Trainer Bharath Singh`s five-year-old horse, Malpensa, made a hack of the opposition, including the piping favourite Artesia, on his way to winning the 2,000m Monsoon Cup, Saturday`s star attraction. Ridden by the visiting jockey S. John, the grey horse, by Hurricane State out of Northern Frontier, outsmarted the his three opponents, in the later half of the trip when forced to shoot into the lead as the horse found the early pace being too slow to his liking. Bharath also saddled Royal Scots, a rank-outsider, to victory; finishing the afternoon with a brace of wins. Trainer Vijay Singh was the other professional who notched up a double, albeit a popular one, on the day when favourites shared the honours with some winners available at longer odds.

Malpensa, in fact, exposed the limitations of the half-money favourite, Artesia, who had beaten the former with ease at the similar terms, albeit in a fast-run nine furlong race. A good horse reacts in all conditions but jockey Shailesh Shinde failed to get the best out of the St Leger winner, inspite of an all out efforts.

Bharath`s Royal Scots victory was totally surprising in the 1,100m Star Phoenix Handicap. The horse not only sent the pool hunters for a toss, he also, ruined John`s chances of scoring a double, on the stable`s heavily fancied Hurricane Star. Royal Scots lost some ground at the start, galloped six to eight wide, thereafter. Jockey R. Vaibhav, however, never lost heart on the 30-1 chance in the betting as he brought his charge wide in to the straight. Thereafter, the horse ate up ground on the far-side track to ensure the victory over Hurricane Star who almost made it a pillar-to-post affair.

The 1,400m Unleashed Cup was claimed by trainer Vijay Singh`s hot property, Magical Ability (Shinde-up), who, however, was hard-pressed to overtake the longtime leader, Wonder Like You, inside the final 100m of the 1,400m Unleashed Cup.

Vijay`s went on to saddle, Jalapeno Pepper, a 16-10 clear favourite, to victory in the Supernova Handicap. Apprtentice Munna Alam, however, rode the favourite in Royal Scots` manner, taking the Ikhtyar filly all over the course and yet managing to have the measure of trainer Vikash Jaiswal`s quietly fancied Black Caviour and Shafiq Khan`s Significant – the two early leaders. Entrusted to a stronger jockey, Jalapeno Pepper may strike again in the present class.

Vikash, however, was quick to recoup losses, half-an-hour later when his Passionate, ridden by brother Vinay, found the going easy in the 1,200m Reliable Handicap. In the race, it was trainer Rrutherford Alford`s Head Hunter (B. Mahesh-up) who cornered a good wagerings, at 13-10, and also opted for the start-to-finish tactics. Howver, Passionate`s late surge from the mid-division, put paid the favourite`s aspirations.

Early in the day, Mahesh had his day made when trainer Patrick Quinn`s Barocci delivered the good to land the 2,000m Amazing Handicap. Held back close to the tail enders in the early half, the even-money favourite was quick to cover the ground well before the home turn and was in total control of the race in the stretch eun. The horse recorded a widening eight-length verdict over Bharath Athletico and Vijay`s Fervent Quest – both fancied runners.

Trainer Christopher Gleich`s Drummer`s Qualms was the other one who repaid losses, having been ridden in a check, over a 1,200m sprint, to claim the Sophisticated Lady Handicap. The front running tactics, in the past, had hardly seved the horse`s cause.