Elysium, from the yards of Bangalore-based trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi, gave a much-improved performance to wear down favourite Kavya in the Threptin Fillies’ & Mares” Stakes (Gr.3). When the nine-furlong event was flagged off, Kavya, who was conceding chunks of weight to her six rivals, found herself heading the field. Winfield raced in second ahead of Regina Memorabilis for a while, with Elysium close behind. NS Parmar-ridden Kavya brought the field into the home stretch with Winfield trying to collar the leader after Regina Memorabilis started to fall back. A furlong still left to travel, Mansingh Jadhav-schooled Kavya was comfortably ahead of Winfield, who made no significant progress. However, Elysium (Win Legend – Passion To Perform) unleashed a powerful run when set alight by Akshay Kumar, covering nearly six lengths before flying past Kavya in the shadow of the winning post to win by three-parts of a length. An identical distance behind finished Winfield, who probably needed strong assistance in the saddle. Namiri ran fourth.
 
Punters had a disastrous day as most fancied runners let them down. A winner on debut, Pradeep Chouhan-saddled Real Gold was expected to give an encore in the Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy, but the Antony Raj-piloted heavily-backed favourite flopped badly. Beyond Stars made the initial running over the mile trip with Brasilier, Myrina, and Diego Garcia in close attendance. Real Gold made a swift move at the halfway mark to join the leaders but failed to make headway thereafter. Meanwhile, A. Sandesh-partnered Diego Garcia came through the shortest way home to secure a narrow lead over Brasilier and Beyond Stars. Just as Diego Garcia kicked on, both Giant Gold and Victory Flair, who was slowly out from the gates, came with a terrific run in the closing stages of the race. Apprentice Aditya Waydande-ridden Giant Gold (Top Class – Marilyn) from Shazaan Shah’s yard prevailed over Victory Flair by a nose, while Diego Garcia was a neck behind in third. Brasilier ended fourth even as Real Gold disappeared from the scene to finish eighth.
 
Aman Hussain-trained Queen of Beauties, entrusted to Akshay on this occasion, cornered the majority of support in the betting ring but she could only finish third in the Gruezi Plate. The pair of Storm Cloud and El Moran enjoyed the lead, while Manor House and Gold Bar chased them. Queen of Beauties showed no early speed and raced at the wrong end of the field behind Staria and Wind Dancer. Gold Bar, with Ramswarup in the saddle, snatched the lead from Storm Cloud about a furlong away from the wire and tried to consolidate her lead. However, Sandesh urged Dallas Todywalla-nursed Wind Dancer (Western Aristocrat – Watchmyscript) to step up her speed and the mare responded with alacrity to swoop down on Gold Bar in the last few strides. Sandesh’s power-packed riding made all the difference in the end. Queen of Beauties took some stick from Akshay before she got into her stride, but Wind Dancer was beyond her reach. She finished third ahead of Staria, who failed to quicken in the straight.
 
Earlier, hot-favourite Manuel from Pesi Shroff’s string was humbled by Adhirajsingh Jodha’s ward The Olive Crown in the Auburn Plate. Aegean Sea showed the way to the field of seven runners as they embarked on the mile journey, while Fire Away quickly joined him and had Muqaddar for company on the outside. As the heads turned for home, Muqaddar took charge briefly before Antony made his bid astride The Olive Crown (Ulysses – Gymnaste), who accelerated well to assume command shortly after crossing the two-furlong post and kicked on gamely to frustrate Vivek G.-piloted Manuel, who chased the winner in vain after failing to respond adequately to his rider’s call. Scorcher finished an unextended third, while Fire Away faded out to be fourth.go
 
Punters once again burned their fingers by rooting for Azaadi and Mystica’s chances in the October Handicap. Apprentice S. Siddharth-driven Azaadi went at a scorching pace from the barriers and opened up a good lead over the six-furlong sprint only to lose steam when the field reached the final furlong. As Azaadi slowed down, the Adhirajsingh trainee Caviar Queen gathered momentum and slipped through the inner rails. Caviar Queen (Win Legend – Maun Vrat), who is bred as full sister to Kavya, was spurred by Ramswarup to record her maiden win, well ahead of runner-up Snow Girl. Mystica made no impression when finishing third ahead of Azaadi.
 
Imtiaz Sait-schooled filly Age of Reason made ample amends for her previous lackluster performance when putting a gallant effort in the Chef D’oeuvre Plate, a mile and a quarter contest. Monterey hit the front and bowled along merrily in front of Age of Reason, Shaandaar, and Casspian. Monterey held the advantage till the last furlong where Neeraj Rawal stirred Age of Reason (Study of Man – Villanueva) into action and the filly responded gamely to overwhelm the leader. Shaandaar improved gradually, but his effort was overshadowed by the winner’s gutsy performance. Monterey and Casspian followed them home.
 
In a shocking upset right at the start of the day, Behram Cama-groomed Jagger not only shocked his rivals, but also caught the punters, who were put off by the erratic start he took three weeks ago, napping. Jagger took a level jump in the hands of TS Jodha but languished at the rear end of the field as We Still Believe called the early shots. Luminosity, who attracted a lot of money in the betting ring, gained the upper hand over We Still Believe as soon as the field straightened for home, but he faced a serious challenge from Gibson Knott. As these two horses were engaged in a dispute, Jagger (Win Legend – Aerona), who was the last horse to enter the straight, ran as if he had sprouted wings and took the shortest route home to vanquish the field. Highground took second place ahead of Exhalt and Gibson Knott in a tight finish.