It proved to be a good day for the followers of form at Guindy, five firm favourites and a couple of well supported second choices coming through in the nine-event card framed for Saturday. The even-money favourite Shamrock maintained his winning streak, outclassing his three rivals in the Deepak Khaitan Memorial Guindy Gold Cup to the delight of the Narredu camp, who continue to stand tall at the podium in all the premier racing centres. The overwhelming public choice fresh from his two straight victories in the recently concluded Mysore season looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. So did Once You Go Black from James McKeoen's yard, while the talented Imperial Power from Patrick Quinn's yard, back after a nine-month lay-off looked a trifle gross at the paddock and the Mumbai hopeful Coeur De Lion, it was clear lacked the ability and fitness to make a mark in this company. 

A confident Suraj Narredu chose to track Coeur De Lion for most part of the mile long trip and the moment he alerted Shamrock at the top of the straight, the star performer zoomed past the leader and it was all over bar the shouting, the public choice bolting in by a widening margin of more than seven lengths. Once You Go Black hung on to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Imperial Power, who will benefit most from this exercise and will prove to be a different proposition next time out. Shamrock, it is needless to mention is in rousing form and it will pay to support this Satish Narredu trainee until he meets one better this winter. 

Trainer Suraj Shaw and leading pro Umesh combined well to win the first two races through the two top fancies, Opus One and Magical Wave. The former competing in the opening event, the upper division of the Kelso Handicap tracked the two early leaders, Shaas Comrade and Dazzling Princess before he stormed up to assume command at the top of the straight and then put the race quickly to bed in the final furlong. Wild Frank followed the winner home ahead of Turf Melody, while Bohemian Star completed the frame. 

Next in the lower division run over 1100M dash, Umesh pushed Magical Wave to the front the moment the big field of 11 runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip cantering home without really being extended. The topweighted Windsor Walk gained the runner-up berth, while surprise last start winner Sunny Isles fancied strongly in place did well to finish third. Magical Wave is on top of her game and is set to provide an encore. 

After the first two favourites justified their top ranking, the on-money favourite Gutsy from B Suresh's yard chalked out her fourth win in-a-row making every post a winning one in the upper division of the Shamardal Handicap run over a sprint. Brisson astride the public rage took the speedy customer to the front soon after the jump-off and quickly established a long lead of over five lengths and  that helped the Suresh ward peg back the fast finishing effort of the lesser fancied Swarga from Sebastian's yard, who went down by a `neck' after covering more than four lengths in the final furlong. Supreme Grandeur from Robert Foley's yard finished third ahead of Cartel, while Mon General from Ajith Kumar's yard opted out of the event. 

A facile last start winner, Gimmler from Anil Kumar's yard was backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals in the lower division of the event. And much to the relief of his supporters, the public rage piloted by leading pro Pradeep Chouhan stretched every sinew to edge out Sheer Rocks at the shadow of the winning post. Another last start winner Great Spirit from Deepesh Narredu's yard finished third ahead of Fiat Justitia, while Moriset after being favourably placed at the top of the straight lacked the gas to make a race of it and eventually finished in the ruck.

Slainte from James McKeown's yard and Glorious Grace from the stables of Sebastian topped the betting board in the Madras Race Club Trophy, the principal added attraction run over a distance of seven furlongs. But it was the `Doosra' from McKeown's yard, who came up tops, while the favourite Slainte finished second last in the nine-horse field. The eight to one shot Rubirosa in the hands of Neeraj Rawal made every post a winning one convincingly pegging back Glorious Grace, while The Awakening partnered by Yash Narredu saved money in place. Glorious Grace, it is clear will benefit most from this run under her belt and it will pay to support her again next time out.   

The Ramanathan-trained Cynosure piloted by Julien Moulin shocked the followers of form in the Sickle Handicap. The winner shot ahead at the distance post and then hung on gamely to score from the second in demand at the betting ring Lionel and the lesser fancied Grace from the stables of Vijay Singh. The topweighted Golden Warrior from Deepesh Narredu's yard, much to the disappointment of his large following failed to display his true potential and finished down the field. 

A smart last start winner Miss Allure brought the smile back on the face of Deepesh and Yash, coming up trumps in the Mr.Prospector Handicap run over a mile. Neziah from McKeown's yard on the strength of her two outstanding performances in Mysore, second behind the classic winner Tehani and the top performer Prana was considered a cinch. The on-money favourite while running second behind Prana had beaten the Mysore Derby winner Touch Of Grey and on the strength of that performance looked unbeatable in this set. But the McKeown ward performed below par and only managed to gain the runner-up berth by the shortest of margins from Perfect Blend, while Miss Allure readily provided an encore. Neziah performance is too bad to be true and calls for an explanation. 

In the concluding event, the Longchamp Handicap run over a mile, the Govindrajan schooled Royal Falcon was hammered down in the betting ring from (3/1) to (2/1) before late money came on the Anil Kumar-trained MSG Fantasy piloted by Hindu Singh. The topweighted gritty performer powerfully piloted by Hindu Singh to the delight of the Anil camp, who recorded a double, overhauled the leader Memory Lane close home, while Royal Falcon after raising hopes 200 metres from home failed to quicken at the all-important end and had to rest content with the third spot.