Ganapathy trained Ministrel Heights, for long used as a pace-maker, showed his sprinting abilities competently yet again in the 1200 metres H.B. Gundappa Gowda Memorial Cup that featured Saturday’s races. Ministrel Heights, who had distinguished himself by his ability to set a furious pace for his stablemates in classic races, showed that neither his speed nor his enthusiasm have been curbed by those stamina-sapping runs as he led the field from the start to stave off the challenge of Cannon Glow and record his second straight win of the season. During the last summer season, Ministrel Heights had been given an opportunity to win a race and he did so in style. Thereafter, he was confined to the job of a pace-maker and though his talents were being sacrificed for the classic pursuits of the stable, he had not lost heart by the hard campaign he had ever since. Though he was well placed in the scales, there were many skeptics who did not visualize him winning two races on the trot and as such, he was quoted at generous odds. Top-weighted Onnu Onnu Onnu who is not the same horse that he was six months ago, was quietly fancied to win. Imran Chisty took Ministrel Heights on a start to finish mission and the son of Placerville stayed there despite coming under strong pressure from Cannon Glow. Cannon Glow put up a dogged fight but Ministrel Heights was never in danger of being overhauled by his pursuer. Onnu Onnu Onnu finished on to take the third spot. Splendid Smith, who was proved to be a big let down, was never in the hunt. Ganapathy had a treble for the day, as he saddled Spectacular Blaze and Starring Role to easy wins. Spectacular Blaze proved too good for the field in the Kumararajah M.A.M. Muthiah Cup, a race run over 11 furlongs for horses rated 30 to 45. The only realistic challenger was stablemate Supreme Princess. Sunlight King and Grantown, who came in for sustained support in the ring, were lost causes well before the race was on the boil. Irfan Ghatala trained Lyricist hasn’t been seen in good mood to oblige the expectations of the public all these days. However, this time out, the daughter of Tejano was seen in different light, as she raced a handy second before assuming charge on turning for home in the Royal Tern Plate (Div.I) Favourite Power of Dreams who was poorly placed for most part of the trip, came up with a belated challenge but the supremacy of Lyricist was never in doubt. Starring Role, who had let down as a fancied runner last time out, donkey-licked the opposition, having the lower division of the Royal tern Plate well sewn up a long way from home against a disinterested opposition which conceded defeat without a fight. Sardar Singh trained Azraff was the medium of a gamble which failed to come through. Despite being assigned to jockey Ramesh who rarely rides a winner, Azraff was backed spiritedly but the hopes of his supporters quickly evaporated as he failed to get going in the straight. Heroine’s Beauty who led the charge from the start, held on comfortably to win from Forever Grande and Penny Tweedy. Dama Grande, who was expected to run prominently, seemed to have been drained out by her last essay. Place Her Well was fancied to win the 1100 metres Fire Haven Plate, a race for maiden three-year olds, but the favourite did not have the fire in her to justify the strong support she got. Give Der Slip gave a slip to everyone as he won at nourishing odds at the expense of Flavia and well fancied Matter of Opinion. Flavia’s forward run was suggestive. In the day’s other maidens’ race, run over seven furlongs, Jaggy Dhariwal trained Abraxas justified the confidence of the public in his abilities as he won quite competently from the start, staving off the challenge of Green Bax who flattered to deceive.