Vittal Deshmukh-trained High Command defied the penalty as also the handicap to claim the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup (Div-II), Sunday's feature event run over a mile. Ashhad Asbar-ridden High Command chased Best Buddy all the way from the gates with Imperia stuck towards the inner rails and the rest of the runners in the field of nine galloping close behind. With a little over a furlong and half away from home, High Command (Leitir Mor – Heiress) was powered into the lead by Asbar but it was only his resilience in the saddle that enabled the bay colt to survive the assault of Hugh Capet in the last furlong. High Command (Leitir Mor – Heiress) prevailed by three-part of a length with favourite Huntingdon failing to accelerate when asked for an effort by P. Sai Kumar and just managing to make it to the third place, a neck ahead of Imperia.  
 
S. Sreekanth-mentored Truth, who had lost narrowly to High Command earlier, was backed to the exclusion of his six rivals in the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup (Div-II) and he duly obliged but not before repelling N R I Superpower’s fierce onslaught. Shadow of the Moon found himself in the front in the slow run race with N R I Superpower and Truth giving chase. The last two named got stronger as the field moved into the straight with N R I Superpower managing to slip into the lead ahead of Truth, who took some time to find his rhythm. Just as the winning post seemed to be within kissing distance of N R I Superpower, Truth (Pinson – Lady Be Good) was hard-ridden by Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) to unleash a powerful burst to snuff out his rival’s defiance and eventually won by half-length. Shadow of the Moon stayed in third place ahead of Akido.
 
Star Envied from Robin Reddy’s yard ran true to the promise shown during his debut run and was one of the few favourites to have lived up to the expectations of the punters. Unlike last time when she swerved to her left after jumping out of the gates, Star Envied behaved well after coming out of the wide draw and was settled nicely behind stable-mate French Lady and Victory Run in the initial stages of the six-furlong journey. French Lady brought the field into the home stretch and was soon joined by Victory run and Star Envied both. Md. Ismail released the brakes on Star Envied (Dreamfield – Ohyouprettything), who swept past Victory Run and the race was over bar the shouting as the half-money favourite romped home for her maiden success. N R I Blaze improved in the straight to beat Victory Run for the second place by a head whilst Smart Operator ended fourth.
 
The seven-year old Top In Class made amends for his previous failure and was right on the money in the hands of K. Mukesh Kumar. SSF Hassan-groomed Top In Class lacked early speed as last-outing winner Star Cruise seized the initiative and led the field from the gates. Top In Class after racing towards the rails till the heads turned for home was brought on the outer track where Mukesh started to scrub his mount. Top In Class (Top Class – Bella) gradually bridged the leeway in the straight to join the issue with Star Cruise and Char Ek Char and grabbed the lead under Mukesh’s strong urging. Mukesh then gave a couple of backhanders to keep the favourite on course to victory. Char Ek Char, Star Cruise and Silver Lining followed the winner home in that order.
 
Elegant Lady, who had failed to finish on the judges’ board in all her four career starts, was installed as the favourite and it was jockey Mukesh who guided her to victory in the closing event of the day. Trainer B. Mukesh Kumar-saddled Elegant Lady was kept in the mid-bunch by her rider as Lady Jane called the early shots and was followed by Hawk Wing, Secret Option and Sadiya till they took the final turn. Hawk Wing moved up to challenge Lady Jane and at the same juncture Elegant Lady started to get closer to the duo ahead. In the last furlong, Elegant Lady (Oiseau De Feu – Celandine) wore down Hawk Wing and scampered home to taste her maiden success. Peppi and Exclusive Spark flashed on the scene when the race was in the safe keeping of the winner and had to settle for the second and third berth respectively with Hawk Wing close behind.
 
Neelesh Rawal’s ward Freedom Touch, who was easily vanquished by DAS earlier, not only avenged her defeat but also reversed the handicap in the Aristocrat Plate run over nine furlongs. Ananta Vatsalya-groomed DAS went out as the favourite on the back of his facile win last time out but he was found nowhere near that effort on this occasion. London Bell set the early pace with China Town and Freedom Touch in close attendance. Ajeeth Kumar eased China Town into lead when the field was homeward bound and led for a furlong till Freedom Touch warmed up after Asbar rode him vigorously. Freedom Touch (Moonlight Magic – Freedom of Speech) gained the upper hand soon and cruised away for a convincing victory. China Town had to settle for the second spot ahead of Skyward who came from way back to finish third ahead of Total Control.
 
Dapper Look from K. Satheesh’s string shocked the heavily backed filly Clara to claim the Indian Navy Rolling Challenge Trophy. Trishul went surging into the lead as the gates opened while Dapper Look was brushed up by RS Jodha and went in chase of the leader. Trishul ran out of fuel in the straight and it was Dapper Look (Sedgefield – Song Dynasty), who took control of the running passing the two-furlong marker and kept going under pressure to score an upset win. Favourite Clara struggled to make an impression and suffered an embarrassing defeat despite coming into contention in the final stages of the race. She just about managed to finish second, under a length in front of Ampere’s Touch. Carnival Lady completed the judge’s frame. Trishul retired to be fifth while Sugar, who tested positive for banned drug substances after her victory on the monsoon Derby day, ran listlessly throughout before finishing sixth.
 
Vatsalya-trained Sucker Punch, who had not seen the winner’s enclosure during the last three years, also gave a stunning blow to punters when disrupting the frantic bid of favourite Lights On to land the spoils. Nakhat Singh-piloted Lights On overhauled early leader If You Like It shortly after the heads turned for home and it appeared that she would scrape through. But Deepak Singh-ridden Sucker Punch played spoilsport by producing a determined effort and caught Lights On in the shadow of the winning post. Muaser’s late bid fetched him the third place ahead of Golden Inzio.