From the punters point of view, it was not a good day. A number of well supported favourites chose to take a back seat and as a result the followers of form lost big on the eve of the Nilgiris Derby. The well supported Ruling Star set the trend, the Deepesh Narredu ward failing to justify the top billing in the opening event, the Alpinista Plate run over a distance of 1300 metres. The top fancy piloted by leading pro Sai Kumar raced in patches and to the disappointment of his supporters failed to save even money in place. The five to one shot Starkova from James McKeown's stable made a smashing debut outclassing her nine rivals in the hands of the top gun Umesh and on the strength of this facile victory is certain to provide an encore. Cloudy Hills gained the runner-up berth, while Gimmler despite looking a trifle gross at the paddock parade finished a suggestive third ahead of the public choice Ruling Star. 

Next it was Nagada from trainer Ramanathan's yard, who took a good lot of money down the drain. The public choice in the Delhi Race Club Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs failed to gain a favourable position early in the race and half-way home it was clear that the favourite was not in the hunt, Nagada gracing the wrong end of the field, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Symphony In Style from Uthaiah's yard had assumed command in the hands of Kaviraj at the top of the straight. Next the Uthaiah ward travelling nice and easy quickly put the race to bed. Lady Zeen followed the winner home ahead of Glorious Victory, while the favourite only managed to complete the frame. 

 After the first two public choices bit the dust, the well-backed Andorra helped punters land a punch in the betting ring. The winner making her maiden appearance this season looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before she boldly hit the front and made every post a winning one in the Star Supreme Handicap. Kaviraj astride the James McKeown ward stretched every sinew in the final furlong to keep Andorra going and the good looking filly gallantly held on to score from Royal Baron. A last start winner, Swarga who opened the favourite was freely offered at (5/1) in the end and that was indication enough for the knowledgeable punters to jump to the fancied boat and hit the shore with sacks full of pink currency. 

A facile last start winner, Supreme Dance from the stables of Sebastian produced another heartwarming effort to come up tops in the Royal Western India Turf Club Trophy, the plum event. Sai Kumar who had blotted his book while partnering Swarga, packed punch on the top weight to help the in-form game galloper record his second straight success, again proving too good to  Albinus who despite the handicap advantage after his last head-to-head clash against the Sebastian again found Supreme Dance too hot to handle. Advantageously placed in at the scales, Grandiose finished third behind Albinus, while Windermere from Adhirajsingh Jodha's yard after his eye-catching effort, going down by the shortest of margins to Glorious Grace in his last essay failed to display his true potential for more reasons than one. 

The ten to one shot Jack Richer, who had pulled off a successful coup in his last start shocked the followers of form producing a stellar effort in the higher class. The Uthaiah trainee partnered by Ayaz Khan in what was a very open affair produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to edge out the Suresh-trained Windsor Walk at the shadow of the winning post. The runner-up partnered by Umesh had established more than five lengths advantage negotiating the final curve, but in a never-say-die effort Ayaz surely and steadily closed the gap and to the delight of his supporters gained the day in the last couple of strides. Glorious Evensong was fancied most in place and he in the hands of Brisson did well to provide cheer to his supporters, finishing third ahead of the favourite Mastery. 

Sweetly fancied by her connections, Danny's Girl from Parmar's yard won the upper division of the Mishriff Handicap run over a sprint. More than four horses in the ten-horse field were fancied in the event, Atenborough, MS Boss, Current View, Excellent Star and Danny's Girl making the fancied list in what really looked like a lottery. And it was Danny's Girl who at end struck the pot of gold. Excellent Star was seen finishing on fastest at end to gain the runner-up berth and this Krishna trainee will fill your pockets next time out. The lower division of the event produced a shock result, the ten to one long shot Glorious Legend from Fahad Khan's yard bolting in comfortably to help the promising apprentice Inayat post his maiden success this season at the Blue Mountains. The Jodha schooled Listen To Me was strongly fancied to score but after calling the shots for most part of the sprint trip, the favourite went phut like a pricked balloon and eventually finished in the ruck.