Trainer Harvinder Singh Bath’s absolute faith in the abilities of his horse, Anastasio (Nirmal Jodha-up), paid off on Tuesday. The 4/1 shot won the 1,100m A.Q. Qidwai Cup, as the horse made his own running to score with a degree of ease. The afternoon also witnessed trainer Manvendra Singh’s heavily fancied, Interstellar, recording his fourth victory in a row -- also in a facile manner. Trainer Arti Doctor, too, was among winners, notching up a popular double, through Dussehra and Ashi Nangsey, in the day’s seven-event card.

Anastasio had looked slightly tucked in during the paddock-parade, in his last week’s run as an odds-on favourite. Another hard run, in seven days and against a very competitive field, was expected to weigh heavy on the four-year-old, though, surprisingly, the horse looked relaxed and keen this time in the saddling enclosure. The victory of the Verenan son, therefore, paid compliment to his master as he went about his task, up-front from the start, to beat trainer Bharath Singh’s Noverro. In the same race, the ever so young Bullet, a nine year old, ran a great race as he placed a good third. His run also indicated that he was in a good shape and also that the age is just a number.

Arti’s favourites, last week, had proved as big letdowns. However, the paying public had immense faith in the abilities of the Lady trainer, who duly delivered the goods.

Arti’s Dusserah (Nikhil Bhujbal), a 6/4 favourite, was given a copybook ride, in the 1,400m Verge Handicap. Held back a close third, behind the second favourite, Uptown Girl, and Native Speaker, the four-year-old filly took over the running, a furlong from home to simply sail away from the field.

Jockey S. Zervaan, partnering the Lady trainer’s even-money favourite, Ashi Nangsey, left nothing to chance. He drove the Arabian Gulf filly into a six-length lead, from the flag off, to leave the likes of Theo, Fabienne and Rabda in a wild goose chase. Trainer Bharath Singh’s Rabda (Sk Israil) was a good third in the race. He bears watching.

The afternoon proved beneficial for most of those playing the frontrunning roles. Manvendra’s Intestellar (Ashhad Asbar), a habitual frontrunner, gradually build up s sizeable lead from the start to frustrate the opposition in the 1,400m Everynsky Handicap. The 19/20 favourite, therefore, not only fully justified his short odds, he also confirmed his first season’s form, having won three races in a row with an equal ease.

Trainer Robert Gowli’s 7/1 chance in the betting, Ivy (Arman Khan), also followed the short-cut tactics to profit in the 1,200m Vibrant Handicap; which the horse won in a convincing manner. In the same race, trainer Vikash Jaiswal’s Studiofiftyfour (Mohit Singh) was an eye-catching second, after trailing the field till 300m from home. One wished the jockey was asked to explain his intentions.

Trainer Shafiq Khan’s 13/20 hot-property, Cocoanut (app. Ranidan Singh), was another one who carried the public-purse to an easy victory in the 1,100m Supernova Handicap. Last week’s handling of the horse, by Afzal Khan, had raised quite a few raised eyebrows. Nevertheless, the Sussex son was backed as a good thing, on this occasion, though the apprentice failed to keep a straight course, taking almost the entire field towards the far-side rails.

Arti’s Bubbly Bellini (Zervaan) attracted a bulk of support in the concluding event, the 1,400m Picture Perfect Handicap but the 12/10 favourite, found Bharath’s pair of Athletico (C. Alford) and Spyglass Hill (Asbar) a shade superior in the crunch situations. Asked to chase the runaway leader, Bindass (app. Munna Alam) , the favourite raised hope of a victory inside the last furlong but she lacked acceleration, and thus the defeat.