With many more outstation horses accepting to participate in the second week of the Mysore Main Season, the action was more competitive on Thursday. The eight-event card became more interesting and winner picking became a complicated exercise. The intensity was clearly marked by the close finishes witnessed in all the three trophy events slated for the day. Time For All, Blink and Spiritofexcellence literally won on the last stride, and delighted their numerous supporters. All three were strongly fancied by the respective camps. Each one of them had the credentials and current form to emerge victorious. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup was a terms race for maiden three-year olds. Satish Narredu's Royal Invader and Warren Singh's Game Dancer had arrived from Bangalore to challenge Monappa's local hopeful Time For All. Royal Invader was the best performed of the lot. He had run second to the highly regarded Natouchka on the last day of the summer season. The stable was nap on him, as they decided to entrust him to rookie Koch. This was an obvious attempt to obtain better odds from the bookmakers. Royal Invader cornered all the betting and was slammed down to even-money at race time. Time For All and Game Dancer had fair support in the ring. The final outcome of this race re-confirmed the oft repeated remark heard at race courses all over the world, "Never put a lesser jockey to try and get better returns on your bets". A lot of money went down the drain on Royal Invader in the day's feature. The speedy favourite was quick to seize the advantage, and led from Game Dancer and Time For All. The rest of the runners were unable to keep pace with the leading trio and began to drop back as the race progressed. The leaders entered the straight in almost the same order, and made their charge towards the winning post. The inexperienced Koch became double minded in front. He saw his closest rivals gaining ground on him. He pulled out his stick, and tried to keep his horse in front. Seeing nothing much happening with these tactics, he decided to put away the whip and rode hands and heels. The energetic Gaurav Sapra, in the meanwhile, had already brought Time For All into the fray. The filly gained ground with each stride, and managed to beat Royal Invader by a head at the post. While taking nothing away from the winner, it must be mentioned that Koch lost a race that he could have won. It was a double delight for Gaurav Sapra, as he had already won the day's opener. Power Of Glory was an easy winner of a race reserved for horses in the lowest class. The H H Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup attracted a small field of seven horses rated in Class I. The mile event was billed as a match race between Blink and Wonder Smile. Blink had good current form, while Wonder Smile had performed brilliantly as a four year old. The filly had come down from Ooty and looked nice in the paddock. Jockey Prakash had already won the two preceding events, and was bidding to complete a quick hat-trick with Wonder Smile. The revelation in this race came in the form of Talk Of The Devil. The bottomweighted runner from Sirajjudin's yard galloped strongly in the straight, and joined the two market leaders near the furlong marker. Wonder Smile held a slight advantage over Blink at this stage. The three runners raced abreast thereafter, and could not be separated till the winning post. The camera confirmed that Blink had won from Talk Of The Devil and Wonder Smile. It was one of the most exciting finishes witnessed on the local track in recent times. The B A Nanaih Memorial Gold Cup saw another Prakash ridden favourite getting beaten near the winning post. Legendary had all the requisites to win this race. He was running over his favourite distance of six furlongs, and barring Spiritofexcellence, had no opposition today. Puttanna trained Spiritofexcellence had burst a blood vessel in her last start, and her fans were keeping their fingers crossed today. With Legendary assuming command in the straight, his closest challenger was only Spiritofexcellence. The two runners had drawn clear of the opposition. With Harish making free use of the whalebone, the filly galloped strongly and got up on the very last stride to nail the favourite on the post. Early leader Eona faded from the scene to end a poor third. Prakash and Foley started their day's campaign with a couple of back-to-back victories with Birthday Star and Valiant Bay. While Birthday Star was lucky to hold on to his early advantage from a late finishing Badge Of Honour, Valiant Bay had a smooth passage in his race. He was just given a reminder in the final stages to go away from Nectar Jewel. The well backed Edmondo let down a huge following by running a lethargic race. Despite John's strong urgings, the horse did not accelerate and finished a tame third. Apart from Prakash, Foley and Gaurav Sapra, it was trainer Puttanna who succeeded in completing a double for the day by winning the last race of the afternoon. Star Of Excellence was winless in his numerous starts and had come down in Class. He was lucky to find himself in this company. The mile trip suited him to perfection, and Jagadeesh rode him with calm and confidence. Star of Excellence took a good jump and raced in mid-group for most of the way. He was pulled out near the 200-metre marker and asked for an effort. The response was immediate, as the bay gelding powered his way to the front and won unextended from Royal Liason, Sparklingadventure and Mister Trooper. The winner is capable of winning a similar event on promotion.