On a cold chilly afternoon only two favourites nailed bold colours to the mast, but that didn't stop the railbirds from appreciating a couple of noteworthy performances despite the fact that they lost out big chasing the favourites in the competitive seven-event card. Vyasa from Darius Byramji's yard and the Sulaiman schooled Del Aviz were the only two who justified their top billing, while the five other top fancies including the on-money favourite Blue God and the strongly supported Double Scotch flopped badly, much to the disappointment of all the big bettors. 

Competing in the Chitradurga Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs, the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Blue God garnered the maximum support on the strength of his impressive last start victory over an identical distance. The favourite in the hands of leading pro Sandesh hit the front approaching the final furlong and looked set to score before the grey Sekhmet in the hands of Darshan and the Narayan Gowda-trained Auspicious Queen piloted by Kiran Rai warmed up to cross swords and at the end it was the `Queen' who gained the day edging out Sekhmet, while Blue God finished a tame third. The winner, who had failed to carry the public purse to victory in her last effort  was again strongly supported by the insiders and the right connections and this time out, the Narayan Gowda ward chose to put her best stride forward to pull off a successful gamble. It is learnt that the stipes and stewards had opened an enquiry into the running and riding of Auspicious Queen after her last start, but the `Queen' stumped the mandarins of the club, winning a race before the stipes and stewards seriously looked into the matter and conducted an enquiry. The lethargic approach of the men chosen to address issues quick and straight will only send a wrong signal to the racing buffs, who time and again lose out unable to successfully counter the diabolical plans and designs of the bounty hunters who only look to strike at lucrative odds and certainly not at short-prices. 

The Shoban Babu-trained Double Scotch was backed down from (3/1) to (13/10)  before the eight runners came under the starter's flag for the Planetarium Plate run over a mile. Jagadeesh astride the hammered down favourite chose to make every post a winning one, calling the shots for most part of the journey before the rank outsider Burning Arrow in the hands of Angad produced a winning gallop to zoom past the leader and romp home in emphatic fashion. Superhero from Faraz Arshad's yard followed the winner ahead of the second in demand at the betting ring, Joyful Spirit, while Double Scotch failed to even save money in place. 

Del Aviz on the strength of her suggestive effort, third behind the winner Divine Art and the runner-up Disciple over seven furlongs was rightly fancied to earn her winning bracket this winter in the JB Mallaradhya Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. The Prithviraj schooled Power Of Beauty, who won his last start here in splendid style before he failed to make an impression in the 2000 Guineas classic at Chennai also had his share of supporters. But the Prithviraj ward found Del Aviz too hot to handle, the speedsy trainee from Sulaiman's yard sprinting home while providing the leading `Knight' Akshay Kumar an arm-chair ride to victory. Del Aviz, it appears is on top of her game and it will pay to again support her next time out.  Power Of Beauty also deserves another chance and he should prove a different proposition after this speedy test. 

Magnetar from the stables of Aravind Ganapathy was one other who impressed most. Making his debut in the Frankel Trophy, the plum event for juveniles, the handsome son of Excellent Art looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring before he produced an astounding gallop in the final furlong to come out tops in his first career start. The winner didn't really jump out well, but Sandesh slowly, yet surely nursed the Aravind youngster to stay in contention before Magnetar produced a fine turn of foot to zip past the well-backed Miracle Star who was shaping like a winner before losing out close home. El Rey, stablemate of Miracle Star caught the eye while finishing a creditable third ahead of Hazel, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Khazana from the stables of Arjun Manglorkar after calling the shots till the heads turned for home lacked the gas in the tank to make a race of it and eventually failed to make the board. All credit to Aravind and the sporting owner Deepak Kumar. Aravind left no stone unturned in his endeavour to send  out Magnetar spot on for the feature event and Deepak's luck proved decisive after he happily led in the Jaishanker Pillay-trained Sir Calculus in Mysuru on Wednesday. 

The four-kilo claimer Pavan won the hearts of the railbirds producing a heart-warming effort on the Irfan Ghatala-trained Isabelle in the concluding event, the upper division of the Sharavati Plate run over a sprint. Unperturbed while gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the sprint trip, Pavan in a no-whips race stole the limelight pushing Isabelle to gain the verdict in a humdinger from the well supported favourite Extraordinary and the last start winner Ebotse, who in his attempt to make it a start to finish affair was beaten close home. Back after a five-month long lay-off Baashha caught the eye leisurely finishing fourth and is one for the notebook. 

The lower division of the event was claimed by the six to one shot Springsteen who made every post a winning one in the hands of another apprentice Aleemuddin. The favourite Domina from the stables of Inayathullah was seen finishing on purposefully at end, but the belated effort was just not good enough to stop Springsteen from recording his second victory this season. Infinite Spirit managed to save money in place, while the second favourite Multisided looked out of sorts all through the six furlong exercise.