After a good number of shock wins including Shamrock coming up trumps in the Super Mile and Ramiel reigning supreme in the Stayers Cup during the Invitation Cup week-end which floored the punters, the railbirds again lost out big, only two favourites Maduva Thalaivi and Vishwas justifying their rating, while the rest of the five public choices chose to take a back seat resulting in punters going back home with a big hole in the pocket.

After Maduva Thalaivi made every post a winning one in the hands of apprentice Jitendra Singh, pegging back the challenge of two arch rivals, runner-up Black Label from the stables of Fahad Khan and  Sea Waters from Rupa's yard in the opening event, the Kahyasi Handicap, the railbirds hoped that they could convert the good start into a profitable finish and carry a few green sacks home, but that was not to be, a couple of second choices pushing the punters back against the wall before the three long shots delivered knock-out blows to floor the followers of form.

Spurred by the success in the opening event, Jitendra Singh struck again in the next event, the Harzand Handicap run over a sprint. Astride the ten to one long shot Asta from B Suresh's yard the five-kilo claimer displayed good temperament and composure while upsetting the applecart of the favourite Super Stride from the stables of Fahad Khan. Our Asset partnered by another promising apprentice N Darshan gained the runner-up berth ahead of the public choice, while Royal Exemplay completed the frame.

The James McKeown schooled Simola impressed most while making a winning debut in the Daylami Plate run over a sprint. The good looking dark bay colt in the hands of leading pro Umesh produced a winning gallop at the all-important end to snuff out the challenge of Elsa and Albanny who in his effort to make very post a winning one lost steam when the race came on a boil and had to settle for the third spot. The favourite Divine Right from leading trainer Vijay Singh's yard raced in patches and eventually finished down the field much to the disappointment of her supporters who chose to pin their hopes on the Vijay Singh's ward on the strength of her eye-catching performances in the morning trials.

The Sebastian schooled Vishwas gained the top billing in the Zarkava Handicap run over a mile. The public choice despite drifting out alarmingly in the state hung on gamely to edge out Golden Legend, providing momentary relief to the punters, who after Maduva Thalaivi's victory in the opener were stunned in the next two events following the below par performances of the fancied runners.

The Deepesh Narredu -trained Aspira was the piping hot favourite in the Sinndar Handicap run over a sprint. But all that the favourite did was take a lot of good money down the drain, finishing a tame third behind the winner Constant Variable from Fahad Khan's yard and the runner-up Proposed piloted by Farid Ansari. Proposed, it must be mentioned in defeat was not disgraced and lives to fight another day.

After combining successfully to score on Vishwas, the trainer-jockey combination of Sebastian and Hindu Singh were tipped to score on Larado in the upper division of the Shahrastani Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs, but the public choice shouldering a back-breaking weight of 61 kilos failed to produce his best and finished second behind the five to one shot Bomber Jet confidently piloted by Shreyas Singh. The Krishna schooled Bomber Jet   looks in good nick and is set to provide an encore. It will pay to persevere with Larado too taking into account that he didn't lose shape while finishing a game second and can go one better when next saddled.

The lower division of the event was claimed by another lesser fancied contestant War Emblem from the stables of Fahad Khan. MS Deora astride the winner produced a heartwarming performance driving home the winner from a none too happy position at the top of the straight. Aurora Borealis followed the winner home ahead of rank outsider Arikattu who surprised most finishing third ahead of Wood Art, while the strongly fancied public choice Empire Of Dreams was never in the hunt.