Incredulous (Green Coast – Coppelia) has shown a good initial thrust on most occasions, but has not been able to convert many such good starts into successful ones due to being single paced. She has squandered away her chances several times after enjoying a handy lead in the homestretch and then giving it away at the business end. This time it was an exception! Jockey Kuldeep Singh showed resolve and determination as did Incredulous, to hold on albeit by a very narrow margin.

The D Netto trained mare got off to a quick start as usual and had Sporting Smile and Xfinity close behind. The rest of the runners were huddled closely and not too far away from the action.

Incredulous entered the straight with a useful two-length lead. Xfinity could not muster well enough and was not going anywhere. Maxwell moved up from the outside having to cover about three lengths to get to Incredulous. Tote favourite Days of Reckoning was out of the reckoning far too early; Her Legacy was ridden hard to get to the front runners, but she was taking time to find her rhythm. Mystery too was never prominent and ended in the rut. Out in front, Incredulous had that two-length break and with just 100m more to go, she looked safe. Maxwell unleashed a sudden burst of speed that nearly paid off; however, the winning post came a stride too soon for the runner-up. Incredulous tipped the wire just in time to win by a head from Maxwell. Her Legacy progressed way too late, but managed to pip Xfinity for the place money.

Maximum Glamour (Smugglers Cove – Tejaswani) dished an impeccable performance to gain a second win this season, this one a lot more fashionable than the first. The on-money favourite dominated the homestretch showing a clean pair of heels to run away from her rivals to win by a huge margin of over six lengths.

Thunder Road was off to a quick start but was joined by Maximum Glamour as quickly and the two were joint leaders until they turned for home. While jockey Akshay Kumar astride Maximum Glamour was up and ready to assume command, River Song, touted as the main rival to Maximum Glamour, was already off the bridle even before the turn. Akshay Kumar handed his mount a couple of cracks and the Netto trained filly bounded forward to leave the rest far behind. She looked the winner long way from home, all alone in the final furlong and dashing away towards the winning post unopposed. She won pulling up. Star Dancer gained in the homestretch and beat River Song for the runner-up berth.

Srinivas Reddy’s Burano (Air Support – Belladee) kept her date with victory after finding one better in her two previous runs. Jockey Ashhad Asbar pushed Burano to the front at the start and stayed ahead all the way. They entered the straight with a handy lead with NRI Sport close behind. Total Darc could not keep up and soon fell back. Burano meanwhile, was travelling nicely and well in hand. She spurted further away and picked up her maiden victory with ease. Thanks improved positions in the straight and ended second without giving any scare to the winner. NRI Sport ran on to finish third ahead of Able Love.

Sequeira trained Bold Bidding (Win Legend – Bold Reply) also notched up her maiden win in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar, rushing in from the wide outside. Furious Fun tried the runaway tactics as she was forcefully ridden to the front soon after the jump. She had a handy lead at the turn with Joy O Joy about two lengths behind. Into the straight, Furious Fun galloped on standing up to the challenge posted by Joy O Joy. Inside Story arrived with a big run and joined the fight. Inside the final furlong, while these three were engaged in a battle, Bold Bidding picked up speed and arrived with a sizzling finish. She got past them all to hit the wire, winning by just about a length. Bandit King too finished on with a good burst to snatch the second place from Inside Story. Joy O Joy finished fourth.

Deshmukh trained Forever Bond (Sedgefield – Friendly) justified the support she received and produced an electrifying finishing run to swoop down on the front runners in the final 100 meters. Art In Motion and Winning Player were up in front as they turned for home, with NRI Gift and Bedazzled shaping up for the final showdown. Sun Dancer took the turn wide but was making headway soon on entering the straight. Jockey Trevor astride Forever Bond had to find his way as he had horses all across him right in front. Trevor pulled Forever Bond to the outside and made his run from closer to the stands. Meanwhile, NRI Gift was slightly ahead of Bedazzled and Sun Dancer lurking on them. Forever Bond started to eat up ground briskly in the final 150 meters and flashed past them all to score an emphatic victory by one and half lengths. Bedazzled did well to pip NRI Gift on the post to snatch away the runner-up berth. Sun Dancer completed the frame.

Green Turf (Green Coast – Methodical) showed off her top form to score an encore with ease. She was up in front chasing leader Gusty Note into the straight and had Rapid Fire close behind. Jockey Gaurav Singh was ready to go for it soon on turning for home and surged past the leader to storm ahead to take charge. Once in the lead, Green Turf accelerated further away from her rivals and shut them out completely as early as a furlong more to go. The Shashikanth trainee dominated the final furlong to win by more than four lengths without being extended. Rapid Fire held on from Red Snaper and Explosive for the minor slots.

Long-shot Sublime (Excellent Art – Final Refrain) from Laxman Singh’s stables, set off in the straight to win the Kunigal Plate Div I handsomely. Sublime, ridden by Ajit Singh, followed Loch Stella into the straight and dashed past the leader to take charge soon after. The six-year-old mare spurted well to stay clear of the runners and sustained her momentum all the home. The fight was on only for the minor placing as Angel Tesoro, late finishing Sacred Lamp and Four One Four finished abreast in that order with very little separating them.

K Satheesh trained Ic Berry and Prasad Raju trained Sheldon (Royal Gladiator – Escalating) scripted the second dead-heat for the season in a gripping finish. That’s My Speed got past early leader Elmira soon on turning for home. Lorena crept up behind the new leader with Ice Berry inching closer to these  two. Sheldon was still way behind, moving outward for a clear run. Approaching the distance post, Ice Berry caught up with That’s My Speed and Lorena and as this trio ws battling it out, Sheldon started to warm up on the wider outside. Ice Berry, with Bopanna astride, kicked away from her two rivals when jockey Naresh got Sheldon going at a fast clip. They had a leeway of about two lengths to cover, but they were also the fastest moving of the lot in the final fifty.  Ice Berry and Sheldon flashed past the post locked together, not even the eye of the camera could separate them. The dead-heat was a just result with both camps sharing the spoils. That’s My Speed held on to finish third ahead of Lorena.

For the professionals, trainer D Netto and jockey Akshay Kumar scored a double each.