The punters lost out on Derby eve, a good number of hotly fancied favourites taking a back seat much to the disappointment of the followers of form. The 15 to one long shot Shubankar from trainer Warren Singh's yard shocked the railbirds, coming up tops in the Madras Race Club Commemoration Cup and the lesser fancied Celeste from Mandanna's yard edged out the strongly supported Gold Ride from the stables of McKeown in the RWITC Trophy. The Irish professional David Allan, who started his stint with a bang, booting home the Karthik Ganapathy-trained Caliph in Mahalaxmi after losing out on Gold Ride again failed to score on a top on-money fancy Straordinario from Vijay Singh's yard. 

Ignored in the betting ring, despite the fact that he beat a quality field in his last essay over a mile a couple of weeks ago, Shubankar in the hands of Umesh tracked the leader Champions Way for most part of the 2000 metres trip before Umesh packed punch on the in-form grey at the top of the straight and Shubankar responding gamely to his master's call  streaked ahead and powered home, pegging back the five to one shot Tehani, while the two market leaders, Touch Of Grey from Satish Narredu's yard and the topweighted Evaldo from the stables of Prasanna Kumar failed to justify their top billings and failed to even save money in place. The winner is in rousing form and is likely to record a hat-trick if Warren Singh judiciously places him in his next start. Evaldo after a good stint at Pune appears to have gone off the boil and is best left ignored after his listless performance in the plum event. 

The on-money favourite West Brook from trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard proved too good in the Nanoli Stud Fillies' & Mares Championship making every post a winning one in the mile long trip. The local mainhope Something Royal followed the winner home ahead of the McKeown schooled Andorra, while last start winner Sierra Dela Plata, another McKeown trainee completed the frame. The winner, it is clear from this victory is in good heart and it will pay to support him again next time out. 

After he was beaten by the Mandanna-trained Celeste while partnering Gold Ride, most followers of form trusted David Allan to make amends in the concluding event, the Mysore Race Club Trophy run over a mile, but much to the disappointment of his supporters, David in his attempt to make every post a winning one on the public choice Straordinario failed to snuff out the challenge of the well-backed Momentous from Fazal-Ur-Rehman's yard who was a medium of a fine gamble. The winner piloted by Sai Kumar  outwitted the favourite in the final furlong to earn his winning bracket. Flourish finished third ahead of Windsor Walk and is one for the notebook. 

The McKeown-trained Joondalup who lost out to the speedy Vibrant Lass from Bangalore trainer Dominic's yard in the Christmas Cup outclassed her four rivals in the Dashmesh Stud Million run over a sprint. The winner confidently piloted by top gun Trevor Patel hit the front soon after the three colts and two fillies came under the starter's flag and soon it was all over bar the shouting, the overwhelming favourite sprinting nice and easy to shed her maiden status in her second career effort. The Bangalore raider Sassy Sarah from Prasanna Kumar's yard followed the runner-up home, while the Suresh-trained Chief Admiral who found Grenoble too hot to handle in his last attempt again found one better in Joondalup who appears to be a goodtype of youngster. 

In a open affair, the three to one public fancy Santamarina Star from the stables of Ramanathan piloted in determined fashion by Farid Ansari edged out the lesser fancied War Emblem close home. The winner, who looked in trouble at the top of the straight produced a good turn of foot in the final furlong to help punters start the Derby weekend on a winning note. Forest Lake finished third ahead of  Aviothic, who appears to have improved and is set to make his presence felt in this lowest category. 

Last start winner Sovereign Spirit chalked out her second straight success reigning supreme in  the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy run over a sprint. The Suresh trainee in the hands of Akshay Kumar produced a sparkling gallop at the top of the straight to assume command before putting the race to bed in the final furlong. Magical Bay piloted by Suraj Narredu followed the winner home, while the favourite Arjun from the stables of Sebastian only managed to save money in place.