Local trainer Aditya's brilliant hat-trick. Money Bags' fifth successive victory and a well executed coup by the connections of Brave Heart, were the three highlights of the second day's races at the royal city. 

Aditya set the ball rolling, the second in demand Misty Warrior from his yard coming up tops in the opening event, the Virija Plate. The winner piloted by the promising five-kilo claimer Mohd Talib, after being favourably placed in the 1100M dash assumed command when the race came on a boil and hung on gamely to score from the top fancy Feronia, who found the trip a trifle sharp. Talib on Thursday, astride Gold Kite went down by the shortest of margins to Tom Cruiser. The fact that Talib didn't let the disappointment on the opening day affect his approach the next day only confirms that this apprentice, apart from a good seat has the required temperament to make it count in tough situations. 

In the next event, the Varada Plate, Furious Fun from his yard was strongly fancied and the even-money favourite confidently piloted by Dharshan Antony justified the confidence of her supporters, easily making every post a winning one. Lesser fancied Arikattu from the stables of Mandanna followed the smart winner home ahead of the Bobby schooled Royal Chivalry, who like Feronia in the opening event found the 1100M scurry too sharp to make his presence felt. Like My Child continues to disappoint and this Subbaiah trainee is best left ignored until the five-year-old mare displays the willingness to improve in the months ahead. 

In line for the coveted hat-trick, Aditya sent out the five to one shot Truth In Wine spot on in the Somnathpur Plate and the lesser fancied winner in the hands of Sai Kiran bolted in to the delight of her proud master, who it is needless to mention was ecstatic and will cherish the moment. The Sebastian-trained Blazing Star caught the eye while charging home to gain the runner-up berth ahead of the Ranjeet schooled Teresa, while the Suraj Shaw schooled Nozomi who garnered the maximum support in the betting ring after being favourably placed at the top of the straight lacked the gas in the tank to make a race of it and only managed to complete the frame. 

The Prasanna Kumar schooled Money Bags is in rousing form. Back after winning four straight races in the Bangalore summer season, Money Bags was the short-priced hot favourite to win the opening plum of the season, the HH Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy and the public rage despite a sluggish start and what appeared a rusty exercise, yet managed to maintain his winning streak comfortably beating the topweighted Shamrock and the local boy Crown Drive. Efficacy from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard, who won his last start two starts here in his customary front running role called the shots till the heads turned for home and surprisingly packed up even before the race came on a boil and to the disappointment of his supporters, who fancied him strongly in place, finished last of the five runners. 

In the Jim Foley Memorial Trophy, trainer Neil Devaney and the Srivastava brothers, Prakash and Deepak pulled off a big gamble. Brave Heart owned by Prakash and Deepak opened (12/1) in the betting ring before the connections slammed it down to (6/1) . The Neil Devaney camp trusted the filly to come good in this moderate set and Brave Heart in the hands of Sai Kiran showed a clean pair of heels to her 10 rivals cruising home in resplendent style. Rank outsider Evermore followed the deserving winner home, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Mystic Dew managed to only save money in place. The favourite Virtuous lost a couple of lengths at the start and soon it was clear that the public choice was not in a position to make a favourable impression in her debut. Brave Heart won in style and is set to provide an encore. An immensely pleased Prakash Srivastava disclosed that he liked the horse and purchased Brave Heart at a fancy price despite the three-year-old filly failing to make a good impression in her first five starts. "She had improved most after her summer campaign at her home-centre (Bangalore) and we fancied her in the opening week here and she really blew the field off," said Prakash. 

"She is a vastly improved filly and now that she is on top of her game, she should make it count when next saddled," said  Deepak. 

The on-money favourite Ice Of Fire justified her rating and ranking powering home to score in the Paddock Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner confidently piloted by leading pro Trevor Patel, who partnered Money Bags earlier in the day tracked the leader Aquastic for most part of the seven furlongs trip before he eased the brakes on the public choice and Ice Of Fire responding well to her master's call produced a winning gallop approaching the distance post to put the race to bed in the final furlong. The Rajesh Narredu-trained Excellent Lass impressed most finishing a game second, while announcing that she is back in business and soon will resume her winning ways in the weeks ahead. 

Advantageously placed in at the scales, Royal Legacy from the stables of James McKeown, the Aravind Ganapathy-trained seasoned customer Moon Star and the moody Maana from trainer Darius Byramji's yard were the three frontliners for the Pune Plate run over a mile and Royal Legacy in her maiden appearance at this centre produced a heartwarming effort to romp home in style. The filly on the strength of this sublime performance will fancy her chances in the first classic of the season, the Zavaray Poonawalla 1000 Guineas scheduled to be held on Sept 18.