Favourites continued to take a back seat again on the third day's races in Mysuru. Only two public choices, Marvel Princess and Brunhild justified their top billing in the seven-event card and the followers of form stunned by the results pointed out that only four favourites have nailed bold colours to the mast in the 20 races spread over the first three days. The fact that the strongly backed contestants including many on-money favourites have failed to display their true potential for more reasons than one calls for a strict vigil and it is time the stipes and stewards cracked the whip fearlessly on the habitual offenders before the racing buffs at this centre lose their confidence in the administrators of the game.

The Ranjeet Shinde schooled Miraculous Girl opened even-money favourite in the opening event, the Shivakashi Plate and soon was slammed down to (55/100). The fact that the Ranjeet ward was back after a six-month long layoff didn't bother her supporters, who were of the view that this 1100M dash will prove to be a walk in the park for the filly, who in her three earlier starts had consistently produced impressive efforts against higher rated rivals. Now that she was competing in the lowest class, her connections considered her a cinch and she was backed to the exclusion of her seven rivals. The public rage  to the disappointment of her supporters only managed to finish a tame third and the opening result stunned the punters, who had invested big on the topweight. Floored by the shocking loss of Miraculous Girl, most big bettors and a couple of old hats in the game pointed out that not all is well with the running of the fancied horses in the first three days this season and one needs to exercise caution while pinning his hopes on the favourites who are falling like nine pins. The Pratap Kamath-trained eight to one shot Star Speck reigned supreme in the opener edging out another longer priced runner-up D Fighter.

Another contestant, who was touted as a `moral certainty' but failed to deliver the goods was Parker from Joseph's yard. The half-money favourite who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring found another Pratap Kamath hopeful Imperius too hot to handle, the winner in the hands of Janardhan Paswan making every post a winning one in the lower division of the K T Shamaiah Gowda Memorial Trophy. John astride the miserly quoted favourite was in striking position all through the seven furlongs trip, but the top fancy was no match to the winner who cruised home, sparing six lengths to the overwhelming favourite, who had to rest content with the runner-up berth. D Durga finished third ahead of Think N Fly, who raced in patches and is certain to benefit most with this race under her belt.

The topweighted Notoriety on the strength of her satisfactory effort on the second day and the advantageously placed in at the scales, Flamingo Dancer from leading trainer Rakesh's yard garnered the maximum support in the concluding event, the Squanderer Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. But after Flamingo Dancer was withdrawn at the starting gates, the supporters of the Rakesh ward too quickly got into the Notoriety boat only to sink like Titanic. The lesser fancied Gallery Queen, a facile last start winner piloted in copybook fashion by leading pro Srinath came up tops pegging back What Is This, while D Brother edged out Tarek to claim the third spot. Notoriety after raising hopes at the top of the straight retired when the race came on a boil and this cost the followers of form dear.

Earlier, the ten to one long shot Jake stunned the railbirds coming up trumps in the H H Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy. The Rajesh Narredu schooled Priceless Gold piloted by elder brother Suraj Narredu was fancied most in the plum, but the favourite despite Suraj packing punch failed to raise a winning gallop and much to the chagrin of his supporters failed to make the board. The Kolkata hopeful Jake from Vijay Singh's yard, who graced the wrong end of the field for most part of the trip produced an astounding gallop in the `run in' home to collar the leader Chashni close and flash past the post first to the delight of a few fluke-seekers. The second in demand at the betting ring, All Attractive finished third ahead of the Chennai raider My Opinion, who found the seven furlongs trip too sharp for comfort.

The Poorna Chandra Tejaswi-trained Perfectimagination was another well fancied runner who bit the dust. The strongly fancied mare piloted by Sai Kiran failed to get a favourable position early on in the seven furlongs trip, Sai Kiran choosing to stay put in the mid-division before making his move in the straight. The moment Sai setalight the Tejaswi ward she responded gamely and looked set to breeze past the front runners but much to the disappointment of her large following she and her rider did nothing right in the final furlong and this allowed the second in demand at the betting ring, Niche Cannabis to romp home a convincing winner. Swiss Tigress did well to finish third ahead of Prince Corporate who appears to be slowly and surely coming into his own.

The (55/100) red hot favourite Brunhild from Joseph's yard and the G Srinivas schooled Marvel Princess were the only two favourites to oblige. The former powerfully piloted by Prashanth Dhebe managed to spare a `neck' to the five to one shot Wild Spell who in her effort to make every post a winning one in the hands of apprentice Darshan Antony went down fighting. Sadeek surprisingly finished third ahead of King T'chala while the topweighted Turf Legend and Rising Sun were never in the hunt. The winner despite stretching every sinew to score what at end proved to be a hard fought win should win again when next saddled taking into account that Brunhild will come on a lot after this exposure.