It turned out to be a good day for the followers of form, four firm favourites and two well supported second choices standing tall at the podium. The public rage Tolkien, offered at miserly odds (30/100), proved too good in the BA Nanaiah Memorial Trophy, while the well fancied second favourite Flaming Sword made every post a winning one in the principal added attraction, the Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Sports Club Trophy run over a sprint.

The Darius Byramji schooled Tolkien on paper had no opposition worthy of mention. Leading pro Antony Raj astride the top choice only needed to guide the talented colt in the mile long journey and the winner cruised home without really working up a sweat. The top weighted Mother’s Grace from the stables of Suraj Shaw creditably followed the winner home and on the strength of this satisfactory effort merits attention when next saddled.

The Dominic-trained Flaming Sword opened the favourite in the Sports Club Trophy before money came pouring in on another runner from the Darius Byramji yard, Doncaster Belle, who despite being favourably placed in the sprint event found Flaming Sword too hot to handle and eventually finished third, Splendid Dream from the stables of Gregory Sandhu edging out the public choice to gain the runner-up berth close home. Flaming Sword, it must be mentioned is in good nick and is set to provide an encore.

The Subbaiah camp pulled off a good gamble on True Gold in the lower division of the Regency Gold Plate run over a sprint. The five-year-old gelding was backed to the exclusion of her 11 rivals including the Praveen Jesu schooled Black Rainforest, who had no takers at (4/1), while the railbirds confidently chose to double their bets on True Gold. The even-money favourite piloted by Dharshan to the delight of a majority of railbirds streaked ahead in the final furlong before the apprentice Lave Kumar packed punch on Black Rainforest. The Jesu ward responding gamely stormed into contention before going down narrowly much to the relief of all the supporters of True Gold, who hung on to gain the verdict by a   `neck’.

The upper division of the event produced a shock result, the 15 to one long shot Wood Art coming up tops in the hands of Ayaz Khan. The Aravind Ganapathy-trained Star Comet piloted by Vinod Shinde garnered the maximum support in the six furlongs trip, but much to the chagrin of the followers of form finished a tame third, the Somashekar schooled The Grey Geranium comfortably gaining the runner-up berth. The grey in fact was hotly fancied in place by the connections and he justified the confidence of his supporters ensuring they walk home with all three bags full.

Thrice second in as many starts in the summer season, Walter from Vinesh Naik’s yard was rightly fancied most in the concluding event, the Lokapavani Plate and the top fancy confidently piloted by leading pro Srinath broke the ice cruising home nice and easy to earn his winning bracket much to the relief of his trainer, who was sick and tired of watching Walter meeting one better, each time he walked out of the paddock in the summer.

The Neil Devaney camp fancied Incio strongly in the Talakadu Plate run over a mile. The consistent performer looked the best in parade ring and that also influenced most big bettors to go with him. Haniel from Darius’ yard had her fair share of supporters and the filly produced a stunning effort to donkey-lick her 10 rivals despite stumbling badly at the start. Turkoman finished on gamely to finish second ahead of Inicio, who was no match to the vastly improved Haniel, who should be supported again when next saddled.

The strongly supported Feronia from the stables of leading trainer Rakesh justified favouritism in the opening event. Antony Raj guiding the fortunes of the winner produced a copybook effort to help the railbirds start on a winning note before Walter ensured that the punters returned home with a spring in their stride.