We mentioned in our earlier columns that the punters have lost out big in the Udhagamandalam season and there was no change and in fact it turned worse on Sunday, not a single favourite justifying the ranking and rating, while the outsiders waltzed to victory including the six to one shot Bharat, the winner of the second classic of the season, the Nilgiris 2000 Guineas run over a distance of seven furlongs on Sunday. The Bangalore raider, who disappointed most of his supporters while finishing more than 11 lengths behind the winner Tesorino in the Guindy Grand Prix bounced back to register his maiden classic success. And all credit to leading trainer Prasanna Kumar who trusted Bharat to come good at the Blue Mountains despite his lackadaisical effort at Guindy. Leading saddle artiste Umesh produced a neat effort judging the pace well before timing his final challenge to a nicety. King's Battalion, another long shot gained the runner-up berth ahead of the lesser fancied Knotty One from Ramanathan's yard, while the hot favourite Il Volo in his attempt to make every post a winning one, lacked the gas in the tank to keep going and eventually finished a poor fifth. Bharat on the strength of this performance will be a frontliner for the blue riband of the season, the Nilgiris Derby scheduled next month taking into account that the mile ;long Derby trip is wellwithin the compass of the Bangalore raider.

On a day when punters were floored and returned home with multiple holes in their pockets, rank outsider Golden Marina from Ramanathan's yard  dropped the biggest bombshell coming up tops in the Stewards Cup. The 30 to one long shot partnered by Surya Prakash had no takers even at the fancy price and this event proved to be a clean sheet for the bookmakers. Knotty Dancer and Something Royal topped the betting board. The former after raising hopes at the top of the straight hung on gamely before going down close home, while Knotty Dancer  found the going too hot to handle and had to rest content with the third spot. Something Royal who recorded a classic double last year is back at her best at her favourite track and it will pay to support her next time out. 

A facile last start winner, Multicrown was rightly fancied to record his second straight success in the Mystical Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs, but the Suresh ward failed to reproduce his winning effort and shockingly failed to even save money in place. Lesser fancied Suryakrishi from McKeown's yard piloted by Umesh gained the runner-up bertrh ahead of High Tribute, who is certain to make his presence felt and enter the winners' circle if his connections choose to race him over sprints. The seven to one shot Swarga piloted by the promising Inayat gained the day and is likely to add to this win in the weeks ahead. 

The Vijay Singh-trained Sweet Legacy garnered maximum support in the concluding event, the Star Supreme Handicap run over a sprint, but all she did was take good money down the drain finishing down the field much to the disappointment of her supporters who had invested big on the Vijay Singh ward to come good on the classic day. The Fahad Khan schooled Raffinato produced a sparkling gallop in the hands of Umesh to come out on top. Raffinato's success brought the smile back on the face of  the sporting owner and former trainer Dhruv Futnani  after Still I Rise's below par effort in the Stewards Cup. Aquila finished second ahead of Presto Power who is likely to get into the winners' circle in the weeks ahead. 

After finishing a good second behind stablemate Light The World, Lavish Girl from Vijay Singh's yard competing in the Smart Chieftan Plate was fancied most but the public rage partnered by Vikram met a tartar in Royal Defender from Sebastian's yard who outwitted his five rivals to romp home in emphatic fashion. Dramatic surprisingly finished third ahead of  the second in demand at the betting ring Straordinario who raced in patches and deserves another chance. 

Dark shot Ocean Love from Ajith Kumar's yard stunned the followers of form in the opening event, the Pykara Handicap making every post a winning one in the hands of Sai Kumar, gallantly pegging back the public choice Black Label. The 20 to one shot after gaining control approaching the final curve kept going and it was clear a furlong from home that  favourite wouldl bite the dust  and it will again prove to be a dreadful day for the railbirds at the Blue Mountains.