The Aman Hussain-groomed dark bay filly Fourth Wing was one of the three least fancied runners in the eight-horse field vying for the FD Wadia Trophy (Gr.3) on Saturday, but she surprised her rivals when making every post of the seven furlongs journey a winning one. Entrusted in the hands of Yash Narredu, Fourth Wing took off fluently from the barriers with Social Butterfly and Money Bags racing within striking distance. However, Social Butterfly failed to make any headway as the field turned for home and it was favourite Money Bags, who improved his position to throw his gauntlet at Fourth Wing in the final furlong. Antony Raj-piloted Money Bags made steady progress and, for a moment, appeared poised to tackle the leader but Fourth Wing (Sanus Per Aquam - Centrestage) was in no mood to surrender. Yash too was equal to his task and did not ease the pressure on the filly, who dug into her reserves on her rider's call. The grit shown by both Yash and Fourth Wing saw the filly make a splash when lasting out to win by a whisker over Money Bags. Encino ended a tame third ahead of Bishop and Matisse, who toiled hard in the rear for most of the journey and their late-warming exercise proved to be of no consequence in the end. Social Butterfly lost pace in the straight and finished sixth. Fourth Wing was bred at the Kunigal Stud and owned by Mrs Pragya Devgan, Mr Ritvik Devgan rep. Niche Agriculture & Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr Dinsha P Shroff, Mr Munchi P Shroff, Mrs Aban N Chothia, Mr Waahiid Ali Khan rep. Sshaawn Horses and Sports Pvt Ltd, Mr Anil Saraf & Mrs Ayesha A Hussai.

A naming change for Among The Stars, who made punters see stars in daylight during her last four outings as a favourite, probably transformed the fortunes of the Malesh Narredu-nursed filly in the Su Chaliyo Plate. Rechristened as Timeless Fortune, the filly once again carried the public's purse on her back and found her mark quite easily after tackling El Moran opposite the stands. However, Timeless Fortune (Phoenix Tower - See The Sunshine) had to fight another battle in the stewards’ room after jockey C. Umesh, the rider of El Moran, accused Yash of bumping his mount twice in the last furlong. Timeless Fortune shifted in and went on to El Moran when overtaking him about a furlong and half away from the winning post but she was easily moving better than the latter at that stage. Timeless Fortune eventually scored by three and half lengths and the stewards found no reason to alter the judges’ placings and overruled Umesh’s objection. Trailblazer and Mulan ran third and fourth respectively.

Thalassa was quoted at cramped odds to win the Mysore Race Club Trophy, and the Faisal Abbas trainee romped home in the Class I event run over a mile and quarter. Coeur De Lion made the initial running with Golden Kingdom, Ruling Dynasty and Thalassa following him in a single line. Golden Kingdom went ahead after Coeur De Lion had shot his bolt much before the final turn whilst A. Sandesh also decided to make his move and overtook Ruling Dynasty. Thalassa (Excellent Art – Thurayaat) cruised past Golden Kingdom as soon as the pair entered the straight and the filly won easing up thereafter. Golden Kingdom, Coeur De Lion and Ruling Dynasty were spread out as they followed her home.

Trainer S. Waheed’s decision to use blinkers on Merlet paid off as the filly’s long wait for success was finally over in the Magansingh P. Jodha Trophy. Merlet, who had been a consistent performer since her debut, allowed Fay to show the way with Jackson and Ourense following behind. K. Mukesh Kumar-steered Merlet (Leitir Mor – Merletta) was still travelling on the bit as she swept past Fay when the field was turning for home and she sprinted away for a comfortable victory over Jackson, Tyrannus and Saseka. Debutant Enforcer, who was backed down as a favourite on the strength of his excellent performance in the morning trials, struggled throughout and finished fifth without raising any hope for his followers at any stage of the race.

Trevor Patel packed enough power in his riding which enabled favourite Liam to humble Come September in the Janardhan Salver. Come September, with C. Umesh in the saddle, stormed into the lead and was still in control of the running after she brought the ten-horse field into the home stretch. Liam made steady progress after lying in the mid bunch till the turn and joined the issue with Come September and Believe. Liam (Planetaire – Swan Maiden) quickened well in the last furlong as he swooped down on the leader and went on to justify his favouritism. Finch rallied late to finish third behind runner-up Come September whilst Believe ended fourth.

New Yorker, one of the four contestants saddled by Narendra Lagad in the line-up of seven runners in the day’s curtain raiser, won against the run of expectations ahead of stablemate Samson and Mirae. Entrusted to A. Sandesh after finishing a close second when ridden by lesser-known S. Mosin, Mirae was backed to the exclusion of her rivals but she proved to be an expensive failure. The mare hit the front as is her wont and was closely followed by We Still Believe, Moment of Madness, New Yorker and Samson. Mirae seemed to be on course to victory till the last furlong before C. Umesh brought New Yorker (Arazan – Powerhaus) throughout the shortest way home and surged ahead inside the last furlong. Samson pipped Mirae, his owner and stablemate, for the second place while We Still Believe retired to be fourth.

Lagad achieved a double when seven-year old Red Merlot was ridden to narrow win in the concluding event of the day. Lightning Blaze and Hilma Klint made the initial running as their stablemate Red Merlot raced in the third spot alongside Lion King. With about a furlong left for the wire, Lion King hit the front but was immediately joined by A. Prakash-ridden Red Merlot (Surfrider – Mateus Rose), who gained the upper hand after overwhelming the Lion King and hit the wire before Trevor-partnered Ariyana Star could play spoilsport with her late charge. Northern Singer completed the judges’ frame.