The winner of the Mumbai and the Bangalore Derby, Zuccarelli making his maiden appearance this season was touted a `moral certainty' in the Chief Justice's Cup, the plum event run over a distance of nine furlongs on Saturday. But the public rage only managed to beat stablemate Theon by the shortest of margins much to the relief of all the big bettors, who punted big on the Shroff ward. Trevor astride the on-money favourite was content to grace the wrong end of the field for most part of the trip before he guided Zuccarelli to smoothly move up and challenge the leader Theon at the distance post. The overwhelming public choice after gaining the advantage in the final furlong had to dig deep into his reserves to clinch the issue by the shortest of margins, Theon in the hands of Pradeep Chouhan in a never-say-die bid pushing the winner all the way to the post. Giant Star finished third while Chopin, another from Pesi's yard completing the frame.

After the success of Zuccarelli, another hot favourite, Fortunatus justified his top billing winning the Everynsky Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The Padmanabhan ward, who had twice failed to earn a winning bracket, to the delight of the followers of form cantered home in the hands of leading pro Sandesh.Second in demand at the betting ring, Queenstown chased the winner all through the trip and hung on to gain the runner-up spot ahead of Roman Emperor, who was seen finishing on fastest at end. This Prasanna Kumar youngster, who has twice finished third is likely to shed his maiden status when saddled next.

On the strength of his run-away victory in his last start, Divine Ray from Darius Byramji's yard was fancied most in the upper division of the Adler Plate. The Ganapathy schooled Own Legacy too garnered strong support, backed down from (13/4) to (9/4), but the `Jodi' to the delight of the bookmakers went out of the window, the moment the four kilo claimer Likith Appu got busy on In A Breeze, who produced a good gallop in the final furlong to peg back the effort of the favourite much to the chagrin of the railbirds. Own Legacy despite leading pro Trevor packing punch failed to match strides with the first two and had to rest content with the third spot.

In the concluding event, the upper division of the Xisca Plate, Mark One from M R Singh's yard on the strength of her second behind Alexis Zorba in her last start was fancied most, but the favourite after being favourably placed at the top of the straight lacked the gas in the tank to make a race of it and eventually failed to save money in place. The well backed Extraordinary from Sharath Kumar's yard, who had caught the eye while finishing third in his last essay produced a good turn of foot in the hands of Arvind Kumar to bring off a successful coup. Toronero finished second ahead of the topweighted Able One.
  
Earlier, the lower division of the Xisca Plate was claimed by the second in demand at the betting ring, Altamonte from trainer Inayathullah's yard. Backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals, Handsome Rocky from the stables of Narayan Gowda found the winner piloted by Darshan too hot to handle. Fierce Fighter finished third ahead of Jersey Legend who raced in patches and was never in the hunt.

The six to one shot Elusive Girl from young Azhar Ali's yard proved too good in the lower division of the Adler Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner confidently piloted by Arshad Alam stole a march at the top of the straight before powering through to score in style. Azhar after a satisfactory winter season is keeping it going this summer and all credit to the young pro who time and again keeps pulling out rabbits from the bag.

The Neil Darashah schooled Etosha was the top fancy in the V T Velu Memorial Plate, but the favourite burst his blood vessels before negotiating the final curve and Zervan had no option but to pull him out of the race. The lesser fancied Ashwa Yudhvir confidently piloted by Yash Narredu came out on top snuffing out the belated effort of Capable who continues to produce her best, while Grey Channel finished a creditable third. Prince Abir after his facile win in his last attempt was expected to run Etosha close but the `Prince' performed like a `Pauper' to the surprise of most followers of form including some of the old hats in the game who were shocked by the below par effort of the `Prince'.