Gregory Sandhu trained Splendid Dream, who was in serious betting along with the aptly named Flight of Fancy, had to be driven out vigorously by jockey Anthony Raj to collar long shot Carat Love in the dying strides of the 1200 metres Sports Authority of India Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. The quality of the Bangalore racing programme has dipped considerably of late and, in keeping with the trend, the day`s fare did little to set the pulse racing.

For those who backed Flight of Fancy, it turned out to be a rather expensive flight of fancy. The Darius Byramji trainee, entrusted to apprentice Laxman Singh, failed to take off and was out of contention well before the final furlong. Carat Love, ridden by apprentice Anish Anamo Hangal, made a determined bid to steal the show and looked set for victory until Anthony Raj galvanised Splendid Dream in the closing stages. The latter responded just in time to snatch victory by a neck. Absolute Force finished on late to take the third spot, while Agera was a distant fourth.

Prasanna Kumar trained Royal Vanguard, who had spectacularly disappointed at Mysore with a sluggish start and finished more than 40 lengths behind the winner in testing underfoot conditions, had subsequently advertised his well-being in a mock race. The confidence shown by his supporters in the 1600 metres Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup, a race for maiden three-year-olds, proved well founded. The gelding jumped out smartly, settled into his stride and then left his rivals with little more than a passing interest in the proceedings when asked for an effort in the straight. He scored an effortless five-length victory over stablemate Knightsbridge, who edged out Conquistador for the runner-up berth. Royal Vanguard had clearly decided that his Mysore performance was best forgotten.

James McKeown trained Ravishing Queen obliged expectations in the 1200 metres Vidurashwatha Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The filly had a lung-opener at Mysore, where she had struggled in the heavy underfoot conditions, but had previously won over five and a half furlongs during the summer season. Her supporters were confident that she would rediscover that winning touch. Suraj Narredu kept things uncomplicated, tracking Everynne into the straight before asking the filly to produce her finishing effort. Ravishing Queen responded with a facile victory over late-finishing Whistling Glory, while Rocking Star took the third spot.

Satish Narredu trained Born To Rise, who had recorded a runaway victory during the summer season, had missed his engagement at Mysore owing to an injury. Back in action in the lower division of the Vidurashwatha Plate, the gelding was sent out to make every post a winning one by Suraj Narredu. The shortest-priced favourite of the day gave his supporters absolutely no anxious moments, staying clear of Preview and Bellucci, who attempted a futile chase. The rest were merely making up the numbers as Born To Rise justified the confidence reposed in him.

Purushotham trained Scarlette Lady had last visited the winner`s enclosure 538 days ago, when she was in the care of trainer Prasanna Kumar. The five-year-old mare had been since sold and changed stables and was showing encouraging form in her workouts and was backed to end her prolonged drought. Veteran jockey Srinath had her comfortably positioned in about third or fourth place until the final turn before asking the favourite to get serious. Scarlette Lady responded readily and cruised to victory over Star Honour, who had led until the final furlong. Joyful Spirit, who had attracted spirited betting, had too much ground to make up. Though he finished with purpose, the damage had already been done, and he had to settle for third, just a neck behind Star Honour.

Jockey Aashad Asbar, who had made an impressive start to the season with three winners on the opening day, added another two to his tally. The heavily backed Eminent Gold made light of the opposition in the 1600 metres Hogenakkal Falls Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Settled towards the rear of the field, Asbar brought the favourite on the wide outside with a clear passage and launched his challenge in the straight. Eminent Gold quickly established a decisive advantage by the final furlong and had the race safely in his keeping. Mandate, the second favourite, also came from the rear but had to negotiate traffic before getting into his stride. He finished on strongly to take second place ahead of Blue Piccasso, but by then the winner had already put the issue beyond doubt.

The opening race of the afternoon saw Absolute Thunder and CR Seven command maximum betting support, but the 1400 metres Shimsha Plate, a race for horses in the bottom class, produced a surprise in the shape of The Golden Dream. Ridden by Aashad Asbar, the winner came from well off the pace with a blistering finishing run to register an emphatic victory. Absolute Thunder had to settle for second, with Carter a distant third. CR Seven, who had been prominent until the bend, ran out of steam when the serious business began.