The bay filly Gretsy started her career on a promising note when making a winning debut a year ago and went on to achieve a hat-trick within a span of two months that season. However, after that encouraging start, her next two runs caused heartburn for punters as she ended up as an expensive failure then. But the Donald Netto-schooled Gretsy rediscovered her winning touch on Sunday in the upper division of the Salar Jung Cup. Lesser fancied than only Adbhut, Gretsy lay third behind the favourite and Blissful who led the field towards the final turn where Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) made his move to collar the leaders. With about a furlong left for home, Gretsy gained the upper hand and took what appeared like a winning lead. But Adbhut and Blissful both made a renewed effort to catch Gretsy but Kuldeep packed enough punch in his riding to frustrate them. Gretsy (Gusto - Time Square) prevailed by a neck over Blissful with Adbhut finishing half-length behind.

Except for the first race, there were four other events the betting for which suggested that the outcome would be restricted to just two horses. In the day's curtain raiser, the piping-hot favourite Secret Saint, ridden by Suraj Narredu, travelled in the mid-bunch as Ashwa Yudhvir made the initial running with Mountain Touch in close attendance. Secret Saint (Multitide - Secret Garden) gained momentum gradually as Suraj brought him to the fore in the home stretch to challenge Mountain Touch, who took over the running from Ashwa Yudhvir. With little over a furlong in balance for the wire, Bharath Singh-saddled Secret Saint swooped down on Mountain Touch and sailed clear for his maiden win. Amigo rallied well in the straight to finish runner-up and had Mountain Touch and Desert Hero completing the judges' frame.

Akshay Kumar had three riding engagements, including Adbhut, in Monday's card of six events but, much to the chagrin of his admirers, found success eluding him in them all. Akshay was astride last-outing winner Lashka in the second division of the Salar Jung Cup but caught a tartar in Nucleus. Lashka took over the running from Divine Connection after travelling about two furlongs from the gates and, though coming under pressure initially from Shadow Fax, the filly seemed to be kicking on. However, lesser-known trainer Jasbir Singh-schooled Nucleus (Bated Breath - Blush's Gift) unleashed a brilliant run when asked for an effort by Mohit Singh and flew towards the end to pull off a silent coup. Nucleus humbled Lashka just when the winning post seemed to be within kissing distance. Divine Connection retained the third spot by a neck from Shadow Fax.

The chestnut filly Sugar was Akshay's next assignment but she proved no match for her equally or rather better fancied rival Get Lucky hailing from K. Satheesh's yards. Apprentice Ekram Alam-ridden Get Lucky was off to fluent start from the blocks and made every post of mile journey a winning one. Akshay brought Sugar into contention as the front-running no-hopers dropped back on entering the home stretch but ended up the disastrous day in futile chase of the unstoppable winner. Get Lucky (Sedgefield - Santamarija Festa) won easing up from Sugar with Crimson Rose and Exclusive Spark finishing faraway to be the third and fourth respectively.

Earlier in the day, Ekram had another easy picking aboard Oliver's Mount, who vanquished favourite Star Forever in the Fair Haven Plate. Oliver's Mount raced handy behind early leaders Burgundy Black and Sangreal till approaching the final turn where Ekram brought Leo D'Silva-groomed Oliver's Mount (Oiseau De Feu - Nefertari) from the wide outside and launched his assault. The bay colt showed tremendous acceleration and went breezing past Burgundy Black in a trice. Oliver's Mount hit the front with over a furlong and half from home and the race was all over bar the shouting. Favourite Star Forever raced in the rear all the way and warmed up to his task quite late and could do no better than finish a lackluster second. First Class came with a late run to finish in the money ahead of erstwhile leader Burgundy Black.

The four-year old filly Rochelle was running on demotion in the concluding race and was carrying the public purse in a set of rivals which appeared ordinary. But Rochelle herself was a big let down in the race as she never seemed to be in the hunt at any stage of the six-furlong trip. In contrast, If You Like It (formerly known as Shazia) showed positive intent when revealing her true potential. Backed confidently by her connections, K. Mukesh Kumar-steered and Magan Sing Parmar-saddled If You Like It (Basem - Whispering Hills) seized the initiative as soon as the starter's flag came down and left her rivals chasing her shadows till the post. Reining Queen and Bien Pensant raced well up with the pace but had to be content with the minor places. Rochelle cut a sorry figure as she raced hopelessly at the tail end before finishing fourth.