On a chilly winter afternoon following the breeze triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, punters braved the drop in temperature and enjoyed te action before returning home evens-stevens on Saturday, the coldest day of the year according to Indian Meteorological Department (Bengaluru). The temperature in the city was 5.8 degree Celsius below normal.

The Arjun Manglorkar-trained Inspire smarting under the defeat at the hands of Efficacy in her last essay settled the score, coming up trumps in the Kempegowda Cup, the plum event run over a distance of 1500 metres in record time. The in-form filly despite suffering interference at the top of the straight produced a winning gallop at the all-important end to win close home. Inspire clocked 1:30.17 seconds bettering the (1:34.98) recorded by Kiss Of Grey in the summer season. Efficacy did well to test Inspire despite the 3.5 kilos weight advantage the winner enjoyed after their last head-to-head clash. Lux Aeterna stablemate of Efficacy expectedly finished third ahead of Victoria Doresaani. Inspire is on top of her game and is certain to add another couple of wins to her kitty. 

The principal added attraction, the Venugopal Naidu Memorial Trophy run over 1100M dash produced a shock result, ten to one shot Royal Deccan, another contestant from Arjun Manglorkar's yard entering the winners' circle. The rank outsider piloted by Antony Raj, who booted home Inspire, zipped past Mutual Trust, who was shaping like a winner approaching the final furlong before Royal Deccan stormed ahead and powered home in convincing fashion. Second placed Thessalian from the stables of Prasanna Kumar performed better than his stablemate Goddess Of War, who was fancied most, but failed to even save money in place. The below par effort of the public choice shocked the followers of form taking into account that the top favourite had won her last start in emphatic fashion. 

In the next event, the Chintamani Plate, the topweighted Invincible from the stables of Narayan Gowda opened at (9/2) before his connections hammered him down in the bettig ring and soon Invincible was the piping hot favourite quoted at (16/10), while D Fronx and Dynamic Force were offered at (5/1). Later minutes before the start, the price on Invincible shot up and the Narayan Gowda ward after all the tamasha closed at (5/2) before the dozen runners came under the starter's flag for the 1300 metres trip.

Soon after the dozen runners jumped out, Angad astride Invincible needlessly chose to race six horses wide all through the trip and at the top of the straight it was clear that Invincible was fast retiring before the favourite shockingly finished last. The stipes and stewards not impressed with the effort of Angad have opened an enquiry into the running of Invincible in the Chintamani Plate and Angad, it is needless to mention will need to answer some tough questions. Rank outsider Double Vision powerfully piloted by Arshad Alam in a thriller edged out another long shot Dufy to reign supreme, while Dynamic Force fancied strongly in place hung on to take the third spot to the delight of his supporters. 

The Darius Byramji-trained Agrador was fancied most on the strength of his second behind Valiant Stream in his last effort. But much to the disappointment of his supporters, leading pro Akshay Kumar lost his left stirrup at the start of the mile long event and before he regained it at 1100M mark, the favourite bolted and was racing nine lengths clear of the field before he tired out a furlong from home and finished down the field. Second in demand at the betting ring, Hyperdrive piloted in copybook fashion by the promising apprentice Pavan produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to romp home a deserving winner. Stella Maris gained the runner-up berth ahead of Acantha. The runner-up appears to have improved and it will pay to support him when next saddled. 

Trainer Pradeep Annaiah pulled off a good gamble on Rocking Star in the opening event, the November Plate run over a sprint. Confidently backed by the insiders and right connections, Rocking Star in the hands of Alex Rozario outclassed his eight rivals to romp home a facile winner. The winner is in good heart and is set to provide an encore. Politesse followed the winner ahead of Celestria. The runner-up from Prasanna Kumar's yard after this satisfactory debut is set to shed her maiden status next time out. 

A picture of fitness at the parade ring,  the Md.Sajid Qureshi-trained Thrill Of Brazil garnered the maximum support in the concluding event, the Nagarjuna Sagar Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The public choice partnered by Jagadeesh tracked the nohoper Forever Royal for most part of the trip before Jagadeesh reminded the public choice of the task ahead at the top of the straight and the Sajid Qureshi ward readily streaked ahead and put the race to bed even before the race came on a boil. Feeling Good followed the smart winner home ahead of Elveden, while She Rules from the stables of Darius, back after her noteworthy success in Mysuru found this company too hot to handle.
 
All credit to Sajid Qureshi to slap the blinkers on his trainee and the blinkers certainly helped Thrill Of Brazil score in style and taking into account that she won with a measure of comfort, Thrill Of Brazil is tipped to score again over an extended trip in the higher category.