A small card produced shock results and the punters returned home dejected, four firm favourites including the two on-money public choices, Elfin Knight from trainer Darius Byramji's yard and the Prasanna Kumar-trained Monteiro failing in their mission to successfully carry the fully loaded public purse to the winners' enclosure.

Despite the fact that he took big sacks of good money down the drain in his maiden effort this season, the talented Elfin Knight was strongly fancied to score in the Karnataka Police Trophy run over a distance of nine furlongs taking into account that the Darius ward after the run under his belt had impressed most in his preparatory gallop and the fact that the extended trip suited his style. The overwhelming favourite piloted by Srinath looked set to score a furlong from home before he shortened his strides and failed to peg back the challenge of the six to one shot Magnus, who produced an astounding gallop in the run-up to the line to upset the applecart of the public choice close home, a `neck’ separating the two at the wire.The topweighted August finished third ahead of Sassy.

Vyasa, who gained top billing in the next event, the Kaveri Plate run over a mile brought the smile back on the face of Darius Byramji justifying the confidence and support of the followers of form. The heavily backed contestant hammered down from (16/10) to (70/100) in the betting ring was confidently piloted by in-form pro Antony Raj, who judged the pace well before timing his final challenge to a nicety, snuffing out the challenge of the stablemate Ancient History. Metzinger who opened at (11/4) in the betting ring had no takers at (11/2) and that indication was good enough for the smart bettors to strike him out of the list of serious contenders in the race. Suraj Narredu astride the top weight did well to finish third, but Rajesh Babu who only gained license this season needs to answer a few questions and hopefully the stipes and stewards at this centre, who spar with kid gloves will start to crack the whip on some of the smart alecs, who continue to hoodwink the authorities day after day.

Monterio on the strength of his impressive second behind Queen Of Kyiv in his last start was considered a cinch in the upper division of the Almatti Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. But the pipping hot favourite from Prasanna Kumar’s yard flopped badly and shockingly finished sixth of the seven runners. After the second in demand at the betting ring, Corinthian from the stables of Sulaiman Attaollahi, who again was withdrawn at the starting gates, Monterio in the concluding event, it was clear had no opposition worthy of mention, but the public rage much to the disappointment of all the big bettors, who punted big on this Prasanna trainee failed to make his presence felt and this cost the punters dear. The 20 to one long shot Gallery Time from Warren Singh’s yard partnered by AR Pradeep gained the day, edging out another rank outsider Knotty Patton piloted by four-kilo claimer Asirvatham, while The Strikingly, another nohoper finished third ahead of Dufy.

Torobravo from Irfan Ghatala’s yard garnered the maximum support in the December Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs, but the strongly fancied contestant only raced  in patches and eventually failed to even save the money in place. Eight to one shot Lux Aeterna from Sulaiman’s yard partnered by top pro Akshay Kumar powered home nice and easy to shed his maiden status in style and on the strength of this facile victory is poised to provide an encore. Stablemate Basilica who incidentally was better fancied than Lux Aeterna gained the runner-up berth ahead of Habibti.

In what was a very open affair, the 20 to one long shot Lady Godiva in the hands of Afsar stunned her eight rivals edging out the fancied Emeraldo and the five to one chance Lady Invictus from Dominic’s yard. The consistent Emeraldo who has been in the money in all his three starts this season needs to be given another chance in his effort to earn his cornbill, while Lady Invictus should be ignored knowing that the mare is a choker and in addition has blood vessel issues.

The Prasanna schooled Storm Shadow proved too good in the opening event, the lower division of the Almatti Plate. The winner provided Trevor, who suffered a bad fall while guiding the fortunes of the Neil Darashah-trained Bibury in a event at Kol,kata on Saturday, an arm-chair ride to success powering home without unduly being extended. Versace finished second ahead of Supercharge, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Mystical Air performed below par.