Bipin Salvi trained Absolute Pleasure romped home in style in the feature event of the day, the Victory Zone Cup, a race for two year olds on Wednesday. Bipin saddled a brace of winners, his other winner being Flip Your Destiny. Both these winners were ridden by F Da Silva.

Always On Top (N Rajesh up), winner of Lalbagh Plate being led in by trainer Monappa.

Sofast was the overwhelming favourite to win but the two year old filly played up at the paddock and fell heavily on her back. She was withdrawn from the fray. Yakeen who had the benefit of a run came in for spirited betting. Absolute Pleasure raced a handy second into the straight as Azure Fire set the pace before taking a decisive charge inside the final furlong to win with great ease. Yakeen came up with a good rally but found the winner too good. Though he drifted out of a straight course, Azure Fire came up with second wind but missed the runner up berth narrowly. Absolute Pleasure appears a good type of youngster.

Castle King who had found better in Treasure Mountain in his last outing, won the 1400 metres Bijapur Plate, a race for horses rated 60 and above with consummate ease. Castle King got a lovely opening along the rails on turning for home and he showed swiftness to take the gap and burst clear inside the final 350 metres and win with a measure of comfort. Virat who had run a couple of indifferent outings, showed some zest when necking out consistent Seriously Perfect for the runner up berth.

Always On Top who had performed consistently in the regular season in good company had benefitted immensely by his last essay where he had finished an easy fourth to Money Bay. Kept handily in fourth, Always On Top improved places approaching the final bend and shot into the lead with a furlong to go and won unextended. River Gem who led from the start found the winner too tough to tackle.

Flip Your Destiny who had run a good third to Voodoo Moon in the regular season won the day’s opener. Flip Your Destiny moved briskly from the wide outside draw and took over the running within the first furlong and thereafter did not look back when checking in ahead of favourite Wimbledon Star. The runner up who drifted out slightly in the straight was gaining ground in the end but he had too much leeway to cover.

Man United had won a year ago and since then he had been out for several airings to bring him back to the desired mark for a touch. Man United was backed strongly to win and the seven year old got up just in time to get the better of Arc Angel in the closing strides of the race. Montag put up stiff resistance before weakening to finish third. Apprentice jockey Irfan Sing did enough to get the desired response on the heavily backed horse.

Vishal Yadav trained Sequana showed complete reversal of form to win. Sequana who found herself in front within the first furlong though was challenged close home by Chinab, she never relented and kicked on to win by a narrow margin. Chinab could have pulled it off with better assistance in the saddle. Always For You finished a tame fourth after failing to accelerate. Redshift was never in hunt at any stage of the race.

Noughtsandcrosses who had finished a good second to Bejewelled Beauty over a sprint finally obliged over a more suitable trip of a mile. Noughtsandcrosses picked up speed in the final furlong to edge past the front running Truthandfiath while Queens Colour was a notable third. Long-time leader Lake King who held the charge till the final furlong finished fourth. The confidence reposed on Omega Man appeared be misplaced.