithmetica improved to take the second and third spots. 

Thomas Hardy (Poet’s Voice – Mesmerized) scored a thumping victory for trainer Ramanathan in the hands of jockey Sai Kumar. Emerging from the front bunch, Thomas Hardy took charge early in the straight and bounded out in front working up a hot pace. Magical Wish tried hard to catch up and moved to second, but found the winner too good. Thomas Hardy galloped away to pick up an easy win scoring comfortably by two and half lengths. Magical Wish ended second well clear of the rest with Excellent Phoenix a faraway third. 

Star Ranking (Charmo – Advantage Logan) raced close behind on-money favourite Despacito as they turned for home. For the early half of the straight, Despacito was shaping well, but in the last 100 meters, Despacito looked vulnerable as Star Ranking picked up good speed and was bridging the gap briskly. Star Ranking, ridden by Ajeet Kumar, picked up speed and shot past Despacito in the last couple of strides to carve out a narrow ¾ L victory, this one coming after more than two and half years for the Futnani trained mare. Texas Rose  too ran well to take the third place, half a length behind Despacito. 

For the professionals, trainers Futnani and Ramanathan saddled a double each, while jockeys DS Deora and P Sai Kumar scored a double each as well.