After  a long time, trainer Aravind Ganapathy got the monkey of his back and  that will give the youngster the desired confidence going into the new year. It is no secret that Aravind, however, hard he tried was struggling to post a win in his name and after a couple of close calls again this season wanted to badly break the ice and when the lesser fancied Shivalik Mirror `nosed' out the topweighted Unique Style in the lower division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate, the smile was back on the face of Aravind. Now that he had broken ice, Aravind reckoned that this could be his day and it proved right for the younger son of the former champion trainer S Ganapathy. Aravind  recorded a double, the well backed Faith Of Success justifying favouritism in the Big Brown Plate.

In a chat over a cup of tea on Wednesday evening, Aravind disclosed that Faith Of Success on the strength of his impressive third behind Antibes looked outstanding in the field of seven going over a nine furlongs trip. The youngster made no secret of his opinion that leading pro Neeraj Rawal  would have it a lot easier against these half-dozen rivals and all that he needed was a little rub of the green. Well Neeraj produced a copybook effort after he packed punch on Shivalik Mirror to gain the day and with luck favouring Aravind on this day, Faith Of Success brought the belief and faith back into the mindset and Aravind to say the least was on top of the moon after many many moons.
Mark One from Prithviraj's yard was fancied most in the lower division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate run over a sprint. The topweighted Unique Style from Lokanath Gowda's yard, who went down fighting to Morganite in his last effort had his fair share of followers and so did Shivalik Mirror quoted at (7/2), while Mark One was on top of the betting board at (2/1).  The favourite after raising hopes at the distance post failed to make a race of it and at this juncture Shivalik Mirror powerfully piloted by Neeraj Rawal and Unique Style driven hard by Darshan stormed ahead and flashed past the post locked together before the `magic eye' as luck would have it nodded in favour of Shivalik Mirror and Neeraj and Aravind was delighted.  Unique Style was again unlucky, but it will pay to follow this Lokanath ward again next time out simply because  it is very likely that it will prove to be third time lucky for Unique Style. Mega Success from Inayathullah's yard was fancied most in place and he justified the confidence of his supporters finishing a creditable third ahead of Clever Hans.

Mystic Mountain from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard and the Aravind Ganapathy schooled Faith Of Success were fancied most in the Big Brown Plate. The former who had caught the eye while finishing behind the 1000 Guineas winner Eternal Blaze in his last effort performed below par, while Faith Of Success produced her best to help Aravind register a fine double. Pink Jasmine, stablemate of the more fancied Mystic Mountain gained the runner-up spot ahead of Sacrament .

The promising apprentice Shreyas Singh shared the riding honours with Neeraj Rawal booting home the seven to one shot Nostradamus in the opening event and the Arjun Manglorkar schooled firm favourite, De Villiers in the upper division of the Sardar Sarovar Plate run over a sprint. The latter on the strength of his satisfactory effort behind Obsidian in his last essay over a distance of seven furlongs proved too good for his 10 rivals over a sprint, cantering home without unduly being extended. Luterbrunnen finished second ahead of the debut winner Promise Kept,  who is certain to make a favourable impression over a longer trip.

After a couple of lackadaisical efforts, Nostradamus from Dheeraj's yard produced his best in the hands of Shreyas to romp home a convincing winner in the lower division of the Chambal Plate run over a sprint. The topweighted Aerospeed from Inayathullah's yard was fancied most  but all that the public choice did was take a lot of good money down the drain. Light Of Love from Faraz Arshad's yard gained the runner-up berth ahead of Altair and is one for the notebook. The upper division of the event too was claimed by the eight to one shot Ozark in the hands of apprentice Rozario edging out the heavily backed Birchwood, another fancied contestant from Inayathullah's yard, who bit the dust. In his attempt to make every post a winning one astride Birchwood, apprentice jockey Nazar Alam pushed the favourite to the front soon after the field of dozen runners came under the starter's flag and held the advantage right till the last 100 metres before Ozark, who tracked the leader all the way through the six furlongs trip quickened well to gain the day at the all-important end. Country's Jewel finished third ahead of Raw Gold while the topweighted Ultimate Striker was ineptly handled by another apprentice Saqlain.

As expected the talented Knight In Hooves from trainer Rajesh Narredu's yard  confidently piloted by in-form pro Suraj proved too hot to handle in the Altenburg Trophy run over a sprint. The on-money favourite tracked arch rival and hat-trick seeker Sovereign Orb for most part of the trip before Suraj setalight his younger brother Rajesh's ward at the top of the straight and Knight In Hooves readily responding to his master's call sped through to put the issue beyond doubt 200 metres from home. Sovereign Orb barely hung on to finish second ahead of Caracas, while Whizzo was seen finishing on purposefully at end close to the outer sand track to complete the frame.

The upper division of the Kodagu Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs saw the Neil Darashah schooled Drusilla record a shock victory, romping home in the hands of Ahsan Qureshi. The well supported favourite from Lokanath's yard Striking Memory failed to produce a winning gallop and had to rest content with the third spot behind Twinkle Feet. Drusilla appears in good nick and is set to provide an encore. The lower division of the event saw the public choice Ombudsman snuff out the challenge of lesser fancied Silverita close home to the delight of the followers of form. Hope Island from Arjun Manglorkar's yard, who was quietly fancied by the Arjun camp finished a game third and is certain to make amends when saddled next.