The highest rated horse in the fray Fabulous Touch, enjoying a pull in weights thanks to the terms of the race, won the 1200 metres Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. Fabulous Touch had never been a model of consistency and her last attempt to win a mile classic at Mysore had seen her finish 20 lengths behind La Donna. Hence it was difficult consider her chances because the stable had been only firing duds of late.

Fjord who was running after winning during the summer season, was the favourite as there was great deal of expectation that the daughter of Phoenix Tower had the stuff to make a winning return to the track. However, trainer Darius Byramji has rarely got things right in recent times and erratic form fluctuations have not been uncommon. Fjord was taken on a start to finish mission by jockey Suraj Narredu but the lead for the favourite was only on sufferance as she surrendered tamely when top-weighted Tzar essayed his challenge on turning for home. Tzar looked like he was going to make it when he had covered most of the runners but Fabulous Touch who was in the rear group, suddenly began to move with raking strides and the way she covered the leeway, it was clear that she could overhaul the front-runner well before the winning post. Fabulous Touch got the better of Tzar with 100 metres left in the race and sprinted ahead to record an upset win. Tzar easily held off Antananarivo to get the runner-up berth. Fjord disappeared without a trace when the pressure was on.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Pallas proved that he is a formidable stayer when he swamped the opposition in the 2000 metres Nethravathi Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Pallas was backed to have it easy in the mile and quarter race though Michaela who had come from Mysore with three wins in a row considered as a possible threat. However, she found the company at Bangalore too tough to handle and was not in the hunt well before the final furlong. Pallas who took over the running from pace-setter Amazing Charm with 300 metres left in the race and stormed clear to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Torch Bearer who in turn was comfortably ahead of late-finishing Ambitious Reward.

Half-brother to well performed Amazing Grace and full brother to the disappointing Amazing Charm, Autocratic made a winning debut in the 1200 metres December Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Turf Star who had the benefit of a race run, led the field from the start but could not survive the onslaught of Autocratic who chased him well into the straight before asserting his supremacy. Turf Star held off Lord Buckingham who came from a long way back to finish an impressive third. There was a great deal of expectation on Olympia Fields but he disappointed and ran well below expectations possibly the ill-effects of infection he had recently reflecting on his performance.

Prithviraj trained Pearl City had run second to Hall of Famer and third to Watchmyscript and as such her credentials in the 1400 metres Kudremukh Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 looked outstanding. Pearl City was quoted at cramped odds as she had to move on handicap scale considerably. Pearl City proved her superiority by bouncing clear of the field in the final furlong to win easily from Beyond Reach and Flirting Eyes. Pearl City can record an encore.

The 1400 metres Kakanakote Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25, looked like a minefield though Karod Pati who had a forward run at Mysore to his credit having a good chance but there was no clue as to his prospects as the betting did not reflect any enthusiasm. Only Prince was the preferred horse. The well-backed runner could have delivered the goods as he came into strong prominence going into the final furlong but his hopes were put paid by Karod Pati who sorted out the favourite to eventually record a long-priced win. Al Faaris edged out Dancing Princess to get the third place.

Prithviraj trained Good Fruit who enjoyed good support in the betting arena, obliged when barely managing to win by a whisker over Breaking Away in the 1200 metres Vidurashwatha Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. A cluster finish looked on cards with Breaking Away enjoying a thin edge. The chances of Good Fruit looked bleak as she was quite far off from the bunch in front. However, Good Fruit responded well and produced a grand rally to nail Breaking Away in the final stride of the race. Cool Springs, Luc Divine and Candice were all within striking distance of each other. A similar scene was enacted in the lower division of the race as well though the winner won with a measure of comfort. Icepick Willie produced a late dash, also in the hands of jockey Arshad Alam, to get the better of Better Than Ever to land the spoils at good odds. Goat who came in for noticeable support was half a length behind the runner-up but a nose better than Rock N Rolla.

Neil Darashah trained Hector had lost a possible winning chance last time out by suffering interferences at a crucial stage of the race. The five-year-old gelding made amends in the 1400 metres Shravanabelagola Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Cedric Segeon took no chances this time as he brought the fancied runner on the wide outside to get the better of Topaz close home. I`ve Got Clout was third.