Royal Ambassador was expected to win the 1600 metres Stewards Trophy on Saturday in decisive fashion but the son of Royal Gladiator was hard-pressed to prevail over Our Little Savage who put up a stiff resistance before fading down in the shadow of the winning post. The Delhi returned Our Little Savage who had finished second in the North India Derby to Brahmaputra threatened to pull off a big upset but Royal Ambassador who took his own time to overhaul the front-runner, managed to do so before it was too late. Dare Don who raced ahead of the field from the start, ran on doggedly to finish third to continue his consistent performance. The veterans in the race - Talk of the Devil, Hesperus and Super Speed were surprisingly off color and ran below expectations.

Royal Ambassador has been a grand performer and had beaten in the past, the likes of Splendid Surprise and Retribution who subsequently won the Derby at different centers. As such, Royal Ambassador had no limitation on talent. He was expected to be more at home over trips up to a mile.

Last time out, he won over a seven furlong trip despite running into one problem or the other and then shooting past the opposition in the final furlong to win in great style. This time out, Royal Ambassador, despite being sluggish at the start, quickly made up the leeway and was in the fourth or fifth position at the final bend and within reach of the front-running Dare Don and Our Little Savage. Rounding the final bend, one expected Royal Ambassador to take charge with minimum of fuss but he did not show the patented acceleration and was struggling to overhaul Our Little Savage. However, the mile long trip perhaps went against Our Little Savage as he slowed down perceptibly in the final moments of the race, allowing Royal Ambassador to carry the weight of public expectations safely. Hesperus who has never won over the mile long trip in his illustrious career was in a handy position till fading out of the scene in the final furlong while Talk of the Devil did not find foot at any stage of the race.

Jockey Suraj Narredu, who is desperately trying to win the championship and working hard to clear up the lead taken by Prakash, was in line for a hat-trick as he was guiding the fortunes of Aelenia who was the public fancy in the 1200 metres Chamarajanagar Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 70. Milagro who was running after a long lay off, saw support waning for him in the ring coming as he did from a stable which is not in the habit of winning before testing the water. Adorabella, who has been consistent, had the first run on her opponents even as Aelenia had to work his way through the gap in the middle. Under pressure, Aelenia shifted out and this perhaps undid her chances as Adorabella went into a fighting lead. Though Aelenia came up menacingly, the winning post came to the rescue of the front-runner who escaped defeat by the proverbial whisker.

The drift in price on Radiant Act was enough indication that he would not be a serious contender in the 1100 metres Sringeri Plate, a race for maiden three-year olds. As such, Spicy Star attracted disproportionate amount of betting to make him as cramped 'on money' favourite. Man United had his chances but he was left to run at nourishing odds. Man United who led the field into the straight, kept the lead till the winning post even as Spicy Star only threatened to overhaul the front-runner without showing the needed spark. Suraj was astride the winner and he also guided home a winner in the next race through Girl Next Door who essayed a comfortable start to finish mission. As usual there was inspired support for Loknath trained Spread A Smile but the favourite plodded home to be a poor third, causing much money to go down the drain. Silver Paris who was slow at the start, finished on strongly to take the second spot.

Super Sonic was the firm favourite in the 1200 metres Magadi Plate though such one-sided support for the trainee of Puttanna was bound to be misplaced as horses from this stable rarely have the privilege of winning at such cramped odds. These things happen more as an aberration than as a routine possibility. There was Act Smart who had won well but neglected if only because Lloyd Marshall had been declared to ride him. The jockey, once a rousing performer having won every big race in the country, is now a pale shadow of the jockey that he was. However, he gave no anxious moments to the connections who had fancied Act Smart as the jockey went on a successful start to finish mission for which he was famous for. Royal Hero chased the front-runner without hope. Super Sonic who was at a handy second position at one stage, packed up without trace and was reported to have burst her blood vessels.

The day’s races did not run kindly for punters who were hurt by the parade of rank outsiders winning most races. Another Puttanna trainee Sun Zone beat a mediocre field at lucrative odds to land a good touch. There was support for Rain Man but with indisposed jockey Chandrashekar having been replaced by S Babu, the odds on him drifted out, paving the way for Kioko to occupy that slot. However, the favourite who was never prominently positioned finished in the rut. Sun Zone, who raced a handy third into the straight, went clear in the final furlong to win comfortably from Ecuador and Star Blue.

The Agumbe Trophy, a race for three-year olds, saw five winners of maidens’ races face the starter. Royal Amber, Valiant Bay and Spark of Isis all had supporters in equal measure. Sparkofisis went on a start to finish mission which told on her prospects as she weakened when the heat was on. Royal Amber who chased the front-runner into the straight assumed command but he failed to sustain his challenge as Valiant Bay, in the riding of jockey Prakash, got the nod in the dieing moments of the race.