Leading trainer Sebastian stole the limelight leading in three winners, including the shocking 30 to one shot One Way Ticket, who floored the followers of form in the S Rangarajan Memorial Trophy, an event for maiden juveniles run over a distance of 1100 metres.

The B Suresh-trained Chief Admiral surprisingly topped the betting board despite his poor effort in his last essay, finishing 15 lengths behind the smart winner Echoes Of Time. More importantly the son of Lord Admiral had already raced four times this season and failed to shed his maiden status. Well in his fifth effort, all that Chief Admiral did was take a lot of good money down the drain, finishing a poor third and remaining a maiden. Black Floral, stablemate of the public choice finished second ahead of her most fancied stable companion, while One Way Ticket, who had finished last in his debut, more than 15 lengths behind the winner Set In Gold, it appeared raced with a new pair of legs taking into account that he improved from last to first in a month. The improvement is phenomenal to say the least and the railbirds stunned by the big turn around are seeking explanations, hoping that the mandarins of the club will crack the whip on the offenders who time and again brazenly turn the book of form upside down, while delivering knock out blows to the poor punters.

A facile last start winner, Emperor Vikram was rightly fancied most in the lower division of the Leading Owner Trophy run over a sprint and the good looking grey in the hands of Brisson produced another stellar effort to register his second straight success, while helping the followers of form recover from the punch One Way Ticket landed in the juvenile event. Second in demand at the betting ring, Royal Chivalry from Suresh's yard did produce his best in the hands of Peter, but that was just not good enough to stop the `Emperor' from winning another battle. Prince Purple surprised most edging out another fancied contestant Golden Legend to take the third spot. Emperor Vikram is on top of his game and is set to record a hat-trick of wins if his connections choose to race him again before the curtains are drawn after the Indian Turf Invitation Cup scheduled to be held on Feb 2.

Earlier, Sebastian had struck through the four to one shot Arjun who produced a sparkling gallop in the hands of Mukesh Kumar to come out tops in the Champion Trainer Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. The Suraj Shaw schooled Greeley garnered the maximum support in this event, but the top fancy to the disappointment of her supporters failed to raise a winning gallop and eventually finished down the field. Last start winner Sweet Legacy did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of King's Guardian, while Super Stride completed the frame.

On the strength of his pleasing second behind Juliet Rose in her last start, the James McKeown-trained Val D'aran enjoyed top billing in the opening event, the Champion Jockey Trophy run over a sprint and the favourite provide the five-kilo claimer Ritesh Gochhi a winning ride, assuming command at the top of the straight before sprinting through to enter the winners, circle. Lesser fancied Authentic Bell from the stables of Ajith Kumar finished on purposefully at end to gain the runner-up berth, while the second favourite Larado only managed to save money in place.

A good four to one shot, Asio from the stables of Deepesh Narredu, confidently piloted by brother Yash proved too good in the upper division of the leading Owner Trophy run over a sprint. The winner displayed good turn of foot in the final furlong to zoom past Multicrown and the public choice Spirit Of Rose from Ramanathan's yard. Apprentice jockey Darshan who to his credit has booted home nine winners so far this season failed to gain a leading position on Spirit Of The Rose, who enjoys running in front and as a result the favourite performed a trifle below par and had to rest content with the third spot.

The B Suresh-trained Crown Drive chalked out his fifth victory from seven starts this season. Competing in the Galileo Handicap run over a sprint, Crown Drive available at (5/1) in the betting ring, money pouring in on the Deepesh Narredu schooled Pluto, produced an astounding gallop in the final furlong to peg back the topweighted Golden Marina and romp home a deserving winner. Hindu Singh, it must be mentioned, timed his final challenge to a nicety after Pluto set a decent pace and retired even before the race came on a boil in this competitive event.

In  line for a hat-trick, the Vijay Singh-trained Shine was fancied most in the Guindy Grand Prix run over a mile, but the overwhelming favourite piloted by Mukesh Kumar failed to match strides with the second choice Mindful, who zipped past the favourite approaching the distance post to win the plum in fine style. Yash was at his best on the winner who appears a goodtype of youngster. Anigraha, stablemate of the much fancied Shine finished second ahead of his more fancied stable companion who lost out giving 4.5 kilos to the winner. 

After failing to combine successfully on the two fancied contestants, Chief Admiral and Multicrown, Suresh and Mukesh Kumar finally broke the ice on Masterpiece in the concluding event, the Ganges River Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner powerfully piloted by Mukesh edged out rank outsider Jack Richer who looked set to stun the followers of form enjoying a two-length break in the final furlong before Masterpiece stormed up to snatch the verdict at the shadow of the winning post. The runner-up in defeat was not disgraced and it will pay to support this Uthaiah trainee when saddled next.