Punters were left scratching their heads yet again as favourites continued their season-long game of hide-and-seek. Backers kept turning up with confidence, only to discover that the market leaders had quietly slipped out the back door while the better-priced runners walked away with the prize.

It was, however, a procession for Prasanna Kumar-trained Iron Mirage, who completed a hat-trick of victories in identical fashion, making every post a winning one in the Coromandel Gromor Bangalore Million, the feature terms race for three-year-olds. The son of Dreamfield was such a standout that the betting ring virtually waved a white flag even before the gates opened. Jockey Akshay Kumar`s task was reduced to little more than keeping the horse pointed in the right direction as Iron Mirage surged clear at the top of the straight for an emphatic victory.

The only meaningful change in the race came behind the winner, with Shining Ways flying home from last to finish second, though more than four lengths adrift. There was a dramatic duel for third between stablemates, Rampage getting the verdict by a nose over Rambo in the final stride. Rizz, who had chased the winner throughout, cried enough in the straight. Iron Mirage now appears ready for sterner assignments and a mile campaign during the monsoon season, with the Guineas an obvious target.

Joseph Awale-trained Seize The Grey justified sustained market confidence in the S M Cama Music And Production Pvt Ltd Million, a 1200 metres maiden event for three-year-olds. Heinrich, who had caught the eye with a promising fourth on debut, also attracted strong support, ensuring a lively betting contest.

Golden Hues led into the straight before fading, allowing jockey N S Parmar to angle Seize The Grey into the clear. The response was immediate as the fancied runner quickened impressively to settle the issue without anxiety, beating favourite Heinrich with authority. Osaka finished a distant third.

Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Elysium, who had disappointed supporters at the previous outing, made handsome amends in the D M Shivaswamy Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres. Akshay Kumar produced a ride that was won as much by judgement as by horsepower. While others travelled the scenic route, he spotted daylight hugging the rails, squeezed through a gap between the front-running Aquastic and Prince of Wales, and Elysium did the rest.

Ice Of Fire came charging down the outside with a powerful late run but arrived a fraction too late, falling short by half a length. Prince of Wales stayed on for third.

Irfan Ghatala continued his excellent run this season with Felisa, who ended a lengthy barren spell in the Chennai Cup (Division I) over 1400 metres. Jockey Aravind Kumar employed the oldest trick in racing, steal the march while everyone else is busy watching each other. Felisa was allowed to dictate matters with an uncontested lead of over five lengths, and by the time the chasing pack realised the race had begun, the mare had stretched her advantage to seven lengths at the finish.

Defence Counsel finished second ahead of Disciple, while hat-trick seeker Bellavita never looked comfortable and finished a tame fourth.

Sulaiman Attaollahi, who has spent much of the season collecting favourite tags rather than winner`s trophies, struck again with a rewarding-priced winner when Corinthian captured the lower division of the Chennai Cup. Sandesh settled the gelding behind Star Comet, produced him at the right moment, and Corinthian quickly settled the issue. Mister Brown finished with a flourish but found the winner safely out of reach. Storm Shadow just edged Mystics for third.

Lokanath-trained Lots Of Luck justified spirited support in the Mysore Cup, but not before giving his backers a few anxious moments. The 1400 metres contest for horses rated 20 to 45 also featured heavily-backed Ravishing Queen, the impressive last-start three-year-old winner, but the burden of top weight proved a bridge too far. She never looked comfortable, struggled to quicken when the race gathered momentum and finished a disappointing third.

Meanwhile, longshot Solara almost produced the shock of the afternoon after pinching a decisive break in front and looking home for most of the straight. Just when the upset brigade began celebrating, Lots Of Luck arrived in the nick of time to snatch victory close home, leaving Solara to wonder what might have been.

Favourite Avener, from the stables of Adhirajsingh Jodha, made full use of the shortest route home in another race where jockey Sandesh`s judgement proved decisive. Saving every inch of ground along the rails, Avener steadily improved from midfield before taking command inside the final furlong to score with plenty in hand. Regal Aristocracy finished strongly down the outside to claim second ahead of The Archer, who showed the way in the early stages before his effort petered out in the closing stages.

The biggest heartbreak of the day belonged to supporters of Satish Narredu-trained Gloriousness, who once again failed to live up to expectations despite attracting strong betting support after a promising second at the previous outing in the Halebeedu Stakes. If racing ever introduces a loyalty programme for disappointed punters, Gloriousness` backers would already qualify for lifetime membership.

Instead, it was Arjun Manglorkar-trained Perrfect Attitude, a horse that had almost forgotten what the winner`s enclosure looked like, who rediscovered the route in style. Coming from the rear with a sweeping run, the lesser-fancied runner collared the leaders with authority to score comfortably over the front-running Flaming Sword. Pole Star, despite attracting fair support, missed second by the narrowest of margins.