Darius Byramji trained Alexandra Mills produced a stunning stretch run to swamp the quality field in the 1800 metres Ashok Chakra Cup, a terms race for three year olds and over, the feature event of Friday`s races. Racing resumed after a break of fortnight enforced by unprecedented rain. But as someone wittily put it in our Public Pulse forum, ``when there is muck on the track, there is no racing. When the track is good, racing is all muck!`` There were indeed many shock results which badly hurt the punters.

Top weighted Agostini who has a bagful of wins to his credit was strongly backed to win the race though his last run at Pune showed that he was on the decline. There was quiet support for Alexandra Mills who had lost by a whisker to classic placed Auriga. That run was suggestive of the fact that the progeny of Ace was in pink of condition and that her turn would come very soon. And so it proved as jockey S John who was back in action after a year-long suspension at Hyderabad which many believed was unfair, guided the second favourite with aplomb.

Trevor Patel took Agostini to the front with Toroloco who hasn`t won for many years, showing zest and race in close proximity of the front runner. Blazing Touch, Arrogant Approach and Alexandra Mills followed in that order. Jockey John waited with Alexandra Mills till turning for home before bringing the second favourite into contention on the wide outside. With the expected acceleration not coming from Agostini and Toroloco getting the better of him, the struggling pair was easily overhauled by Alexandra Mills who showed sparkling acceleration to have the race sewn up long way from home. Toroloco ran on to finish third ahead of Agostini. Arrogant Approach who had a profitable Mysore season, picking up two group races at Mysore, surprisingly was off colour and finished a dismal last.

Super Sunshine and Heaven Is Here who were both victims of harsh penalty after running in terms races, were expected to dominate the finish of 1600 metres Hoysala Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Time and again it has been proved that such horses which get a jump into higher class without winning, rarely oblige. Super Sunshine ended up getting solid support while the odds on Heaven Is Here eased as the filly was not seen in regular work due to the track being not available due to continuous rains. Son of Stars bolted to the front and many reckoned that he was doing the job of a pace maker for Super Sunshine but the four year old revelled under the soft underfoot conditions though the official position was that it was good going and stormed away beyond the reach of the rest on turning for home. Top weighted Ace Bucephalus ran better than the younger lot and finished second in the hands of apprentice Syed Imran. Heaven Is Here who raced up with the pace, manged to save the third slot from Super Sunshine who looked a lost cause all the way in the straight.

Why Should I who had put up poor show in his last six efforts suddenly showed the spark of old and shaped to cause an upset in the 1200 metres Yadgir Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 but weakened in the final stages of the race. Why Should I was chased by the heavily support Glittering who struggled hard to get the better of front runner. Even as the filly was in the process of doing so, Trapezoid who had two wins to her credit at Mysore produced a strong effort and overhauled the battling duo. Glittering in the end managed to head Why Should I to get the runner up berth. The latter can strike if exploited next time out on the basis of this effort.

The Saddle Up Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 threw a confusing picture as none of the runners stood out by virtue of their previous efforts. Winner picking was hazardous though the ones who cornered the attention were Sir Majestic and Swiss Eagle. There was steady flow of money on Able Master on the tote while in the betting ring, the three year old was available at longer odds. There were only two winners of three year olds races in the fray namely Able Maser and Ophelia. Both these runners were not placed at an advantage at the top of the straight but Able Master worked his way through the middle from way behind to come into strong contention in the final furlong. Even as he was being hailed as a winner came Ophelia with a lightening run on the wide outside which took her past Able Master. Debutant Back of Beyond was third, returning a fancy dividend on place on the tote. Freestyle produced a winning effort in the final furlong in the hands of jockey Trevor to claim the lower division of the race as a well backed runner. Unfancied Pure Esteem was second ahead of One More Toy.

Md Khan trained Bonfire who had consistently placed on board at Mysore, went one better when coming with a late bid to get the better of favourite I`ve Got Clout to win the 1400 metres Kokkarebellur Plate (Div I), a race for three year olds. I`ve Got Clout appeared to have got a winning lead in the final furlong but Bonfire put up a resolute effort to get the nod in the shadow of the post to win at nourishing odds. Stormont was third. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Silver Legend made amends for failure as a favourite during his only run in summer. Silver Legend shot into the lead inside the final 300 metres and brooked no opposition from the rest as he recorded a stylish by a widening margin of five lengths over Gabino and Brabus.

Satish Narredu trained Country`s Crown was strongly backed to win the 1100 metres Half A Crown Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. However, the favourite could not sustain his supremacy in front as Akha Teej came home with a powerful burst to get past the favourite with a measure of comfort. Legal Legacy was more than nine lengths adrift in third position. Suraj Narredu who was astride many failed favourites had a consolation win through Atlantis in the lower division of the race. Atlantis had no problem in holding off the challenge of heavily backed favourite Mariko who was too flat footed to make a mark. Vicious Circle was third.