Favoured runners ruled early at Bangalore, with Magileto turning the feature into a one-horse parade, but the day’s script flipped sharply when Refreshment, served generously to bookmakers while punters went hungry, mugged hot favourite Alfonsine in a dramatic upset. From effortless processions to unexpected twists, the afternoon swung wildly between hope and heartbreak, leaving punters alternately thrilled, deflated, and muttering the occasional well-deserved curse.

Aman Altaf Hussain enjoyed what can only be described as a chauffeur-driven outing in the 1200 metres Bangalore Turf Club Trophy, the feature event that promised excitement but delivered something closer to a guided tour. Trevor Patel, riding hot favourite Magileto, kindly informed the rest of the field that he would be leading and, in a touching show of collective courtesy, nobody objected. With an uncontested lead wide enough to host a breakfast buffet, Magileto strode away as the others finally decided to wake up and stretch.

Siege Courageous, supposedly the troublemaker in the script, was so far behind early. His late dash fetched him second, while stablemate Knotty Charmer sauntered in another four lengths behind, looking as if he had wandered in from a morning walk. The rest? Decorative extras. Further description is pointless; the favourite led, the favourite won, and the ring readers nodded with the satisfaction.

A genuine twist finally arrived in the 1600 metres Y S Surender Memorial Trophy for horses rated 40 to 65. Refreshment, the one drink that seemed to be served exclusively to bookmakers and a few hopefuls while the majority of punters were left starved of their money. Despite two impressive summer wins, he walked into the betting ring wearing a cloak of invisibility. All wallets were glued to Alfonsine, fresh from a Pune win and dispatched at wallet-endangering odds. Sicyon too had a loyal fan club.

Suraj Narredu sent Alfonsine to the front, and for most of the way it looked like a routine “collect your winnings and go home” kind of script. But Mukesh Kumar aboard Refreshment had other ideas. From the rear group and with the kind of wide run seen only in racing nightmares, he launched a menacing late assault, mugging the favourite by a neck at the wire. Sicyon, after all the early hype, settled for third.

Drama struck mid-race when Live The Dream stumbled or fell, tossing apprentice Abhishek Mhatre. The fall looked nasty. The club’s communication on the injury? Practically non-existent, maintaining their proud tradition of giving updates only when absolutely unnecessary. Reports suggested a broken collar bone.

The season’s first test for the babies, the 1100 metres Beginners Plate, went exactly how such races do when one horse is trained, tuned, and actually ready for a race. Quantum, from Michael Eshwer’s yard, took one look at the field, decided they were ornamental, and shot off for an effortless nine-length win under jockey Vivek G. Global Dominance, despite the heavy support, was gasping for breath before the bend. Monumental took second with a late run, but barring the winner, the rest looked like they were still figuring out which end of the track to run toward.

The 1300 metres Shivanasamudra Falls Plate (Div I) brought relief to those who enjoy surprises but not to those who backed Stalingrad, the day’s next popular money magnet. The favourite was settled at the rear by jockey Pavan with an ease better suited to a Sunday brunch outing, and by the home turn, he had more ground to cover than a lost tourist without Google Maps. Contessina briefly threatened to take the race, but Sassy Sarah, the lesser-fancied runner from Prasanna Kumar’s yard, swept past under a tidy ride from apprentice Darshan N. Stalingrad’s late run fetched him third and less sympathy from punters.

The lower division served actual excitement. Amalure, backed heavily thanks to her previous late flourish, tried to repeat the trick but forgot the part about taking a position. Struggling for speed, she left her supporters wondering if they should demand a refund on hope itself. Knotty Cruise led bravely, but Exceed who suddenly found admirers close to race time delivered a powerful final-furlong punch under J Chinoy to win by a head. Amalure finished a distant and disappointing third.

Rieko, trained by Pradeep Annaiah, kept things simple in the 1200 metres Smarty Jones Trophy. Placed comfortably in the front bunch by Suraj Narredu, he skipped away in the final furlong like a horse late for an appointment, sealing another easy win. Regal Reality, who had plenty of supporters but none of the early speed, came flying late only to miss even second place by a neck to Del Aviz.

The shortest-priced favourite of the afternoon, Imperador in the 1100 metres Phar Lap Plate won start to finish, untouched, unbothered, and unchallenged. Aphelion warmed up too late but managed to finish a suggestive second ahead of Zayana.