Trainer Dhariwal's ability to transform the well-bred horses in his yard into galloping machines was evident once again on Tuesday, when the sparingly raced Clear Mandate (Burden Of Proof – Clear Cut) showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in The FK Irani Memorial at Bangalore. He won this top-class handicap over 1,400 metres with a measure of comfort. Getting a winner of just two career starts to perform such a feat in the highest class was quite commendable. The handicapper had apparently been harsh on this runner, as he had pushed him to the top of Class II after Clear Mandate's runaway victory earlier in the season. Thereafter, his connections decided to have a tilt at a classic in Hyderabad, but this nice-looking horse showed that he had limitations of stamina. He was reverted back to his favourite trip of seven furlongs at his home centre, and the day's feature was chosen as his next target. The astute trainer decided to take a voluntary promotion, and accepted to enter this race at the bottom of the scales. The fact that Chris Hayes would be weighing-in a kilo above the allocated weights was not a dampener. The confidence of the yard was reflected on the betting charts, which showed that he was an even-money favourite ahead of Red Renegade and the others.

The eleven-horse field was flagged off to a brisk start with The Spartan tearing away in front and showing the way to Red Renegade, Ashkan, Spark Of Bronte, Clear Mandate and Soberano. The others were finding it tough to keep in touch with the front group, and were seen racing in a single file as the runners made their way towards the home turn. Chris Hayes decided to release his brakes on the favourite at this juncture, and allowed Clear Mandate to make up ground on the wide outside. The horse was up to the task, and showed remarkable acceleration. He swept past the leading group and opened up a sizable lead into the final furlong. With those in front getting tired, it was left to Flaming Lamborgini and Soberano to go in chase. The pair of them managed to close the gap, but that was all that they could do. Clear Mandate held on to his advantage till the wire and confirmed the confidence of his connections. For a horse who had won his maiden start in Mysore, this was a tremendous performance. The supporters of Red Renegade were surprised by his dismal performance, but an announcement confirmed that he had unfortunately burst his blood vessels during the running of this race.

The highlight of the afternoon's proceedings was a superb hat-trick by the Darius Byramji stable. Gazaki, Don Diego and Gluteus Maximus won the last three races in the nine-event card framed for the day. Last outing winner Gazaki (Burden Of Proof – Acer) showed that she is a totally transformed filly. She had proved her fitness by storming home to a seven-length victory in her earlier start. She had been pushed up a full class after that run. Gazaki was second favourite behind Irfan Ghatala's Sunstone. The latter had let down a horde of supporters in his last two starts, and his fans were hoping to recoup their losses today. The odds against Sunstone kept contracting with the passage of time, and he ended up as an odds-on choice in this race. Suraj Narredu tried his best to run away with this race by overtaking Supremacy near the bend and charging towards the winning post. He never realized that the wily Sylvester Desouza was biding his time at the back and was still to make his move astride Gazaki. The free-striding filly joined the issue thereafter, and wore down the favourite in the final furlong. Supremacy plodded along to finish a faraway third. For the third successive time, Sunstone was a source of grief for the Ghatala camp.

Don Diego (Emerald cat – Juanita) had ended second in four of his last five starts. He was now rated at the top of Class IV, and was giving chunks of weight to his ten rivals. He looked outstanding in the paddock and ran according to the expectations of all concerned. He confirmed his place at the top of the betting boards with an authoritative performance. Desouza chose to dictate pace from the very beginning, and Don Diego wasn't hard-pressed while doing so. He ambled along to score from a late-finishing The Phenomena and Seaside Star. The expanding odds of Natural Force were indicative of his chances, and the horse ran accordingly. He was a spent force in the straight, and was unable to figure on the result board. The others in this race ran poorly, and none of them look capable of scoring in the near future.

Gluteus Maximus (Gaswar – Ladyfeelgood) accelerated powerfully from the rear to land the odds in the final race of the day. It was supposed to be a match race between Irfan Ghatala's Sunstorm and Padmanabhan's Cherelle. Both of them were re-appearing after smashing victories earlier this season. Since Sunstorm had won his only career start without raising a sweat, he was expected to show improvement. Cherelle was attempting to score over a slightly longer trip, and her camp felt that she would do so comfortably. With top jockeys Suraj Narredu and Chris Hayes riding the two of them, it was expected to be a close affair. However, the race was full of surprises. Cherelle was prominent till the bend, before she ran out of steam and faded from the scene. Sunstorm took a poor jump and was crowded for room on the inside. Suraj pulled him towards the outer portion of the track and asked him to quicken. Sunstorm raced ahead at the bend, but had no answer when challenged by Gluteus Maximus. The latter flew in the final stages to score comfortably. The winner was ably guided by Mark Gallagher, who has returned to India after a gap of a few years.

The day began with a couple of short-priced favourites scoring runaway victories. Dhariwal's Current Ray (Burden Of Proof – Current Bay) made every post a winning one in the only maidens event framed for the day. Her last effort third was enough to win today. The half-money favourite was chased all the way by Win Again and Shahraan. Suraj did not have to do much astride this compact-looking filly as she proved to be far better than her opponents. Irfan Ghatala's money-back favourite Sun Forever (Diffident –Foretell) won the next race in a common canter. This well-bred filly was running in the lowest class and was running against a poor lot of horses. BL Paswan took a good jump from the inside draw and remained a mute spectator for rest of the way. Sun Forever lengthened her strides to score a bloodless victory. She is bound to improve after this run, and can be earmarked for another success before the end of this season.

A ten-furlong handicap for horses in Class IV witnessed the most exciting finish of the day. In an open betting affair, wherein, most of the runners were attempting this trip for the first time in their careers, last outing winner Indravati was a marginal favourite ahead of Everyday Sunday, Allez Vite and North Cape. In the hands of David Allan, the last-named jumped out smartly and led for most of the way. The other riders chose to ride for eventual speed and were content to chase the leader. The race took a serious turn at the final bend. North Cape felt the pressure and drifted off the rails. He was challenged on the outside by Indravati, while Allez Vite chose the path along the inner rails. With the leader getting tired, the finish was restricted to the challengers. Indravati held the advantage till the last two strides, before he was pipped at the post by Allez Vite (Rakti – Alazima). Apprentice Nausad Alam managed to get that little bit extra from the winner to get the better of John and Indravati.

Faraz Arshad's Smart Exotic (Itaquere Power – Run Woodee Run) scored an unexpected victory and paid the highest dividend of the afternoon in a seven-furlong handicap for horses rated 20-45. This horse was eligible to run in the lowest class, but his trainer chose to race him in the higher category. Smart Exotic had been running in front every single time, and was always getting tired in the final furlong. He was ridden differently today. Vivek chose to hold him back before making his move. Allowing the on-money favourite Fame And Glory to lead inside the final furlong, Smart Exotic was shown daylight by the jockey. Just one look at his long strides was enough to realize that he was going to win this race. Smart Exotic raced smoothly thereafter to register an easy victory. Heavily backed Spark Of Knight was put under pressure to retain the third spot.