On a day most favourites chose to take a back seat much to the disappointment of the followers of form, facile last start winner Hope And Glory from Dhruv Futnani's yard, piloted in copy book fashion by Amit produced another fine effort to record his second straight success, winning the Madras Race Club Trophy run over a sprint. The Robert Foley schooled Mzilikazi garnered inspired support in the betting ring and the topweighted Historian from the stables of Ramesh too had his share of followers. The winner ignored in the betting ring was freely offered at (12/1)and the in-form game galloper in the dash to the wire edged out the lesser fancied Alexander Dumas, while the public choice Mzilikai raced in patches and eventually finished in the ruck.

After the loss of Mzilikazi, Sasakwa, was one other from Robert Foley's yard who took a lot of good money down the drain, failing to display her true potential in the upper division of the New Castle Handicap run over a sprint. The public choice who had failed to justify favouritism in her earlier effort again performed like a dud and it will do the punters a world of good if they decide to ignore Sasakwa until she regains the spark and willingness to enter the winners' circle. The Ramanathan-trained Angel Heart, strongly fancied by most big bettors, confidently piloted by Yash Narredu gained the day edging out the advantageously placed in at the scales, Katahdin while Renegade did well to take the third spot ahead of Fun Storm.

Yash again produced a copybook effort on the second in demand at the betting ring, Lordship from B Suresh's yard to come up trumps in the lower division of the event. The topweighted Beejay from Anirudhsingh Jodha's yard was fancied most, but after seizing the initiative at the distance post, the public choice piloted by Kaviraj, who for more reasons than one failed to pack punch on the public choice in the final 100 metres, lost out to the second in demand at the betting ring, Lordship much to the delight of he Suresh camp, who in fact had given up hopes after the favourite Beejay had assumed command in the final furlong. Pacific surprised most finishing third ahead of Rhiannon who looked a trifle gross at the paddock.

After the four favourites, Illustrious Ruler, Royal Treasure, Night Jar and Mzilikazi bit the dust from Robert Foley's yard, the ten to one long shot First Empress piloted by five-kilo claimer Farid Ansari came up trumps in the concluding event, the Lingfield Handicap much to the chagrin of the followers of form. The winner in his pillar to post effort pegged back the belated bid of the topweighted Diamond And Pearls, while the heavily fancied Constant Variable only managed to finish third. Apprentice jockey M S Deora astride the favourite looked set to breeze past the winner at the distance post before the saddle shifted out and this cost Constant Variable dear.

Earlier Adhirajsingh Jodha recorded a fine hat-trick leading in the first three winners. The eight to one shot Golden Strike partnered by Shrikant Kamble won the opening event, the Gulfstream Handicap in convincing style from Conscious Keeper, while the favourite Illustrious Ruler looking to record his second straight success failed to match strides with the first two and had to rest content with the third spot.

Spurred by the success, the Jodha camp fancied Angel Light strongly against the other fancied contestant Royal Treasure in the lower division of the Monmouth Park Handicap and the `Angel' bolted in to the delight of her supporters who had punted big, confident that the judiciously prepared filly will power home and Angel Light did just that. Royal Treasure gained the runner-up berth ahead of Turf Beauty, while The Intimidator completed the frame.

Sabatini, another well fancied contestant from Adhiraj's yard proved too good in the upper division of the event. The winner piloted by Kaviraj looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before cruising home in emphatic fashion. Lakshanam, who finished second in her last effort again found one better and it will pay to follow this Sebastian ward in her next essay considering the fact that it would prove to be third time lucky for Lakshanam.

The lesser fancied Berrettini from Suresh's yard who recorded a double, after finishing a game second behind the talented Andorra in his last effort went one better in the Elusive Pimpernel Plate run over a sprint. The winner piloted by Gaurav Singh took charge the moment the race came on a boil and quickly put the race to bed in the final furlong. The favourite Nightjar despite her pilot Saikumar producing his best found Berrettini too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth.