The GST has given a body blow to racing. The professionals are also hell bent on making things difficult for the enthusiasm of race goers who are increasingly quitting the sport in despair. There is no method in the madness. The authorities too are not helping matters by their indifference. The shocking results are hard to explain. Horses which would have run 40 lengths behind in their previous runs are coming and winning making a mockery of form. Horses are given runs blatantly and the same horses come and win with ridiculous ease much to the chagrin of punters who are at the receiving end of these unkind acts. It seems conscience has been mortgaged for material benefits.

Malesh Narredu trained Superstar Supreme had run nearly 42 lengths behind in his last run hardly 15 days ago. The shows dramatic reversal of form by resolutely beating the opposition in the 1200 metres An Acquired Taste Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds came as a big shock. It is impossible for this kind of improvement to come about in such a short time whatever the explanation that can be manufactured in defence of the performance or the lack of it in the previous effort. Superstar Supreme had done no better in its previous effort having finished more than 20 lengths behind the winner. Even given the fact that the field contesting the sprint race was pretty poor, the improvement shown cannot be explained with any degree of conviction. While Superstar Supreme graced the wrong end of the field last time out, this time out the horse was well up with the pace, storming into the lead in the final furlong and then staving off the spirited bid of favourite Costa Brava and Magical Spirit. Add to this the horse was ridden by Mohsin who himself may not be able to recall when exactly he had won a race. Punters have resigned to their fate and nothing much is going to result by their complaining. There was a bit of interference by the winner to the runner-up but there was no elected Steward sitting in the enquiry to decide on the objection. Surely pathetic indeed.

Narendra Lagad trained Powerhaus who had been ridden to the ground by going at break neck speed by jockey Dashrath Singh on the last occasion where stablemate was the winner showed that a better ride would mean making amends. Backed strongly to recoup the losses in the An Acquired Taste Plate (Div II) along with Collegium and Victorio, Powerhaus was ridden in restraint by the same jockey Dashrath Singh. This time out, the filly did not slacken in front and skipped clear of Collegium and Victorio to record an easy win. The last named lacked the speed to get into a striking position from the wide outside draw.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Samarjeet hit the final nail to the spirits of the punters by winning the concluding race of the day, the1600 metres So Perfect Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The horse had run 21 days ago and finished more than nine lengths behind the winner. Earlier to that the performance of the three-year-old was much worse. Eiger`s Tiger showed some zest but was not good enough to get the better of the long shot. The fancied Daughterofthesun finished third.

The day`s feature event of the day, the Gr 3 Idar Gold Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, however, went the way of favourite Temerity who was making a return to the track five months after winning the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Bangalore. Temerity recorded a matter-of-fact victory with Colombiana who has stamina limitations taking the second spot by default against Jack Frost.

Pesi Shroff who saddled Temerity also led in the winner of 1400 metres Cape Knight Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 through last start winner Yanna Rascala. Yanna Rascala who had won last time out impressively despite being away from the track for a long period had no problem in storming clear in the final furlong to win as he pleased. Grey Flannel was the best of the beaten brigade, taking the second position ahead of In My Dream and Uncle Scrooge.

Jockey D S Daman drove out Vulcan to a resolute win over June in the 2400 metres Radical Force Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. June along the rails and Vulcan on her outside, waged an intense battle all the way in the final furlong with the latter prevailing by a neck in the end. June was squeezed for space with jockey Pradeep Chouhan constrained to ride aggressively as he had to keep a straight course in the tight space that he had to manoeuvre along the rails. Jager Bomb was third.

Faisal Abbas trained Naumee prevailed in a tight finish in the 1000 metres Dinkoo N Chenoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The race proved to be an absorbing affair. Naumee and Generous Lady were engaged in a stiff battle for supremacy. Naumee held her ground with a determined effort and closer home had to survive the late onslaught of Speedo. Generous Lady was overhauled in the closing strides of the race by the late rallying Ame who grabbed the third place.

Hoshidar Daji trained Torrezzo justified the strong support in the 2000 metres Spearhead Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Torrezzo chased Windhoek into the straight before assuming control. Despite veering out of a straight course, Torrezzo had enough legs to win the race from Devoted who had to change course because of the wayward drift of the eventual winner.