Not getting a clear passage at the time of need made Real Smasher helpless, whereas getting warmed up at the same juncture helped Master Blaster to put his best foot forward in the Vikram Greenland Stud-sponsored North India 2000 guineas at the Delhi races on Tuesday. The second classic event of the season turned out to be a dress rehearsal for the North India Derby. The field of 12 horses wore an open look after the flow of betting concentrated on three to four contenders. Shocking Star, who was supposedly termed as a pace maker to Real Smasher, executed her duty perfectly, but after entering the straight, she was unable to provide a space to Real Smasher, who was rallying through the fence.

That proved vital for Master Blaster (Hymn-Velocette), who by then came into position to stake a claim. Real Smasher, after overcoming the hurdles, tried hard to create a sensation by turning the table. But Chhotu Singh Jodha was quick enough on Master Blaster to get neck better of Rajinder's mount. Undoubtedly Real smasher was unfortunate. But the battle has certainly drawn a line of keen tussle for the last blue riband race. Shocking Star, who finished third, showed remarkable improvement with cross noseband and basket bit. A lack of run pushed Ashwa Pushkar to fourth place. Kiana, who was the winner of the 1000 Guineas, had no other runner but Sparkling Gold at the end. The light drizzle, which started after the track session, continued till middle of the card.

A dense fog made the visibility poor and even the commentator found it difficult to recognise the horses particularly in the mile's competition. A juvenile Miss Burgeon (Ontario-Thunderlite) enabled jockey Richard smith enjoy an armchair ride while justifying the top billing in the day's opener, The Sunray Plate. RK Saxena and Mrs Punam Saxena-owned Ode To Nature (Gaswar-Blue Hen) provided them back-to-back double in the similar way in the upper division of The Ponza Plate. A runaway winner Ode To nature should complete an encore. The lower division of the plate saw Striko (Classic Report-Happy Chick) foiling the start-to-finish bid of El Toro at the post. The latter should make amends. Air Forse One landed a surprise narrow victory over Zingaro in the plate named after her sire, The Bee's Prospector Plate. Incidentally, both the horses are the siblings from the mother side - Gypsy Moth and the victor is a year-old junior. King Challenge (Ansbach-Dynamite Doll) demolished the class 2 field in The Charon Plate. Afea, who was the runner-up, was poorly handled.