On a day when winner-picking looked rather difficult and betting trends vulnerable to treacherous turns, trainer Magan Singh Parmar hit the jackpot with three attractively priced winners including Silver Act, who claimed the day’s feature event. Anticipating that she would improve on her previous performance in finishing a close second behind Indian Sniper, K. Satheesh-trained Toffee received maximum support from the punters in the betting ring. But wishes are not horses and so was the case with Toffee. The four-year old filly, whose best performance has come when she races up in the front, failed to get that prominent position and was never in the hunt thereafter. It was the Bangalore migrant Fortunatus who seized control of the running from Proud Mary after the field took the first turn and stayed put till they were about to enter the home stretch. With Fortunatus packing up, Sacred Bond, who had taken a level jump from the barrier, soon took charge of the running with Proud Mary in tow. B. Nikhil-piloted Silver Act, who was biding his time in the rear till the bend, got his positive act together on this occasion and lunged towards the pair ahead. Silver Act shifted in under pressure and very nearly collided with Proud Mary but Nikhil soon steadied his mount to renew his challenge. Silver Act (Saamidd – Angarika) simply flew thereafter to get the better of Sacred Bond on the post and claim the Mir Mushtaq Ali Khan Memorial Trophy. Proud Mary ended third while the rest four trailed behind.

Parmar had tuned three-year old juvenile filly Normui so well that she went smoothly into the lead despite coming from the widest draw in the Red Surprise Plate run over five and half furlongs. Once she took the pole position, K. Mukesh Kumar kept Normui (Saamidd – Prime Time) focussed on her task as she raced untroubled all the way and won more easily than the official verdict of five lengths. Torch Bearer and Ashwa Yashvir galloped behind Normui in the straight and the latter was hard-ridden by Gaurav Singh to gain the second place ahead of his rival. Jim ran in the fourth spot throughout and finished so.

The bay filly Arthisha made her debut at the age of four earlier in February and was making only her second career appearance in the lowest class. Despite the lack of exposure and an imposing weight of 62kg on her back, money flowed one-way in the direction of Arthisha in the betting ring. Arthisha raced handily on the haunches of early leader Star Cruise till the last furlong and half where Nikhil gave Parmar’s ward her head. Arthisha (Basem – Almarada) went surging ahead to record a facile victory. Protocol gained places as the race progressed to finish second while Star Cruise retired to be third ahead of Reining Queen.

At the start of the day’s proceedings, KSV Prasad Raju-groomed Sangreal won in a similar fashion immediately on relegation to Class IV. Last-outing winner Genie went into the lead as soon as the six-furlong race was flagged off and had P. Sai Kumar-steered Sangreal shadowing her. The 5 to 4 against firm favourite Sangreal (Sanus Per Aquam – Sans Pareil) overpowered Genie at the two-furlong marker and skipped away to register a convincing win over the mediocre set of opponents. Golden Inzio got to take the second place whilst Hoping Star finished third after warming up when the race was all but over. Genie faded out to be fourth.

A winner on debut last month, the M. Srinivas Reddy-nurtured juvenile Pleasant Star came across a none-too intimidating opposition and had no difficulty in recording an encore. However, in the process of tackling the front-running Deccan Daisy in the home stretch, Akshay Kumar-ridden Pleasant Star (Fiero – In The Stars) gave a scare when he drifted out under pressure. Meanwhile, Darling’s Boy and Federer closed in but Akshay managed to get the favourite to race on an even keel who then pulled away from his rivals to deliver the goods. Darling’s Boy finished runner-up, half-length ahead of Federer who had Bold Beauty behind.

With Mix The Magic, the pre-race favourite from Parmar’s yard withdrawn on veterinary grounds, Jasbir Singh-saddled Mr Perfect got the opportunity to earn the second bracket of his career after a gap of two years. Mr Perfect’s victory was possible only because of the positive intent he showed during the contest. G. Naresh settled Mr Perfect (Varenar – Tableau Vivant) within striking distance of Ambitious Star and Silver Lining till entering the final run-in and easily accosted the first-named in the last furlong and half. Ambitious Star offered no resistance as Mr Perfect wore him down and Naresh then kept the bay gelding going to register the most comfortable win of the day. Indian Temple woke up quite late and her fast-finishing effort could only fetch her the second spot. Nkalanzinzi ended a tame third ahead of Ambitious Star.