Form played true and the racing buffs at Guindy enjoyed a good run, five favourites romping home to the delight of the followers of form after the 15 to one long shot Kallipos stunned the punters in the opening event, the Amorous Knight Handicap run over a mile. After the shock result in the opening event, the big bettors exercised caution, slowly yet surely recovering from the big loss at the start through the two overwhelming favourites Larado and the Bengaluru raider Royal Deccan before they again pressed hard on the pedal and returned home head high with a lot of pride and a spring in their stride. 

The public rage Star Power came up trumps in the Galileo Cup run over a mile. The winner from the stables of Deepesh Narredu confidently piloted by brother Yash, proved too good for his five rivals, assuming command at the top of the straight before quickly putting the race to bed in the final furlong. The short-priced favourite (35/100) on the strength of this authoritative win is set to provide an encore. Carolina Springs under the care of Suraj Shaw was fancied strongly in place, but failed to finish second in the six-horse field, Alpha Domino piloted by five-kilo claimer Jitendra Singh gaining the runner-up berth.

A picture of fitness at the parade ring, Set In Gold garnered the maximum support in the Columbia Handicap. The public choice to the delight of his supporters who placed big bets produced a sparkling gallop in the `run in' home to cruise home without extending himself. The Ramanathan-trained Gold Ride too attracted good support at end, but she proved no match to the vastly improved winner, who is in good nick and ready to add one more to the three wins he already has in his bag. Gold Ride twice second from as many starts this season should be persisted with and it could well prove to be third time lucky in her case when next saddled.

Elfin Knight and Royal Deccan were the two Bengaluru challengers who accomplished their mission, while justifying the support of the railbirds. The former partnered by AR Pradeep needed to stretch every sinew to peg back the lesser fancied This Is Gold piloted by Yash. After tracking the leader Key To The Mint for most part of the mile long trip in the concluding event, the Almanac Handicap, Pradeep pushed the on-money favourite to the front at the top of the straight and the top fancy soon gained a two-length advantage before Yash cracked the whip on This Is Gold and the talented filly from Deepesh's yard readily posed a challenge before going down fighting at end. The four to one shot Vishwas was seen finishing on purposefully at end to save money in place and with two satisfactory runs under his belt this Sebastian trainee is set to hit the bulls-eye, when saddled next.

Promising apprentice jockey Aleemuddin astride the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Royal Deccan made every post a winning one in the Charon Handicap run over a sprint. Aleemuddin pushed the half-money favourite to the front soon after the relatively small field of six runners came under the starter's flag and never let the initiative slip, the winner showing a clean pair of heels to his five rivals. Wood Art gained the runner-up berth ahead of Off Shore Breeze, who is tipped to earn his winning bracket in the weeks ahead.

The even-money favourite Larado, who failed to display his true potential in his last effort for more reasons than one justified his top billing this time out. Competing in the Revelation Handicap run over a distance of seven furlongs, the top choice from Sebastian's yard partnered by the promising apprentice N Darshan tracked arch rival Aurora Borealis for most part of the journey and after a brief duel approaching the distance post, the public choice took command and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. The topweighted Bomber Jet finished a game third and is one for the notebook.