Pradeep Chouhan-trained Manwar, who arrived in Bengaluru with two straight wins in Mumbai tucked neatly under his saddle cloth, justified the confidence of punters by landing the 1600 metres D M Kumaraswamy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 and the feature event on an otherwise uninspiring six-race card on Saturday. Jockey Vivek merely had to point the favourite in the right direction before collecting.

Manwar looked a class above this bunch of inconsistent campaigners. The chief among them was Circle of Dreams, a horse whose performances continue to puzzle punters and probably his connections too. Vivek kept Manwar snug in second along the rails while D Fronx showed the way before predictably waving the white flag on entering the straight. Angled into the clear, Manwar quickly settled the issue and strode away to score by over two lengths. Circle of Dreams arrived fashionably late to finish second ahead of Hazel, once again ensuring his admirers had plenty to discuss after the race.

With several lower-class races on the card, punters found themselves navigating the usual minefield, and a couple of favourites happily led them into it. In the 1400 metres Skyline Plate (Div I), first-timer Sherlock was backed as though the result had already been filed away. Instead, the favourite spent the afternoon looking for clues while second favourite Vorfreude solved the puzzle from the front. Apprentice Ritesh Gochi dictated matters throughout and the race was effectively over long before the winning post arrived. Divo and Turkman filled the minor placings.

The lower division produced a big upset as rank outsider Fiery Love lived up to her name, scorching the opposition at rewarding odds. Best of Us and White Secret followed her home, while favourite Blaze burned plenty of betting slips instead of the opposition.

Dominic-trained second favourite Whitney had matters under control for most of the journey before holding off the late flourish of favourite Double Scotch to win Division III of the Skyline Plate. Flaming Dream finished third.

The 1200 metres Veterinarians Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45, looked tailor-made for last-start runaway winner Majestic Persona, but favourites, it seemed, had declared a holiday. The market leader never threatened and had to settle for third as Pradeep Annaiah-trained Vibrant Queen, ridden confidently by A. R. Pradeep, made every post a winning one at attractive odds. Aatherv finished strongly to snatch second.

Arjun Mangalorkar-trained Yarra Yarra, benefiting from a previous outing, made short work of the opposition in the 1400 metres Mauritius Plate for maiden three-year-olds. The experienced Garzian attempted to make all but found Yarra Yarra too strong in the closing stages and had to settle for second. Mystic Dew held off Shining Dawn to save the place money.