M P Mahaesh trained Gem hammered the opposition in the Chatrapathi Cup, the highlight of races held on Friday. The son of Wattlefield showed amazing improvement en route to his second victory of the season. Irishman Colm O’Donoghue rode out the favourite in splendid fashion to snuff out the challenge of his only realistic challenger Torodoro. Backed to the exclusion of his rivals, Gem was settled in a handy third position as Torodoro led the charge. Donoghue alerted Gem to the task after straightening out for the homestretch. Though the favourite took a while to find his foot, once into top gear, Gem surged ahead along the rails and stretched away from Torodoro and a late-finishing Luffness to record an impressive win. Gem tended to drift under pressure but once the jockey corrected the drift by changing the whip hand, the favourite flew home. Torodoro who had missed action for a considerable period of time, perhaps needed this run and can make amends soon. The ease with which Bellona won her assignment this time out put a question mark as to her defeat as a favourite at cramped odds last time. Surely that run has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Bellona ran prominently right through the seven furlong trip and was on the bridle at the top of the straight well clear of a struggling opposition and then went away for an effortless win. Mazeppa who came in for spirited support was under pressure well before the runners took the final bend but managed to edge out Grastronomique for the runner up spot. Darius Byramji, who saddled Bellona to victory, had a treble for the day as his two juveniles won both the division of the Novice Plate. Debutant Contare Su me was the betting rage in the upper division but the lack of a run went against the filly who found foot when the race was in the safe keeping of the front-running Estrella. The run benefit had surely sharpened Estrella who led from the word `go’ and lasted out quite comfortably. Kaliyug Raja chased the eventual winner without threatening but held on grimly to snatch the runner up spot from the favourite. In the lower division, Cabbala was lucky to win as the filly picked up momentum in the nick of time to get the measure of the front-running Success Heiress in virtually the last stride. Cabbala looked a lost cause as she trailed the field at the bend but flew home on the wide outside to ensure that the day started on a good note for the followers of favourites. In fact, the races ran kindly for punters as fancied runners won all the races. Arizza, who had run an eye-catching third in the Oaks, duly won the 2000 metres Vijaynagar Cup, beating the challenge of Flightingale quite capably. Bollinger played up at the gates and hurt herself and was withdrawn from the fray. The Zamindar put in an eye-catching third and was full of running when finishing third. In the day’s other action, favourite Noble Possession was not hard-pressed to win against a listless opposition. Fabluex Dancer dragged himself to limelight by finishing an eye-catching fourth. Breeze Dancer lasted out to win from Driven who put in a half-hearted effort.