Dominic trained Rafa finally made amends by emphatically winning the 1400 metres F K Irani Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Bangalore races. Rafa produced a tremendous burst of speed inside the final furlong to go storming clear to win by a widening margin of four lengths over Baracchus who made a big rally from the rear to finish a suggestive second.

Rafa had found one better on the last occasions. This time out, his chances were considered good as most of the runners in the fray had either reached their mark or had dropped form. There was inspired support for Anantara whose career has been interrupted by niggles and had been withdrawn from the fray on two occasions in the recent past. The rest of the runners were all available at long odds.

Jockey Pradeep Chouhan had Rafa race in a striking position till turning for home and the progeny of Mathematician asserted his supremacy in the homestretch by showing amazing acceleration which had the opposition floored. Baracchus who was tailed off last till turning for home, made a rally on the wide outside and edged past Bonfire and Emperador to get the runner-up berth. Anantara was not spotted at the busy end and in fact, finished a dismal last!

On money favourite Automatic flopped against the run of expectations and it was left to Warren Singh trained Glittering Gold to win the 1200 metres Ardent Knight Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds as the longest priced horse of the day. Automatic had run an eye-catching third in his debut run and was subsequently withdrawn at the gates in his next outing as he played up which resulted in the equipment used on him breaking. Now taking on a much more modest opposition than the one he was pitted against on the Invitation Cup day, none believed that there could be an upset especially from a horse from Warren Singh. In the event, Glittering Gold who was rushed to take over the running at the top of the straight, bounced clear and won in the manner of a good quality horse. It was no surprise that Glittering Gold is by stallion sensation Excellent Art whose progeny have been on fire at all centres in India. Afrikaner chased the eventual winner without hope. Magnetic who looked beat at the top of the straight, recovered some ground in the straight to finish third. Automatic is not as good as it was believed. The lower division of the race saw Gregory Sandhu trained Kvasir who had the benefit of a good forward run, lead all the way and win with a measure of comfort in the hands of jockey Srinath. Kvasir showed good speed from the gates and thereafter kept a healthy lead right through the race. Rum Runner staved off Apalachee to get the second position.

In a thrilling finish, Neil Darashah trained Escala got the better of Balian in the final stride of the race to win the 1800 metres Bhagamandala Plate, a race for horses rated 45 to 65. Balian stole a march at the top of the straight with Escala going in chase of the front-runner in right earnest. The duo fought all the way in the final furlong, with the bobbing of heads at the post going in favour of Escala who won by the proverbial whisker. Favourite Legal Dream ran on to finish third, finding the battling duo in front too good for comfort.

Frenemee hadn`t won for 883 days and during this time, had considerably come down in scales having won a race in the 60 and above category at Mysore. The market trend indicated that Frenemee would be seen in serious business. Frenemee came up with a big effort to go storming clear in the final furlong to win by a margin of four lengths to record the eighth win of his career. The victory of Frenemee surely defeats those who look at current form and the decisive manner in which the six-year-old won definitely came against the run of expectation for which the last run is an indicative factor. Tuscano once again got the better of Only Prince to gain the second berth.

Jockey S John drove out Just Fabulous to an exciting win over Amazing Desire in the 1400 metres Icebreaker Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Just Fabulous led all the way and fought on resolutely to reach the safety of the winning before Amazing Desire could inflict any damage. Suraj on Amazing Desire tried hard but all that he succeeded was in getting the fancied runner desperately close to the eventual winner. Perfect Queen was third while favourite Princeazeem was never in the hunt and finished a poor fourth. All That`s Nice dropped her jockey Rayan Ahmed at the start. The lower division of the race produced a big upset when Lokanath trained Sudha held off a strong challenge from Romantic Heaven and Dancing Princess to land the spoils at big odds. Fancied Atlantic City pulled up lame when the race came to the boil and fell back to eventually finish last in distress.

Kishan Thomas trained Kasauli had the right credentials to win the 1200 metres Karwar Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 and accordingly was backed down. Dhebe brought Kasauli into strong contention with a furlong left in the race and the progeny of Whatsmyscript got control of the race in a trice and went away for an easy win over Country`s Bloom and Nijlon.

Fioroloco from the stables of trainer Samar Singh produced an upset in the 1400 metes Mekedatu Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Jockey Irvan Singh brought Fioroloco with a well-timed run in the final furlong and the lesser fancied runner left the rest stranded to win the race as he pleased from Skybound and Slightly Blonde.