The champion mare Yana (Razeen – Zaya) hardly put a stride wrong as she demolished the opposition in the Piaggio Fillies` & Mares` Stakes (Gr.3) in clinical fashion. The mare sent out in top fettle by Bezan Chenoy followed Congrats into the straight and relieved the leader of his duties with little over a furlong left for home. Yana with Y. S. Srinath in saddle went into the lead with a run that was as smooth as silk and the five-year old mare was not hard pressed as she added another feather to her cap. Congrats stayed on finish second ahead of Tsesebe, who spoiled her handicap, and Nora who found her rhythm late into the race.

Srinath had another bread n` butter ride in Dictator (China Visit – All Heart), also trained by Chenoy, who held on adroitly after assuming the command from River Gem opposite the stands. Ariane came through the shortest way to grab the second spot from Brief Encounter and Gerrad, both saddled by M. K. Jadhav. Glorious Miss and Admirals Quest showed poor form to finish in the rut. River Gem deserves a look when he runs over a sprint.

The bay filly Confiserie (Placerville – Sprungli) brought back memories of the dam with a sprightly run which left favourite Cambiasso stranded in the Kanthara Plate. Confiserie trained by Zadmal Singh was ridden off the pace by Imran Chisty as Rio Del Ray set the pace over the nine-furlong trip. Cambiasso was seen plodding in the straight when the race came to a boil and Confiserie in contrast should a splendid turn of foot to leave her rivals gasping for breath. Rio Del Ray ended in the money ahead of Ashridge, who too failed to get into his stride when asked to by Neeraj Rawal. Cambiasso could have given a better account of himself had his jockey Suraj Narredu stepped up the pace instead of being out sprinted in a slow run race.

Chisty completed a double when C. D. Katrak saddled even-money favourite Highland Glory (Greensmith – Knowles Park) escaped the jaws the defeat when Grand Warrior had the moneybags on the edge with his final burst. Forward Charge after leading all the way retired to finish third ahead of Solor, who graced the wrong end of the field for most of the early part of the race. Blade Runner faded out after chasing Forward Charge into the straight.

Apprentice D. S. Rathore continued his good form in the saddle and rode a brace of winners, Hereafter (Ontario – Here Goes) and Fascination (Don`t Forget Me – Act of Trust). Rathore earned both successes in identical fashion winning from end to end astride his mounts. Katrak`s ward Hereafter won in a common canter making the bookies pay a heavy price for disputing her superiority over her rivals. Crème De La Crème edged out Rule of Law towards the end for the runner-up spot while Tearaway ran fourth throughout.

Mansingh Jadhav schooled Fascination caught her rivals on the wrong foot and braved the onslaught of Salawati and Victor Ivanov to land the spoils for her connections. Maverick was in the vanguard till the turn but went back as the race progressed. The Rebel caught the eye with a late run when finishing fifth behind Bemisaal.

Weizhou (Senure – Priceless Moments) defied the handicapper to register an encore in the J. E. Hughes Trophy. The Faisal Abbas trainee seemed to be in a spot of bother before S. Sunil switched lanes at the turn allowing him to unleash a brilliant run and come tearing down at leader Romantic Impact, who lost the race in virtually the last stride. Swahili failed to accelerate and so did Corfu, who had his head in front of the former at the post.

Oh So Romantic (Royal Kingdom – Old Time Romance) the filly from Pesi Shroff`s yard made ample amends for her previous defeat narrowly and was guided to victory by Neeraj Rawal in a workman-like fashion. Tyumen dragged her inexperienced rider to the front and never really settled into a smooth run. Oh So Romantic was settled close behind Catalyst and Matata Pride, who chased Tyumen. Catalyst wrest the lead but Oh So Romantic wore her down in a jiffy and surged clear. Pesi`s other candidate Rommel added pep to the finish by trying to intimidate his stable-partner, who held on valiantly. Indian Summer finished a lacklustre third and was followed home by Catalyst.

Appalina (Placerville – Appetina) shed her maiden status in a blanket finish involving four horses. Fiamma took over from Monarchos as the heads turned for home and looked like kicking on before a scramble took place near the finish. Stephane Breux inspired the Narendra Lagad trained filly to stretch out and keep Blades of Glory, Mythical and Fiamma at bay. Favourite Mythical came miles wide into the straight for no apparent reason and it appeared that he was given too much to do in the closing stages by S. Sunil after gracing the wrong end of the field till the turn.

Vijay Kasbekar saddled and T. S. Jodha ridden Arabian Power (Diffident – Insatiable) earned his corn bill when swooping down on Sail Thru, who led from the gates and ran out of fuel in the dying moments of the race. Golden Orra took off sluggishly and never figured in the fray while Final Attack was outpaced throughout suggesting that he clearly needs some distance to prove his worth.