The horses who had either finished on or off the board in the North India Derby, barring Kiana and Ashwa Parwez, have been continuously showing their brilliance in Delhi. This time it was the turn of the Derby winner Real Smasher (Ontario-Smash For Cash) itself. He proved too good for the class 2 field at the races held on Monday. But during the day, none of the professionals was able to score a double as favourites fell like nine pins. Running over a shorter trip of six furlongs after the Derby's mile trip made the turf accountants offer a bit more than the expected money-back price to odds-on.

But the gutsy performer's achievement was like "Fear No Move" for the Fear No Move Plate. He swung into action quickly as was sent off in lead and few cracks of whip by Ranjeet Singh in the last phase of the trip put the things beyond the reach of Quality Assurance, who looked to be in futile chase throughout and is expected to be retired to the stud in due course. Completing the course in an amazing timing of 1 minute 11.84 seconds may help him further to annex more races coming his way, whatever is the distance. The theory of smaller the field, greater the difficulty in picking the winner proved right in the opening event of the day, the upper division of The Hola Mohalla Plate. In the field of seven horses, Perfect Affect was sent favourite but was unable to cope up with the pace of Ashwa Prisha and Tempting Thought (Ontario-Thirtysomething) and even lost the third place to Doon Boy, who was alerted to the task in the dying seconds.

Deepak Kalra's Tempting Thought (app Shafeeq Ahmed astride), who had to sweat out under the full-fledged jockey to pip Dazzling Cracker in the last essay of age group, has become the first youngster to taste win in an open class by foiling the bid of Ashwa Prisha. The lower division of the plate saw a brilliant piece of riding by the young apprentice Danish Ali Khan on Benedictus (Puerto Madero-Innara). Having improved gradually from the mid-pack, Benedictus cruised to the front before entering into the final furlong of the five-furlong trip. Movie Queen, who warmed up late, just managed to displace Skyros from the runner-up berth.

Shah Nawab's Trusted Friend (Classic Tale-Mumbai Dancer) finally got his overdue win by heading out Destined Prince in The Always With You Plate. Sparkling Gold, who has been struggling with his form after the early breakthrough, looked fit as she finished close third. At nourishing odds, Kamakhya (Bee’s Prospector-Patli Putli) met with maiden success in the day's concluding event – The Perfect Move Plate. Serious Attitude, who occupied the next best seat, should make amends.