The thunder of hooves on the eve of the Wolf 777 Winter Derby provided a lyrical ring rather than the ominous tone. Most fancied contestants justified their top billing and that provided the followers of form a reason to smile. Five firm favourites and two well supported second choices kept their appointed podium date and the good word making rounds in the stands is that form will continue to play true on Republic Day. 

Top gun Akshay Kumar uncorked champagne recording a grand treble including his splendid effort astride the Arjun Manglorkar-trained August in the Winter Million for juveniles run over a sprint. The bred in the purple youngster from the famed Usha Stud Farm looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. So did Zuri making her debut and the impressive winner on debut Cat Whiskers from Aravind Ganapathy's yard. The three market leaders were involved in a pulse-pounding battle in the final furlong before Akshay riding like one possessed gained the day on August to the delight of the Arjun Manglorkar camp. Zuri nosed out Cat Whiskers to gain the runner-up berth, while Mystikos completed the frame. While Akshay produced a top draw effort on August, Trevor astride Cat Whiskers failed to set the cat among the pigeons and that cost the `Cat' dear at end. 

Earlier Akshay produced a power-packed finish to help the lesser fancied Roman Power edge out the on-money favourite Czarevitch in the second division of the Gateway Of India Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The public rage piloted by Trevor stole a march at the top of the straight and looked set to carry all the money bags home before Akshay setalight Roman Power and the Kishan Thomas ward produced an astounding gallop to emerge a deserving winner. Aquamatic finished a creditable third ahead of Princess Jasmine and is one for the notebook. 

In the first division, astride the overwhelming favourite Always Happy, Akshay produced another heartwarming effort to emerge the star performer. The winner on the strength of his impressive effort in his last essay, second behind Splendido, garnered the maximum support and readily produced his best to justify the confidence of his supporters. Adjustment from trainer Padmanabhan's yard piloted by Sandesh in his attempt to make every post a winning one called the shots all through the seven furlongs before Always Happy stormed up in the final furlong to maker Akshay and Prasanna Kumar happy. 

Second in demand at the betting ring, Mystical Merkabah produced a stunning gallop in the final furlong to win the third division from the ten to one shot Foi close home. The on-money favourite Arrowette again failed to display her true potential and finished a tame third much to the disappointment of her supporters who were of the view that this event would prove to be a walk in the park for the Sulaiman Attaollahi trainee.  

The promising Saqlain has a knack of getting into winners' circle. Fresh from his double at Mahalaxmi on Sunday, Saqlain guiding the fortunes of the lesser fancied Imperial Blue from Irfan Ghatala's yard in a never-say-die bid pegged back the Lokanath-trained All Attractive in the Commemoration Trophy, the plum event run over a mile. All Attractive rightly topped the betting board, his sublime effort behind Forest Flame in his last essay providing punters the confidence to punt big. The public choice approaching the distance post looked set to deliver the knock-out blow to the two leaders Moon's Blessing and Imperial Blue, but much to the dismay of his large following All Attractive failed to lower the sword and that provided a chance for Imperial Blue and Saqlain to escape to victory. Moon's Blessing held on to save money in place, edging out Kensington by the shortest of margins. 

The Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy produced the best finish, the favourite Star Glory from Satish Narredu's yard and Golden Guest from the stables of Parvati Byramji flashing past the post locked together. The judge after a long deliberation declared Star Glory, the winner to the delight of the favourite punters.  The photo-finish camera print clearly showed Star Glory and Golden Guest abreast, both touching the line. The two looked inseparable in the photo and a dead-heat would have been the right result. But the BTC judge, it appears has a third eye or carries a huge magnifying lens in his pocket, which only helped short-change the supporters of Golden Guest in this case. 

The Ganapathy schooled Stellar Gold was the most impressive winner in the nine-event card. Competing in the lowest class over a mile, the bred in the purple filly was backed to the exclusion of her 10 rivals in the Luni Plate and in the hands of a confident Darshan, the strongly fancied filly spared more than seven lengths to her nearest rival, Memorable Time partnered by Saqlain. Now that Stellar Role has broken ice, it will pay to again support her when saddled next. 

Fancied quietly and sweetly, Beldona from Sharath Kumar's yard came up tops in the opening event, the lower division of the National Tourism Day Plate run over a sprint, comfortably toppling the favourite Flamingo Road from Mohd Khan's yard. But after the first race debacle, the smile was back on the face of Mohd Khan, the moment Kings Speech flashed past the post first in the lower division. The connections of Kings Speech were confident that the six-year-old will triumph in the sprint after he let down his think-tank, who fancied him to come good in a mile long trip. They chose to go with a four-kilo claimer Tousif and the boy did well, staying calm while King Speech showed a clean pair of heels to his nine rivals including the fancied Panama who finished second last. A good second last time and second last this time defies logic and calls for an explanation.