Betting is the heartbeat of racing, or at least it used to be. These days, it occasionally flatlines. Racegoers keep the sport alive with their wallets and optimism, but optimism has a short shelf life when picking a winner begins to feel like a blindfolded dart throw in a power cut. Betting should never dictate how racing is run, but when form collapses into performance art and results routinely insult common sense, punters drift away. Attendance is thinning, fresh blood is scarce and the remaining audience is ageing gracefully into resignation.

The authorities, meanwhile, have shown remarkable consistency in doing very little to arrest this slide. No serious outreach, no modern presentation, no effort to explain why races so often defy logic. Confidence, once lost, does not return on its own. Publishing detailed race cards, like those in the USA with speed ratings and expert assessments, might help punters engage rationally instead of relying on betting-ring gossip. Too often, merit is ignored simply because the market has chosen to look elsewhere.

Against this backdrop, the feature event delivered irony with timing worthy of applause. African Gold, trained by Darius Byramji, rediscovered the winning habit after 408 days, having spent much of last season promising redemption and delivering disappointment. A former Gr 1 Colts` Championship winner blessed with a high cruising speed, he had been ridden like a horse allergic to his own strengths. On Sunday, common sense finally got a ride. Akshay Kumar let him stride freely in front and African Gold responded brilliantlay, bossing the 1800 metres Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy with authority. Favourite Psychic Star was kept honest but never truly threatening, and was fortunate to hang on to second ahead of a late-rushing pack led by Thalassa.

The Karl Umrigar Salver offered the day`s next lesson in betting humility. Ataash, trained by Nazak Chenoy, arrived at the party with big odds and left with the silverware. Market King did the donkey work in front, Christophany briefly teased victory and Chagall was fancied largely because of the address on his stable door. But once Ataash was asked to stretch by apprentice Omkar, the result was sealed. The long shot didn`t just win; he swamped the field. Chagall trailed in a well-beaten third, reputation intact, hopes deflated.

Among the juveniles, Elevate justified strong support in the Topspin Plate, jumping smartly and never looking back. Tempo, heavily backed, discovered that money cannot run for you and settled for a disappointing third. The other two-year-old race, the Lt Col Govind Singh Trophy, saw Buckingham outstay D`Artagnan after a proper scrap, while Alexios once again suggested that promise does not always convert into progress.

Charlie Brown continued his long-running series titled Next Time, Surely, fading tamely after flattering to deceive yet again. Don Julio, ridden with purpose by Sandesh, got the better of Skandha, who briefly threatened an upset before realism intervened.

Zafferano, having failed to trouble the classics, found life much simpler in ordinary company, producing a strong finish to land the Ram Zodge Plate. Starseed, the favourite, arrived late as if still reading the race conditions.

The opener set the tone for the afternoon. Two well-backed runners from the same yard duly disappointed, while Storm Cloud, ignored by almost everyone, made all and reminded punters that betting certainty is often the least reliable form guide.

The upset of the day, however, belonged to Lagad trained Lightning Blaze. Winless in 46 starts and clearly unburdened by expectation, she ran freely in front in the mile long race and refused to be caught in the D W Reid Plate. Fancied runners chased late and Maratha Admiral ended a close second.